The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the country with 171 medical facilities, 1,000 outpatient points of care, with academic affiliates, DOD, and other Federal partners, plus 1.2 million community providers.
To report on the needs of Veterans healthcare system now and in the future, the VA released their Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Report). The AIR Report is an initiative to study the current and future healthcare needs of Veterans in order to transform the agency for future needs..
According to the AIR Report, the healthcare environment has changed significantly over the last 50 years. Advances in clinical approaches and technologies and changes in payment models have made it possible to shift from a higher reliance on inpatient care to the delivery of the same care in outpatient setting.
The use of telehealth has helped bring medical expertise directly into Veterans’ homes and other convenient locations, and as a result, has further diminishing reliance on in-person visits. Therefore, the VA’s infrastructure must evolve to effectively leverage these innovations in healthcare delivery.
As the VA plans for the future, the VA must consider their role in the nation’s response to COVID-19, acknowledge the uncertainty what COVID-19 will mean for healthcare delivery over the long term, and preserve the VA’s ability to serve the healthcare systems in times of future emergencies.
One of the VA’s key healthcare planning objectives are to provide equitable access to outpatient care through modern facilities close to where Veterans live and through the integration of virtual care.
Rapidly evolving technology and pharmacological advances have drastically changed care, enabling more services to be provided in outpatient settings. This shift to outpatient care improves convenience for patients, safety by avoiding hospital acquired infections, and for private sector systems, and is more cost efficient.
In addition to these changes, requirements in inpatient facilities has been altered. These facilities must now be able to provide more complex and focused care through the use of modern operating rooms, specialty procedure areas, and new technologies.
This will require the VA to invest in expanded ambulatory (outpatient) sites offering primary care, mental health, and specialty services. The VA will seek to provide equitable access care to Veterans by leveraging telehealth, partnerships, community providers, and provide ongoing care coordination.
There is the vital need to make sure that all Veterans receive the prompt and correct care for their complex needs. The goals are to enhance inpatient mental health within VA-owned facilities through partnerships, invest in modern community living center facilities, and invest in modern, geographically distributed, and accessible residential rehabilitation treatment program facilities to provide care, that is not readily available in the community.
Go to https://www.va.gov/aircommissonreport/ for Volume II of the report containing Recommendations to the Air Commission on how to transition the Department of Veterans Affairs in future years.