VA TO ENHANCE OUTPATIENT CLINICAL SERVICES AT CHARLOTTE, HICKORY, WINSTON-SALEM & TRANSFORM SBY...
September 19, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. – Veterans served by health care facilities in Charlotte, Hickory, Salisbury, and Winston-Salem will soon benefit from increased outpatient services.  The VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) is implementing these transformations to bring needed health care services closer to where the majority of veterans reside.

Under a new strategic plan for VA health care in these areas, VA will soon coordinate in-patient medical and surgical services at the Salisbury VA Medical Center (VAMC) with local health care facilities.  The Salisbury Medical Center will be transformed to a Center of Excellence for Mental Health and Long-Term Care.  A unique centralized Employee Learning Center will also be developed there. 

Veterans who need in-patient medical and surgical services in the Salisbury area will be provided those services at local medical sties.  This model of care also pertains to emergency services-veterans needing emergency care may obtain it locally.  An array of specialty care clinics plus diagnostic and ancillary support services will remain at Salisbury. In addition, the Salisbury VA facility will become a site for community and home-based outpatient services. 

These changes will begin taking effect in approximately two weeks or whenever community partnership care can be arranged for the remaining veterans receiving in-patient services at Salisbury. 

In keeping with VA’s model for community-based care, VA clinic sites in Charlotte and Winston-Salem will be upgraded to Health Care Center Facilities (HCCFs).   These HCCF sites are designed to provide primary care, general and specialized mental health services, and a wide range of specialty services. Provision of day surgery at or near these locations is also anticipated.

VA’s expansion of services at Charlotte and Winston-Salem will be accomplished in close coordination with major medical centers and our academic affiliates, including Wake Forest University/Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Locating HCCFs near an academic health care center facilitates VA’s ability to support the training of residents and students.  This approach also provides access to unique specialty care for veterans. 

Network Director Daniel F. Hoffmann indicated, “These are very positive changes for the veterans we so proudly serve.  There will be no gap in the continuity of care for veterans who have been or would have received in-patient surgery or medical care services at the Salisbury VA Medical Center. We will use a case management system to assure these patients receive the care they need.  In the meantime, we will proceed to quickly implement the transformations of Salisbury and our clinics in Charlotte and Winston-Salem.  As we have announced previously, we are also moving ahead with adding space to accommodate more patients at Hickory by 2010.” 

Hoffmann noted that he and Salisbury VAMC Director Carolyn Adams conducted town hall meetings with employees and Veterans Service Organization leaders at the Salisbury facility, September 19.  Hoffmann indicated, “I want to assure those employees who will be affected by these changes that we will provide opportunities for them to serve in other meaningful ways in our Network.” 

Hoffmann noted that his network has recently opened new outpatient clinics or expanded others in Charlottesville and Norfolk, Va. and in Charlotte, Franklin, Hamlet, Hickory, and Jacksonville.  VISN 6 also opened a new clinic in Lynchburg, Va. this month and will conduct a ribbon-cutting there, September 29. 

In late June, VA Secretary Dr. James Peake, with the approval of Congress, authorized the development of six new VA outpatient clinics in the VISN 6 service area, including sites in Rutherfordton and Lumberton along with locations in Lewisburg, W.Va., Emporia, Staunton, and Wytheville, Va.  These clinics will be open for patient care services by the end of September 2009. 

In Fiscal Year 2007, VISN 6 provided care to over 307,000 veterans and now includes eight VA Medical Centers and 16 Outpatient Clinics.  Further information is available from Dr. Dave Raney, VISN 6 Communications Officer, at (919) 956-5541 or Ms. Carol Waters, Salisbury Public Affairs Officer, at (704) 638-9000 x-3343.