|
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System |
||
|
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System A Commitment to Excellence The mission of the VA Palo Alto Health Care
System is to serve the veteran through compassionate, innovative,
comprehensive, accessible quality patient care in a safe and
supportive environment while promoting excellence in research and
education. The VA Palo Alto Health Care System will provide veterans
and others whom we serve with an efficient, integrated system of
patient care; will be a valued community resource; an employer of
choice; and an international leader in research and education. The VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) is a major tertiary referral center with three hospital-based divisions serving the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21). With eight facilities, 913 beds and over 2,700 employees, VA Palo Alto Health Care System is one of the largest hospitals in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Palo Alto Division (PAD) is home to one of
the most sophisticated tertiary care centers in VHA. All acute care,
acute inpatient psychiatry, spinal cord injured, rehabilitation
medicine, blind rehabilitation and hospice services are located at
PAD. The Menlo Park Division (MPD), located seven miles to the North,
provides both inpatient and outpatient comprehensive domiciliary care,
mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and long-term
geriatric care. The Livermore Division (LVD), located forty miles East
of Palo Alto, provides sub-acute and geriatric inpatient services as
well as primary, subspecialty and ancillary outpatient services. In
recent years, VAPAHCS has made significant efforts to provide
ambulatory care services within each of its ten county catchment
areas. Currently, VAPAHCS operates six community-based outpatient
clinics (CBOC's). These outpatient clinics are located in San Jose,
Monterey, Capitola, Modesto, Stockton and Sonora. VAPAHCS operates a number of special regional
referral and treatment centers including a Spinal Cord Injury Center
and a Western Region Blind Rehabilitation Center. Other major referral
programs offered include Cardio Thoracic Surgery, PTSD and Homeless
Veterans Rehabilitation. VAPAHCS operates one of the largest TRICARE
programs in VA. VAPAHCS manages one of five Mental Illness Research
& Education Clinic centers in VA. VAPAHCS is also home to one of
four Patient Safety Centers of Inquiry and the Center operates two
state-of-the-art simulation centers. In 2002, VA awarded VAPAHCS six
"Centers of Excellence" in the Autopsy Program, Domiciliary
Care for Homeless Veterans Program, AIDS Program, Spinal Cord Injury
and Disorders Program, Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Program
and Cardiac Surgery Program. |
The award recognizes VA medic programs that provide quality service while meeting the highest standards of health care, patient satisfaction, exceptional use of VA resources and acknowledges their research contributions. Elizabeth Joyce Freeman, Director, says the award is a tribute to the commitment and professionalism of the health care system staff. "We are proud of all the doctors, nurses, technicians and managers who ensure the veteran patients' medical needs are met," said Freeman. "We at VA pride ourselves in providing the highest quality care for our nation's veterans." VA Palo Alto Health Care System is also proud to be
recognized by the Patients' Evaluation of Performance in California
(PEP-C), a collaborative effort to gather information about inpatient
experiences at hospitals with a 3 star (above average) rating. Says
Freeman, “Choosing a hospital is an important decision. VA Palo Alto
Health Care System is dedicated to excellence and leadership in
healthcare, and we believe our veterans' deserves no less.” VAPAHCS also maintains one of the largest research
programs in VA with extensive research centers in geriatrics (GRECC),
mental health (MIRECC), Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord regeneration,
schizophrenia, Rehabilitation Research and Development Center (RRDC),
HIV research and a Health Economics Resource Center (HERC). VAPAHCS has
one of four Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Centers (CSPCC) and
a Program Evaluation & Resource Center (PERC). VAPAHCS has an extensive Graduate Medical Education
(GME) program. In 2001, training was provided to 1,351 medical students,
interns, residents and fellows from 102 academic institutions. Our
affiliation with Stanford School of Medicine, which began in 1959, plays
an integral role in our patient care delivery. For those interested in job opportunities,
positions are available in Palo Alto, Livermore, Menlo Park, Stockton,
Modesto, Sonora, Monterey, Capitola, and San Jose. Internships are available in Accounting, Contract
Administration, Engineering, and Human Resources. For more information go to http://www.palo-alto.med.va.gov VA Palo Alto Health Care System
|
|
| Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System | ||
