WASHINGTON -- The Public Health Service presented its highest award, the Surgeon General's Medallion, to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Thomas L. Garthwaite.
The award was presented to VA's top doctor for his vision, leadership and support of a federal credentialing program, called VetPro, which ensures health care providers have proper professional credentials.
"I must share this award with the many VA employees who helped make it a reality," said Garthwaite. "Without their expertise and dedication it would never have happened. Additionally, I want to thank the Department of Health and Human Services for collaborating with VA to create VetPro, which is now a fully-operational, secure, state-of-the-art credentialing program."
VetPro is an electronic data bank that ensures health care professionals have appropriate degrees and licenses, as well as track records of high quality and safe patient care.
When a doctor or dentist is credentialed using VetPro, a permanent, electronic file is created that is accessible across the VA system and by other federal health care programs. As VetPro is used, updating credentials will be streamlined because files will not be redone from scratch. Providers will add professional information, which will be verified by credentialers creating the record.
"What does this mean for the veteran who comes to VA for medical care? It means they can be assured they will receive high-quality, safe patient care by appropriately credentialed -- and qualified -- practitioners," said Garthwaite.
"VetPro transcends geographic hurdles, which is critical in such areas as telemedicine," he continued. "It also serves as a clinical resource in times of national emergencies."
VA operates the largest health care system in the country with more than 1,300 sites of care. It includes 163 hospitals, 800 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 206 counseling centers, 135 nursing homes and 43 domiciliary facilities. With 25,000 fewer employees, VA provided care to one million more veterans in 2001 than it did in 1995.
"Last year, VA doctors, nurses and other health care professionals cared for 4.1 million veterans," said Garthwaite. "I am proud to say that we offer health care second to none. For VA, VetPro means continued quality. I thank the Public Health Service for this distinguished award, because what it really signifies is better care for our veterans."
