VA Medical Center in Big Spring Expands Services
Published Sep 15, 2008
More than 900 veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq have been treated here.
Military veterans living in and around Big Spring have access to specialized medical services right in their backyard, thanks to the West Texas VA Health Care System.
The system, anchored by the VA Medical Center in Big Spring, serves a 54,000-square-mile region and nearly 60,000 people, including 19,000 in Big Spring. In recent years, the center has assisted about 900 veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Last year the average age of our veterans dropped,” says Iva Jo Hanslik, community relations coordinator. “Most of our veterans are now under 65.”
The center’s medical care includes ophthalmology, outpatient surgery, rehabilitation and mental health services.
“We have a wonderful work-therapy program,” Hanslik says. “We work with the community to place veterans and get them back in an employment setting.”
A $20 million program of expansion and renovation will bring upgrades to the nearly 60-year-old facility that dominates the Big Spring landscape. The improvements call for expanded outpatient care as well as a 40-bed unit to accommodate veterans battling substance abuse. Groundbreaking is scheduled for October 2008.
Terry Wegman, executive director of Big Spring Economic Development Corp., says the center brings traffic that boosts the local economy, particularly the hotel and restaurant sectors. The upcoming construction work will provide an additional economic infusion, Wegman says.
With 510 employees, the center is not the area’s largest employer in terms of jobs, Hanslik says, but it does have the highest payroll.
Moreover, about 300 volunteers provide valuable staff and patient support, she says, adding that the center always needs volunteers willing to donate time and good cheer. “Providing care for veterans is the most rewarding experience you could ask for. It’s an honor to be able to give back, even if it’s just a little bit.”
Story by Leanne Libby
Photo by Brian McCord
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