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Veteran Hospitals, Medical Centers, and Assisted Living Facilities

Veterans, like all Americans, can pick and choose which hospital or medical center they go to when they’re sick or injured.  However, as partial compensation for their service, the United States government, specifically the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has created the largest healthcare network in the continental U.S. just for veterans.  The Veteran’s Health Administration oversees 153 medical centers, clinics, and assisted living centers across the country.

These hospitals and medical centers offer a wide array of services to take care of any need that a veteran might have.  These can include but are not limited to:

  • Outpatient/Inpatient Surgery
  • Critical Care
  • General Medicine
  • Physical Therapy
  • Oncology, and
  • Dental and Vision Care

And for those patients suffering from life-threatening conditions which required advanced surgeries and treatments, the VA has a special branch of centers which deal specifically with organ transplants, plastic surgery, and terminal care.  About a third of all Veterans will develop mesothelioma, a cancer in the lining of the internal organs that is often referred to as ‘asbestos cancer’ because it is caused by exposure to airborne asbestos.  Mesothelioma treatments require surgery and other traditional cancer therapies, as well as terminal care.

VA hospitals serve men and women regardless of race, faith, income levels, or political affiliations.  The only qualifier is that the patient must have served in one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces:  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.

Special exceptions are also made for those who took part in military operations while serving in the United States merchant marines. 

In addition, any member of the Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard called to active duty is eligible to take advantage of these healthcare facilities.

Regional Healthcare Facilities within the VA’s Network

 In addition to small, local veteran’s hospitals all around the country, there are several large facilities dedicated to serving regional patients or those who must seek advanced treatment that close-to-home facilities do not offer.  A partial list includes:

  • Albany VA Medical Center:  Also called the Stratton Medical Center, the Albany VA Medical Center is available to the large number of veterans within the 22 counties of upstate New York, western Massachusetts, and Vermont.  This facility specializes in cardiac care and cancer treatment, offering advance cardiac catheterization and radiation therapies.
  • Manhattan Campus of the NY VA System:  This facility is in the heart of New York City.  Situated at East 23rd Street, this facility is family friendly and offers daycare services for veterans undergoing treatment as well as hotel-style suites in which patients and their family members can stay while being taken care of.  In addition to specializing in women’s health issues, this facility is dedicated to mental health and recuperation from Post-Traumatic Stress and readjustment after combat or traumatic deployments. 
  • San Francisco VA Medical Center:  This massive facility oversees treatment for the veterans within the 8 counties which comprise Northern California.  Specializing in audiology and vision care, the facility also features a dedicated cancer care wing and a homeless veteran shelter on campus. 
  • Dallas VA Center:  Sitting on 84 acres in the heart of Dallas, Texas, this veteran’s hospital offers a 289 bed facility for acute care in addition to a spinal cord injury center and a psychiatric and residential rehab center.  The staff of over 3,600 dedicated doctors and nurses works with over 1,000 volunteers on a daily basis to bring the highest level of quality to veterans in the American Southwest.
  • Puget Sound VA Medical Center:  This center is actually two separate facilities, the oldest of which dates back to World War I.  The American Lake facility in Tacoma, Washington is a multi-care facility with ties to the University of Washington.  The Hospital’s Seattle location specializes in bone marrow transplantation, geriatric care, and outpatient surgery.  This facility also has a dedicated mental health unit including a substance abuse treatment center.

This is only a partial list of the facilities nationwide.  To find a Veteran’s hospital near you, and many other helpful resources both online and off, visit the Veteran’s Affairs Website:  http://www.va.gov/

If you or a loved one is a veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a mesothelioma lawsuit or asbestos bankruptcy trust claim and receive compensation for your injuries.  Contact our office today at 415-332-4262 to speak directly with an attorney who specializes in mesothelioma and get a free case evaluation.