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By Conor Shine (contact) 
Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012 | 2 a.m.
VA medical center to open soon
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KSNV reports that the new Veterans Affairs Medical Center will open soon in North Las Vegas, Aug. 3, 2012.
VA Medical Center
For decades, tens of thousands of Southern Nevada veterans seeking medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs had to navigate a complex web of primary care, ambulatory care and specialist offices spread across 20 locations throughout the valley. The VA shared a hospital with the Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base, and some veterans had to travel as far as Southern California to receive needed care.
By the end of the year, the long drives and headaches should be a thing of the past, as the VA’s services are consolidated to its new, 151-acre campus in North Las Vegas.
After six years of construction, the $600 million Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 6900 N. Pecos Road, will begin taking patients on Aug. 14.
“It’s going to change (veterans’) opportunity for health care. Every service that we currently offer is going to be expanded,” said John Bright, director of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System. “We’ll have a whole litany of new services that will be in-house that we’ve never had before. ... There’s almost nothing we won’t be able to do inside these walls.”
Specialty clinics on the first floor of the six-story building, which covers more than 1 million square feet, will open first; other services will come online throughout the year.
The VA currently serves about 46,000 of Southern Nevada’s 240,000 veterans and is expected to serve 60,000 when the hospital opens.
Although the building is finished, equipment is still being moved in and tested, Bright said. Officials hope that by January, the 90 in-patient beds at the hospital will be filled and the operation will be running at full capacity.
“Over the last few months it’s just been fast and furious bringing things through the door,” Bright said. “It’s going to take a while to get everything open. ... By the first of the year, we expect to be a fully functioning hospital.”
It will be the first-ever VA hospital in Southern Nevada and the first new VA hospital to open in nearly 20 years. Similar VA hospitals are under construction in New Orleans, Denver and Orlando, Fla.
Nevada’s state-of-the-art facility will be able to offer surgery, specialty care, mental health services, rehabilitation and extended care. The complex also includes a 120-bed skilled nursing home care facility and an ambulatory care center.
The medical center will be the hub of a health care network that also includes four new primary care centers located in the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest corners of the valley. The clinics offer patient care, pharmacies, X-rays, labs, social workers and some mental health attention.
In all, about $1 billion was spent on the hospital, the primary care centers, equipment and staffing, Bright said.
The VA will have a dedication ceremony for the new hospital at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The event is open to the public, but space is limited and attendees are advised to arrive early, Bright said.
Point 1: Surprised CANDIDATE Mitt Romney didn't go out there for a speech and photo op about how he had something to do with the new facility, and how effective leadership in DCVC facilitates positive outcomes for society, not just businesses, i.e large corporate businesses that are candidates to be bought, sold, merged or liquidated. Oh, wait, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the one who deserves to be in the photo op. Point 2: Perhaps CANDIDATE Romney could provide Americans with his tax contributions to the national kitty the past 10 years or so, you know, his PERCENTAGE of skin to American society. Mitt's a businessman, certainly he of all people understands PERCENTAGES.
No, Romney is against "free stuff" this is free stuff. Projects like this one must be eliminated so Romney's 5 sons (who did not serve can get tax cuts.
Socialism this be, yes Romney republicans?
Obama Built this!
For those not informed, the VA has the highest patient care satisfaction rate of any medical system in America, at HALF the per capita cost per patient. (You can look it up!) It is the most cost-effective health care system in the US, and better than most of the world. It is amazing. And it is socialized medicine. The GOVERNMENT owns all the hospitals and clinics, the doctors are govt employees, and the COST is half of private health care and 40% lower than Medicare. Socialized medicine. What Americans can do when they get their act together and stop being stupid.
Yes, this VA Hospital was built during the Obama administration. It's good to hear reasonable people give the President credit for supporting our veterans.
The VA still won't be able to get good doctors because their children won't have good schools to attend. I am in no way connected to schools, teachers, and my children are grown and attended good schools when we lived in another state. I am a disable vet. If you have ever been to other VAs in the country you know LV VA quality of care leaves much to be desired. A building doesn't provide solid medical care. Good doctors do!
I'm not now, nor have I ever been in the military, but I'll support expenditures like this all day long! Our veterans are the ones who put it ALL on the line so that we have the freedom to cackle on an internet message board about what we like or dislike.
We need to be generous in our support and appreciation for these folks, far beyond just thanking them for there service. Their commitment and that of their loved ones is at the foundation of our existence.
I'm an Obama supporter and I support quality services for our troops and a strong military, as he does. Republicans don't have a monopoly (as they seem to think) on patriotism.
Actually the approval and funding of this facility was done during the Bush Administration. Obama gets and deserves zero credit for this. If anything and I do not like him Mr. Harry Reid should get some credit for this medical center. Give credit where it is deserved.
