Team Member Engagement

A healthcare system of our size is a massive operational endeavor. The sustainability team works across the system to establish policies and programs in support of environmental and public health. We need team members’ help to implement these programs, to be change-makers and to provide feedback on issues and future programming. You are the best person to incorporate sustainability into your unit, department or office.

Here are a few great ways to Go Green at Inova:

Green Your Unit/Department/Office

Every unit/department/office at Inova has unique practices and procedures. The needs of a clinical unit will be very different than that of an administrative office. Nonetheless, there is overlap in processes that we can all use as a starting point. We suggest the following to get started:

  • Step 1: Sign up for the GoGreen Newsletter - Our monthly sustainability newsletter is how we organize sustainability initiatives. Sign up and stay informed!
  • Step 2: Use the Sustainability Checklist (for InovaConnect users only) - Use our Inova sustainability checklist, which will walk you through the best ways to green your unit. If you can enact these principles, you will be well on your way! 
  • Step 3: Learn from Practice Greenhealth - Inova is a member of Practice Greenhealth, a healthcare sustainability association. Its website is a wonderful resource to learn more about sustainability in healthcare and to find potential projects. Sign up for an account here. An Inova email address is required. If asked, enter the membership code 167842.
  • Want More? Contact us at gogreen@inova.org to request a consult that focuses on what's beyond the checklist. There's a lot you can do in terms of processes and purchasing to decrease your environmental footprint. You can also join a hospital Green Team (more information below).

Advocate For Sustainability

We encourage team members to advocate for sustainability, both internally and externally. Depending on your role at Inova, being an advocate may mean different things.

Internal Advocate

  • Join Green Team - Inova's hospitals have Green Teams, which are committees that focus on sustainability in the4 clinical care setting. Let us know what topics interest you and if you'd like to take an active role in this work. Contact us at gogreen@inova.org for more info.
  • See Something, Say Something - If you see something that you think is a sustainability issue, please reach out to us at gogreen@inova.org.

External Advocate

  • Virginia Clinicians For Climate Action - VCCA is a local health care professional organization (led by several Inova affiliated clinicians) that educates and advocates for climate change solutions that protect the health of patients and communities. Meetings occur monthly.
  • Nurses Climate Challenge - The NCC is a national campaign to mobilizew nurses to educate 50,000 health professional on the impacts of climate change on human health.
  • HCWH Physician Network - Health Care Without Harm's Physician Network supports emerging and established physician leaders to leverage their influence and expertise to advance the growing health care sustainability movement and to create climate-smart health care.