“As new coronavirus hotspots have emerged across the country, the Department of Veterans Affairs has so far deployed nearly 1,000 of its own medical professionals to 46 states as part of its “fourth mission.”
“The department is currently tracking some 5,254 active coronavirus cases, including 4,655 veterans and 432 VA employees, according to public data…”
“VA employees, for example, are assisting some 30 nursing homes in Florida today with the state’s coronavirus response, Wilkie said. The department sent medical professionals on Sunday to help a state-run mental health hospital in Phoenix, Arizona…”
“Wilkie said VA would field the new electronic health record in the Pacific Northwest later this year, though he didn’t provide a specific timeline. The department in April announced its decision to pause the initial rollout of its multi-billion dollar electronic health record to its first site at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, due to the pandemic.”
“He also pointed to VA’s hiring surge as another example of the department adapting to emergency circumstances. The department has hired 23,000 new employees since mid-March…” Read the full article here.
Source: With coronavirus cases surging, VA’s ‘fourth mission’ now covers 46 states, Wilkie says – By Nicole Ogrysko, July 8, 2020. Federal News Network.
