On Wednesday, the heads of Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center signed a letter to form a partnership looking for opportunities to share resources in order to maximize care for the soldier and veteran, and reduce costs for both organizations.
In the past, the two have shared and worked on joint ventures, collaborations and referrals, said Thomas Smith III, director Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, which includes the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center.
“It’s a win-win for both of our organization, but the real winners are the service members and the veterans, because they will continue to benefit from the collaborations,” Smith said.
The biggest collaboration, Smith said, will be a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Fort Hood’s new hospital, which received funding earlier this year.
Central to the success of the work done by the military and the VA, is the soldier and the veteran believing the Army and the nation have done the right thing - provide care for them and their families, Darnall commander Col. Casper Jones III said.
“When they raise their hand and say ‘I will, I’ll go, I’ll defend,’ they have an expectation that we will deliver on quality care,” he said.
In the future, it is hoped the VA and Darnall will have the capabilities to make referrals into each other’s facilities.
The Waco VA Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans will be working with Fort Hood soldiers, including setting up its mobile MRI on the base.
These are not the first collaborations between the VA and Darnall.
The VA has had a laundry contract for several years with Darnall. The laundry is done in Waco at a significant cost savings to the Army, Smith said.
A couple of years ago, Darnall and the VA took advantage of the VA/Department of Defense Joint Incentive Fund to renovate space at the Temple VA where sleep studies could be performed.
Now, Darnall and the VA are looking at expanding the sleep study program, including increasing the size from six beds to 10, Smith said.
The VA now performs separation and retirement physicals at Fort Hood, which meets the needs of both the Army and VA. Fort Hood’s blood center can supply the VA with red blood cells when needed, at a reduced cost, he said.
In addition, there are mental health care providers from the VA at Fort Hood’s Resilience and Restoration Center and VA liaisons working at the Warrior Transition Unit, both helping transition soldiers into the VA system, Smith said.
