VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Medical Benefits:  Fax to (718) 567-4082
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MyHealtheVet In-Person Authenticators:  
If you need assistance with MyHealtheVet, contact Russell W. Dolecal, Voluntary Service Specialist, at 718-630-3700, or Maryann Ferrante-LaSasso, Supervisory Program Specialist, at 718-836-6600 x1844.
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About VA New York Harbor Healthcare System
The Director of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System can be contacted by telephone at (212) 951-3240 and by fax at (212) 951-3487.

The VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (VA NYHHS) consists of three campuses located in the East Side of Manhattan; in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn; and in St. Albans, Queens. VA NYHHS also has Ambulatory Care Centers at all three campuses plus Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Harlem, downtown Brooklyn and Staten Island.

The New York Campus has bed services in acute medicine, surgery, acute psychiatry, neurology, and rehabilitation medicine. The campus is the VISN 3 Referral Center for Interventional Cardiology (i.e., angioplasty and stenting), Cardiac Surgery and Neurosurgery. New York has a Urology Stone Center. The facility has been at the forefront of clinical care and research for patients with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. It is the only VHA facility to house both a designated clinical care unit and Research Center for AIDS and HIV Infection (RCAHI). The RCAHI staff includes 12 M.D. and Ph.D. scientists who, with the support of grants from VHA and NIH, and others, investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of HIV and its complications.

AFFILIATIONS

The New York Campus is affiliated with many schools of higher education and is categorized at Educational Level 4. The primary clinical affiliation is with the New York University School of Medicine. The residency programs are fully integrated with those at NYU and Bellevue Medical Centers. A fully integrated dental affiliation exists with the NYU School of Dentistry. University level allied health training programs exist in nursing, audiology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, pharmacy and social work. Health Systems Specialist trainees and administrative residents and fellows regularly intern in the medical center.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Tertiary Care Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The NY Campus hosts the VISN 3 Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Neurosurgery Referral Centers. The Medical Center has highly specialized urologic expertise, including a Urology Stone Center that includes a state-of-the-art lithotripter. Other specialized services include microvascular surgical techniques for free flaps, surgical techniques for vitrectomy and prosthetic joint replacement, the latest cryosurgical techniques for microvascular ENT surgery, and state-of-the-art treatment for dermatologic patients by offering Mohs Surgery.

Preservation and Amputation Care Team (PACT) and the Prosthetic Treatment Center are located at the NY Campus. The close affiliation with Bellevue, Tish Hospital, and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine contribute to the Medical Center's excellence as an Amputee Center and comprehensive Rehabilitation Medicine Service. The Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service operates satellite clinics at other VISN 3 facilities. The VISN Footwear Center is located at New York Campus and provides special orthopedic shoes to veterans throughout the Network. The Prosthetic and Orthotic Lab is the only laboratory authorized to fabricate definitive artificial limbs. VA NYHHS HIV/AIDS, Cardiac Surgery, Rehabilitation Medicine and Dialysis programs recently have been designated as VHA Programs of Excellence.

The Primary Care program offers coordinated basic and specialized health care for veterans. In addition, Mental Health primary care teams have been established for veterans whose primary diagnosis is psychiatric.

Research and Development
The Research and Development Service is an integrated program across VA NYHHS that is broad and varied in scope. It includes basic science research, clinical trials, and centers of excellence in most of the major programs offered by the VA Research Central Office such as co-operative studies, medial research, rehabilitation R&D and specialized centers. The major fields of investigation include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular electrophysiology, hematology/oncology, cancer, infectious diseases including AIDS, mental health and substance abuse, optometry and rehabilitation engineering. VA, NIH, AHA and other non-VA funding support the research activities. The total intramural funding is about $4.5 million and over $10 million at the affiliated medical schools and the VA NYHHS non-profit research corporation.

Sharing Agreements
The NY Campus has multiple sharing agreements with the Department of Defense (including TRICARE) and with various other federal agencies. Additional sharing agreements exist with the Metropolitan Medical Association, New York State Veterans Home at Montrose and the Salvation Army.