Outpatient care now possible under new agreement between VA and GLWACH

By GUIDON staffOctober 30, 2014

Fort Leonard Wood area veterans assigned to the Columbia, Missouri, veterans hospital living in the Fort Leonard Wood area needing hospitalization or select outpatient specialty care may no longer have to make the Columbia commute.

New Veteran Affairs/Department of Defense Sharing Agreements between the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital make this care possible.

According to GLWACH officials, some of the care the post hospital is able to provide under the agreement is comprehensive eye care that includes eye exams and the management or surgical treatment (if needed) of cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes, and glaucoma; women's health care to include obstetrics and gynecology including surgical treatment.

Podiatry services include the management of all routine foot, ankle and lower leg conditions both acute and chronic from fractures to arthritis and hospitalization for behavioral health issues requiring an inpatient admission.

Podiatry surgeries can range from simple bunion and hammertoe surgery, fracture reductions and repair, flatfoot reconstruction, tendon repairs, mid-foot to ankle fusions to include total ankle replacement surgery.

The VA/DOD Sharing Agreements allows GLWACH to provide the above services for local veterans who live in and around Phelps, Pulaski, Texas, Camden, Dallas, Dent, Laclede and Miller counties.

Before the agreements, veterans who live in the above counties had to make a nearly two-hour drive, depending on their residence, for some VA patient care.

"The new agreements will allow us to enhance access to certain specialty care services for many veterans in that portion of our service area. We are excited about our expanded relationship with the Department of Defense," said Wade Vlosich, director of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital.

"It is important that veterans understand that this agreement is currently only approved for veterans enrolled/assigned to the Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, and that all care must be coordinated by the veterans' primary care team and approved by the Truman VA prior to admission or before any non-emergency care is provided," said Thomas Wink, GLWACH director of Clinical Operations.

Emergency care however will be handled a little different, according to Wink.

"Veterans that are seen in the GLWACH emergency room and require hospitalization, the GLWACH bed manager will coordinate and obtain approval with the Truman VA prior to any admission," Wink said.

"Our veterans deserve excellent care closer to their homes and Family," said Col. Peter Nielsen, GLWACH commander.

"While primary care enrollment is fundamental, our goal is to fully engage the hospital's capability and capacity, including specialty and inpatient services, to effectively improve the health of all beneficiaries," Nielsen explained.

Nielsen added a byproduct of the agreement is reduced travel time and related costs for veterans.

Wink said the agreement allows GLWACH to fully engage the hospital's capability and capacity, including inpatient services and outpatient specialty care.

"Making care available to veterans here also provides enhanced wartime clinical skills for the Fort Leonard Wood hospital staff and its medical team," Wink said.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood