From: VA Media Relations <va.media.relations@VA.GOV>
Subject: VA Announces 44 New Clinics
To: VANEWS-L@WWW.LISTSERV.VA.GOV
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 1:03 PM

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                           VA Launches Expansion in Veterans Health Facilities
                           Peake: 44 New Clinics Bring Care Closer to Home
                           
                           WASHINGTON (June 26, 2008) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B.
                           Peake today announced plans to create 44 new community-based outpatient
                           clinics to bring the world-class health care of the Department of
                           Veterans Affairs (VA) closer to home for veterans in 21 states.
                           
                           "VA continues to make access to care easier through an expanding
                           outpatient system focused not only on primary treatment but also
                           prevention of disease, early detection, and health promotion," Peake
                           said.
                           
                           The new clinics, scheduled to be activated over the next 15 months, will
                           increase VA's network of independent and community-based clinics to 782,
                           an increase of more than 100 in five years.
                           
                           This growth in community clinics has helped VA meet veterans'
                           expectations for prompt, quality service, with 98 percent of veterans
                           seen within 30 days in all types of VA primary care facilities
                           throughout the country.
                           
                           In addition to on-site primary care staff, today's modern outpatient
                           clinics frequently feature state-of-the-art telehealth systems
                           permitting veterans to maintain regular contact with doctors in
                           specialties from cardiac care to mental health at regional VA hospitals
                           linked for video consultations, coupled with telemetry of health data or
                           images.
                           
                           A highly acclaimed national health records system allows practitioners
                           at even remote clinics to review patient records stored at VA facilities
                           anywhere in the country.
                           
                           VA's 21 regional networks develop applications for new clinics in
                           consideration of reducing the distance veterans travel to their nearest
                           VA hospital or clinic, as well as local demand, existing hospital,
                           clinic workload and other factors.
                           
                           A listing of the newly approved clinics is attached.
                           
                           VA's Planned Sites for New Outpatient Clinics
                           
                           Alabama (2) -- Marshall County, Wiregrass
                           
                           Alaska -- Matanuska-Susitna Borough area
                           
                           Arkansas (2) -- Ozark, White County
                           
                           California -- East Bay-Alameda County area
                           
                           Florida -- Summerfield
                           
                           Georgia (4) -- Baldwin County, Coweta County, Glynn County, Liberty
                           County
                           
                           Indiana (2) -- Miami County, Morgan County
                           
                           Iowa -- Wapello County
                           
                           Louisiana (5) -- Lake Charles, Leesville, Natchitoches, St. Mary Parish,
                           Washington Parish
                           
                           Maine -- Lewiston-Auburn area
                           
                           Minnesota (2) -- Douglas County, Northwest Metro
                           
                           Missouri -- Franklin County
                           
                           New Mexico -- Rio Rancho
                           
                           North Carolina (2) -- Robeson County, Rutherford County
                           
                           North Dakota -- Grand Forks County
                           
                           Ohio -- Gallia County
                           
                           Oklahoma (4) -- Altus, Craig County, Enid, Jay
                           
                           Tennessee (3) -- Giles County, Maury County, McMinn County
                           
                           Texas (5) -- Katy, Lake Jackson, Richmond, Tomball, El Paso County
                           
                           Virginia (3) -- Augusta County, Emporia, Wytheville
                           
                           West Virginia -- Greenbrier County