The VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) was established in 1996 to serve veterans throughout North Carolina, Virginia, and portions of West Virginia and South Carolina. The VISN office is located in Durham, North Carolina. VISN 6 includes eight VA medical centers, with four in North Carolina, three in Virginia, and one in Beckley, West Virginia offering services to veterans that range from primary care to specialized care.

 

Access to health care is enhanced through the services available at ten Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and one satellite outpatient clinic. Medical centers vary in complexity and include highly affiliated institutions that support VA's education and research mission. VISN 6 facilities support three open-heart surgery programs; eight extended care programs, two spinal cord injury units, one polytrauma center, eight transitional housing programs, and five Oxford Houses.  VISN 6 is home to a Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), a Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC), and a Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) with a focus on post-deployment mental health.

 

The VISN 6 service area includes 1.25 million veterans residing within 85,000 square miles. In FY2004, VISN 6 employees provided care to more than 235,000 unique patients, a 6% increase over the number served in FY2003. In FY 2004, the VISN's annual budget exceeded $1 billion. VISN 6 is also home to a significant number of major military installations and a large retired military population. Affiliations with medical schools and more than 50 colleges and institutions for allied health professionals help to facilitate a strong teaching environment that supports state-of-the-art health care and benefits staff education.