VA Announces Enhanced and Expanded Care for N.C. Veterans

VA Announces Enhanced and Expanded Care for N.C. Veterans

Health Care Centers to Come to Charlotte, Winston-Salem

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a strategic realignment plan today that will enhance and expand access to health care for North Carolina veterans.  Through the creation of new facilities in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, plus improvements to the medical center in Salisbury, veterans will have more options for VA health care.

“Our veterans have earned access to VA’s world-class health care,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “This strategic plan will increase VA’s capacity to care for North Carolina’s veterans, while putting health care closer to where veterans live.”

A major feature of the plan is the creation of new Health Care Centers (HCCs) in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, scheduled to be completed by 2013.  The HCCs will offer veterans primary care and specialty care, including surgical, rehabilitative and mental health services.  Inpatient care will be provided under VA contract at local private-sector hospitals in these areas.  The plan provides that no changes to health care delivery services at the Salisbury VA Medical Center will be made until 2013, nor will there be any staff reductions.

Once the HCCs in Charlotte and Winston-Salem are operational, the Salisbury VA Medical Center will be reviewed for opportunities to enhance its scope of providing health services and to become a center of excellence in both long-term care and mental health care.  Primary care and urgent care services will continue at the site.

 “It’s important VA provides veterans with state-of-the-art health care technologies in contemporary facilities,” added Peake. “As we move forward, this plan will provide enhanced care for our veterans in North Carolina.”

More information on the plan is available on the Internet at http://www.salisbury.va.gov