WASHINGTON ó The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that there will be no changes to the health care delivery services at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, N.C., until 2013, nor will there be any staff reductions.
Veterans Affairs had announced on Sept. 19 plans to eliminate inpatient, emergency and surgical services as part of a transition to a long-term care and mental health facility for veterans.
Dr. James B. Peake, VA secretary, however, agreed to have his staff review the plans after protests from veterans, the medical center staff and the local community and concerns raised by U.S. Rep. Mel Watt and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.
Today’s announcement was part of a strategic realignment plan that will enhance and expand access to health care for North Carolina veterans. Through the creation of new facilities in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, plus improvements to the medical center in Salisbury, veterans will have more options for VA health care.
“Our veterans have earned access to VA’s world-class health care,” said Peake. “This strategic plan will increase VA’s capacity to care for North Carolina’s veterans, while putting health care closer to where veterans live.”
A major feature of the plan is the creation of new Health Care Centers (HCCs) in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, scheduled to be completed by 2013. The HCCs will offer veterans primary care and specialty care, including surgical, rehabilitative and mental health services. Inpatient care will be provided under VA contract at local private-sector hospitals in these areas.
Once the HCCs in Charlotte and Winston-Salem are operational, the Salisbury VA Medical Center will be reviewed for opportunities to enhance its scope of providing health services and to become a center of excellence in both long-term care and mental health care. Primary care and urgent care services will continue at the site.
“It’s important VA provides veterans with state-of-the-art health care technologies in contemporary facilities,” added Peake. “As we move forward, this plan will provide enhanced care for our veterans in North Carolina.”
More information on the plan is available on the Internet at HYPERLINK “http://www.salisbury.va.gov/”http://www.salisbury.va.gov.