“VA Healthcare: Maximizing Resources in Puerto Rico.”
Good afternoon Chairman Wenstrup, Ranking Member Brownley, and Members of the Subcommittee. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the
Introduction
VACHS is a Joint Commission accredited, level 1a system of care serving Veterans in
2017 Hurricane Season Immediate Actions
The 2017 hurricane season was one of the costliest seasons on record; Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8 facilities, which include those in the
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, VACHS, as a key partner in the national response to disasters, mobilized emergency response units to the
Through the collaborative efforts of Federal, state, and local governments and non-government organizations, the unified emergency response teams received 92 patients from
On
Because of
. A 72-year old Vietnam Veteran with a spinal cord injury was stranded on the Island of Vieques after the hurricane. The Veteran's medical condition required continuous medication; he was unable to receive that care because the community-based outpatient clinic was too badly damaged. Through the assistance of
. VACHS was able to reach 100 percent of the over 3,000 Veterans identified as being members of a vulnerable population, which included Veterans experiencing homelessness, those requiring hemodialysis, those dependent on ventilators, those at high risk for suicide, and those with severe mental health illnesses. Assisted by
. Under a Mission Assignment from
These efforts did not come without certain limitations and challenges. Immediately following the storm,
Planning for the Future
Prior to the 2017 hurricane season, VACHS recognized the changing Veteran demographics and needs of those who entrusted us with their health care. Access to care is a top priority of the system, and as such, we have focused resources on providing same day access at all facilities. As of
VACHS provides care for 6,739 Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) Veterans. During FY 2017 the system participated in more than 20 outreach events connecting active duty Servicemembers and Veterans throughout
VACHS is currently focused on preparing for the 2018 hurricane season, which begins at the end of May. Efforts underway to prepare in advance include: deployment of comprehensive awareness and education campaigns; outreach to vulnerable and high-risk Veteran populations; building on established relationships with community entities; updating lease agreements to ensure a timely response after a natural disaster; and exploring more reliable voice and data communication strategies. Most importantly, there are
Finally, VACHS is continually working to improve the space used for the care of our Veterans. These projects include a new canopy for the drop-off area and pedestrian walkway at the San Juan VAMC, the expansion of the emergency room and observation unit at the San Juan VAMC, seismic corrections at the San Juan VAMC, and replacement facilities for the
Other Support
VACHS remains committed to honoring America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care and pursues this objective in close collaboration with our Federal agency partners, leading national organizations, local government agencies, and with Veterans Service Organizations and other nonprofit entities. VACHS currently has a sharing agreement in place with the
VACHS welcomes the opportunity to expand current efforts with Federal and local entities, as well as establish new agreements that will benefit Veterans throughout
Conclusion
While VACHS excelled during times of crisis, there is still action required to ensure the needs of Veterans in
Read this original document at: http://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR03/20180312/106923/HHRG-115-VR03-Wstate-LaPuzMDD-20180312.pdf
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