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VA to Open Outpatient Clinic on Lanai

March 2, 2007

Secretary Nicholson: Clinic Will Improve Veterans’ Access to Care

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will open a new outpatient clinic for veterans on the island of Lanai.

“VA is committed to improving access to our care for Hawaii’s veterans,” Nicholson said. “This facility will ensure that veterans on Lanai have access to the world-class VA health care that they have earned by their service to our nation.”

The new facility joins nearly 900 existing VA outpatient clinics that provide primary health care for America’s veterans. This year, VA outpatient clinics are expected to treat veterans during more than 64 million visits.

The new facility will replace most outpatient care now provided under contract to veterans by the Lanai Community Hospital. VA will continue to purchase care from the hospital for certain inpatient and some outpatient services.

Telemedicine -- the use of telecommunications technology to provide health care from distant locations -- will link the clinic to additional services at other VA clinics and hospitals.

Additionally, VA is working with the Hawaiian Health Systems Corporation, the Native Hawaiian Health System and local providers to obtain Federally Qualified Health Clinic status for the Linai hospital, which would increase the availability of specialty care for all Lanai residents.

Last year, VA spent $343 million in Hawaii to provide health care, disability compensation, pensions and other benefits to the islands’ 102,000 veterans. VA currently operates a major medical center in Honolulu and outpatient clinics at Hilo, Kona, Maui and Lihue.

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Larry Scott

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