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IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| VA Launches Expansion in Veterans Health Facilities Peake: 44 New Clinics Bring Care Closer to Home WASHINGTON (June 26, 2008) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake today announced plans to create 44 new community-based outpatient clinics to bring the world-class health care of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) closer to home for veterans in 21 states. "VA continues to make access to care easier through an expanding outpatient system focused not only on primary treatment but also prevention of disease, early detection, and health promotion," Peake said. The new clinics, scheduled to be activated over the next 15 months, will increase VA's network of independent and community-based clinics to 782, an increase of more than 100 in five years. This growth in community clinics has helped VA meet veterans' expectations for prompt, quality service, with 98 percent of veterans seen within 30 days in all types of VA primary care facilities throughout the country. In addition to on-site primary care staff, today's modern outpatient clinics frequently feature state-of-the-art telehealth systems permitting veterans to maintain regular contact with doctors in specialties from cardiac care to mental health at regional VA hospitals linked for video consultations, coupled with telemetry of health data or images. A highly acclaimed national health records system allows practitioners at even remote clinics to review patient records stored at VA facilities anywhere in the country. VA's 21 regional networks develop applications for new clinics in consideration of reducing the distance veterans travel to their nearest VA hospital or clinic, as well as local demand, existing hospital, clinic workload and other factors. A listing of the newly approved clinics is attached. VA's Planned Sites for New Outpatient Clinics Alabama (2) -- Marshall County, Wiregrass Alaska -- Matanuska-Susitna Borough area Arkansas (2) -- Ozark, White County California -- East Bay-Alameda County area Florida -- Summerfield Georgia (4) -- Baldwin County, Coweta County, Glynn County, Liberty County Indiana (2) -- Miami County, Morgan County Iowa -- Wapello County Louisiana (5) -- Lake Charles, Leesville, Natchitoches, St. Mary Parish, Washington Parish Maine -- Lewiston-Auburn area Minnesota (2) -- Douglas County, Northwest Metro Missouri -- Franklin County New Mexico -- Rio Rancho North Carolina (2) -- Robeson County, Rutherford County North Dakota -- Grand Forks County Ohio -- Gallia County Oklahoma (4) -- Altus, Craig County, Enid, Jay Tennessee (3) -- Giles County, Maury County, McMinn County Texas (5) -- Katy, Lake Jackson, Richmond, Tomball, El Paso County Virginia (3) -- Augusta County, Emporia, Wytheville West Virginia -- Greenbrier County |
