FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
Sen. Hutchison Breaks Ground on VA Center for Outpatient Surgery and Specialized Services
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ambulatory Surgery and Specialty Outpatient Center at the VA Health Center in Harlingen. The new facility, coupled with service contracts for specialized care and emergency services, will dramatically enhance access to local medical care for Valley veterans.
The VA reports that the services that will be available at the Ambulatory Surgery and Specialty Outpatient Center will eliminate 95 percent of travel for Valley veterans who are now driving to San Antonio for specialized care.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks the first major step toward enhancing the level of care available to South Texas veterans. And this Health Care Center is only a down payment on a much larger debt that must still be paid – a hospital that serves the full needs of the growing population of South Texas veterans,” said Sen. Hutchison.
“Two weeks ago, I met with the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley. They made the trip to Washington, D.C to advocate for improvements in veterans’ care and make a personal plea for a hospital in the Valley. I salute them for their steadfast advocacy on behalf of current and future veterans,” Sen. Hutchison said.
This expansion is the next phase of the plan to increase healthcare for veterans in the Valley. Slated for completion in December 2010, the center will increase current square footage from 38,000 to 158,000 square feet at the facility. The facility will offer a full range of outpatient services, including six surgical suites and clinics for prosthetics care, oncology, and sensory aids. Other services will include diagnostics such as digital X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, as well as outpatient surgeries, including cataract removals, diagnostic colonoscopies, and prostate biopsies. The addition will also add over 120,000 square feet of medical care space, making it the largest ambulatory care facility designed for rural veterans in the VA system.
Additionally, in March, the VA announced that a contract was awarded to Valley Baptist Health Care System, which will provide the contracted care at its two medical center locations in Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. Another contract was awarded to the South Texas Health System, where veterans will be able to access inpatient and emergency services at McAllen Medical Center and Edinburg Regional Medical Center. Services provided under the contracts will include acute medical, surgical, and mental health care in an inpatient setting, as well as emergency services.
As the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Sen. Hutchison has secured critical funding to expand medical care for Veterans in South Texas.
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