Subject: Salisbury, NC VA Medical Center

FYI

You may have been contacted about proposed changes to the Salisbury, NC VA Medical Center. Dr. Kussman has asked me to share the following information with you:
VHA is in the process of conducting an extensive review of proposed changes to the Salisbury VA Medical Center. The results of the review will be provided to Secretary Peake not later than November 15, 2008. On receipt of their review, the Secretary will consider the reviewers’ findings, and I will be pleased to share those results with you. At this time, the Salisbury VAMC has been instructed to not begin implementation of any proposed changes.
At least one Congressional office has received calls indicating that patients were being referred to private health care facilities, and your organization may have as well. No change in referral patterns at the facility has been implemented. If Salisbury VAMC has the appropriate capacity, the patient is treated at that hospital. If the facility does not have the appropriate capacity or expertise, the patient is referred to outside providers or other VHA facilities. VA’s goal is to ensure that the final plan for Salisbury and throughout North Carolina meets the clinical care needs of the State’s veterans.

Laura B. Balun
Director, Voluntary Service Office
202-461-7300 (NEW ##)