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Veteran News

News Summaries regarding Veterans Disability Benefits

VA Announces Whole Health Flagship Sites

May 2018 – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs designated 18 facilities as VA Whole Health Flagship Sites.  These facilities are located across the country, within the VA health-care system, and their focus is on empowering & educating injured veterans on how they can take charge of their health and well-being.

Previously, the VA health-care system sought to treat the condition or the disease and not the veteran as a person. This often led to denial of benefits or low rating decisions by the VA for the veteran seeking disability benefits. Now the system is focused on a personalized health plan that takes into consideration the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental needs of Veterans.  The Whole Health System recognizes that health care involves more than the physical human body.

“VA’s Whole Health approach helps Veterans live their lives to the fullest,” said VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie. “By developing a personal health plan that integrates many areas of their lives, Veterans can truly take charge of their wellbeing and improve their health all around.  I’m pleased to recognize these VA facilities that are helping our Veterans do just that.”

The following facilities have been designated Whole Health Flagship Sites:

  • VA Boston Health Care System (Massachusetts)
  • VA New Jersey Health Care System (East Orange, NJ)
  • Erie VA Medical Center (Pennsylvania)
  • Beckley VA Medical Center (West Virginia)
  • G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center (Salisbury, NC)
  • Atlanta VA Medical Center (Georgia)
  • Tampa VA Medical Center (Florida)
  • Tennessee Valley Health Care System (Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN)
  • Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center (Saginaw, MI)
  • Tomah VA Medical Center (Wisconsin)
  • Louis VA Health Care System (Missouri)
  • Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (Little Rock, AR)
  • South Texas Veterans Health Care System (San Antonio, TX)
  • Salt Lake City VA Medical Center (Utah)
  • VA Portland Health Care System (Oregon)
  • Palo Alto VA Medical Center (Livermore, CA)
  • Tucson VA Medical Center (Arizona)
  • VA Nebraska–Western Iowa Health Care System (Omaha, NE)

In addition to the flagship facilities listed above, the VA declared that new sites will serve as Whole Health Design Sites, beginning in 2018. VA Whole Health Design Sites, which are listed below, are intended to implement more specific components of the Whole Health System and/or expand their existing efforts to provide a more comprehensive Whole Health strategy.

In 2018, the following facilities have been designated Whole Health Design Sites:

  • Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (Bedford, MA)
  • Birmingham Alabama VA Medical Center
  • Central California VA Health Care System (Fresno, CA)
  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center (Ohio)
  • John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (Detroit, MI)
  • Fargo VA Health Care System (North Dakota)
  • Kansas City VA Medical Center (Missouri)
  • William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (Madison, WI)
  • Manchester VA Medical Center (New Hampshire)
  • Mountain Home VA Medical Center (Tennessee)
  • Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Medical Center (Sioux Falls, SD)
  • Syracuse VA Medical Center (New York)
  • West Palm Beach VA Medical Center (Florida)

The Whole Health for Life document in PDF format, provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, can be accessed by clicking the following link: https://www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/docs/2017-AR-Vet-Facing_FNL-W508.pdf