Las Vegas is in Desperate Need of a Medical University Research Facility. Part of any Quality Medical Care System is the Need to have enough Health Care Professionals.
It does not matter if it's Socialized (at Half the For Profit Model Costs) like Medicare or the VA or Private. Of course when Republicans saw the Billions of Dollars that President Obama had for ramping up staffing with his affordable Health Care Act (Still run by Private Insurance Companies) they CUT the Funds. So in 2014 when Millions of additional Americans Finally get to see a Doctor - there will be lines. And for that You will be able to Thank Republicans - who strive to take Medical access away from all but the Wealthiest. Their Plan is Like the Movie - The More Money You have The Longer You get to live.
Obama did not build this....funding was set about 8-10 years ago to build a building... praising some for doing nothing and casting stones at others shows lack of knowledge here. The quality of VA care is well below standard, and the time it takes to get care is the worse. As far as patient satisfaction I guess when you are in charge of the hen house, you control the outcome...don't give me the Half of other health care, they just mix up the numbers to their benefit..the government is good at creative accounting...
There is nothing in the Constitution that says Veterans should get free Medical Care. That is socialism and free stuff.
At least the Romneys: sons, father, Grandfather, great Grandfather, great great grandfather will never use this facility because they didn't serve. Obama's grandfather did serve BTW.
If I was a bitter person, I would love to see everyone have this kind of medical care. I have been attempting to obtain an appointment with my assigned Doctor at the Primary Care Clinic for the past 2 months and am still unable to obtain an appointment. I just called them Friday and they still are not able to make September appointments. And I am considered to be a Priority One user due to my service connected disability rating.
To those of you with the kind words about our veterans service, I thank you. For those that think our veterans don't deserve the medical care that we do receive, there isn't anything I can say to make you understand.
Donald, call first thing in the morning and you have a good chance of getting a same day appointment. Call as soon as they open.
Finally and much needed.
Sure it was built during the Obama Administration with American taxpayer money
Why are we still having wars? What did we "win" in Korea, Vietnam, Irag, or Afghanistan except a bunch of mitilated people on both sides. WHAT did we "win"?
I wish the VA would hire all ex military personnel leaving or retiring from service, they understand the care needed and they have something in common with all the patients. VA needs to organize and provide more timely care. I will not use the VA because their care is questionable and untimely. I know for some this is their only healthcare they can get, but the VA has to do a better job in providing that care and controlling cost.
Obama Built This?????
It was started 6 years ago.
For the person who said to call early for same day appt they have eliminated this. U have to wait from 2-4 mo for an appt because of shortage of DRS . Our politicians both DEM and REP get the best of care . I would like the deserving VETS get that care.
Well, if conservos can blame Obama for every problem the nation has that he inherited, then whine about people defending Obama by blaming Bush for things that Bush did, I don't see why people can't credit Obama for things he didn't do, too. :)
Mark Anthony is there something really wrong with you? How could Obama have anything to do with this if it has been under construction for the last 6 years. Last time I checked Obama wasn't president then.
I have to laugh at the clueless louts who do nothing but spunk bunk: Obama is the cause for anything negative even if he wasn't alive or in in office at the time. The right has to come up with something because the truth isn't in their favor!
Steve, I have tried the same day appointment and the Northwest clinic just recommends to use the Emergency room at the Federal Hospital. And as chazbean said, it just doesn't occur anymore. Normally they have the calendars available 45 days out but I am guessing with the hospital opening this month they are all confused again. I saw the same thing with appointments when they were moving the primary care clinics around.
But when the new VA hospital opens it will only be about a mile and a half away from me. Sort of makes up for living in North Las Vegas.
I am always amazed at the audacity of the left and the liberals. Apparently, they didn't read the part where it has been under construction for 6 years. Even new math liberals should be able to subtract 3 1/2 from 6. Obama ,as usual, built nothing and takes everything, including credit for someone else's labor.
Yep Obama built this the same as he killed Osama. Taking credit for the actions of others.
It truly takes a village to built a hospital or change a life. There are many many good, kind folks and Lawmakers involved with envisioning, planning, and coordinating the manifestation of this benevolent project for our Veterans. With heartfelt appreciation I wish to extend my thanks and acknowledgement to THEM.
There are two political figures that stand out in my mind, that have supported this new Veteran's Hospital from the very beginning: Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Over the years, I have watched Eye on Washington on CBS, and have heard them speak of their concern for our Vets and their support of this hospital and enhanced medical care project. Commenter Chris Altrichter is right about the math, because this project has been brewing for quite a while.
I truly hope that those who need critical care appointments get priority, because they certainly have had to wait. God bless our US Servicemen and Servicewomen and their families, and all of the good people who support them!
Blessings and Peace,
Star