WASHINGTON – Veterans in the Canandaigua area will continue to receive world-class care for both inpatient and outpatient services in modernized, state-of-the-art facilities operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the current Canandaigua VA Medical Center, the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, announced today.
"VA is staying at Canandaigua, with the full range of inpatient and outpatient services,” Nicholson said. “With new, world-class health care facilities, Canandaigua veterans will continue to have the best medical care in the United States well into the 21st century. By placing these services closer to where veterans actually live, we’re ensuring they have easier access to the care they have earned.”
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Nicholson also announced that VA will conduct studies on the best way to provide those inpatient and outpatient services. The options under consideration would preserve the historic core of the campus through a combination of partial renovation and new construction. Most of the buildings at VA’s Canandaigua campus were built between 1932 and 1937, although many patient care buildings were renovated in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Secretary’s decision was based on the recommendations of a local advisory panel, which suggested VA should examine a combination of new construction and renovation in the current historic courtyards, or new construction at either the Golf Course or Chapel Street parts of the facility.
“I want to thank the many people and organizations in Canandaigua and New York state who advised me on this decision, especially the local advisory panel and its chairman, Amo Houghton, along with the New York congressional delegation, veterans groups, city and state leaders, other stakeholders and VA employees,” Nicholson said.
Plans for the Canandaigua VA Medical Center will be integrated into the Secretary's nationwide capital plan so that a timetable and budget can be established, followed by congressional consideration for authorization and funding. As VA develops plans for the future of the facility, the Department will examine the potential use of portions of the 171-acre campus to assist in the delivery of other complementary services for veterans.
Nicholson said he looks forward to receiving additional input from the local advisory panel as VA finalizes its plans for the Canandaigua campus. That study is expected to be completed by the spring of 2007.
