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VA
Pittsburgh Healthcare System - Nobody knows veterans
like we do.
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) is an
integrated healthcare system, serving a veteran
population of over 360,000 throughout the tri-state
area of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West
Virginia. While always striving to provide quality
care to our nation's veterans that is second to
none, VAPHS is a leader in modern health care
delivery and cutting-edge technology.
VAPHS is planning boldly for the future and setting
the standard for state-of-the-art health care
facilities with a major construction
project to continue to modernize and improve health
care for these national heroes.
In fiscal year 2005 VAPHS served 56,468 unique
veterans and completed 452,599 outpatient visits. 53 liver transplants were
performed at VAPHS, as well as 15 kidney transplants. VAPHS continues to strive to "serve those who served."
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is a tertiary
referral center for the western half of the VA Stars
& Stripes Healthcare Network, VISN 4. VAPHS consists
of three divisions operating under one management.
What is now known as the Heinz Division was
originally built in 1925. The University Drive and
Highland Drive VA Medical Centers were activated in
the 1950s; they were consolidated as the VA
Pittsburgh Healthcare System in October 1996.
The University Drive Division is located in the
Oakland district of Pittsburgh adjacent to the
University of Pittsburgh. University Drive Division
is a major medical/surgical tertiary care facility,
serving as the general medicine and surgery facility
with 146 authorized beds. An active research program
contributes significantly to the clinical and
academic atmosphere.
The H. John Heinz, III Progressive Care Center,
Heinz Division, is a Geriatric Center of Excellence
located eight miles northeast of Oakland in O'Hara
Township. The Heinz Division has 336 operating beds,
including a Dementia Unit, hospice and palliative
care, and nursing home care beds. Heinz serves as
the progressive long term care facility. A modern
replacement hospital was opened on November 5, 1994.
In addition to this new building to serve our
veteran population better, this facility has opened
several new outpatient clinics.
The Highland Drive Division is located in the East
Liberty section of Pittsburgh. The Highland Drive
Division of the VAPHS is an acute care, tertiary
neuropsychiatry facility and homeless domiciliary
with 180 authorized beds. All programs are well
supported by an attending and consultant staff of
subspecialty physicians and allied health personnel.
There is an active research program with principal
investigators specializing in the study of
schizophrenia, sleep and cognitive disorders, and
related psychiatric illnesses. Highland Drive has
also become home to many outpatient and specialty
programs, including an adult day health care and a
Regional Center for Treatment of Former Prisoners of
War.
On May 7, 2004, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System was
approved for a $200 million major construction
project. The purpose of this project is to
consolidate the three-division health care system
into two divisions, to accommodate the current and
projected workload and to provide a
state-of-the-art, improved care environment while
reducing operating expenses, and enhancing services.
Construction will take place at both the University
Drive and Heinz Divisions in order to relocate the
functions currently housed at the Highland Drive
Division. Construction at the University Drive
Division will include approximately 208,000 square
feet and a 1,500-space parking garage. At the Heinz
Division, construction will consist of approximately
264,000 square feet.
Primary Care Outpatient Clinics are located in St.
Clairsville, OH; Aliquippa, PA; Uniontown, PA;
Washington, PA; and Greensburg, PA. The VA
Pittsburgh Healthcare System also supports three
Veterans Outreach Centers in Pittsburgh, PA;
McKeesport, PA; and Wheeling, WV.
The mission of the VAPHS is to care for America's
veterans - providing excellent health care, training
their future providers, and advancing medical
knowledge through research.
To maintain these diversified and highly specialized
functions, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System has
been designated as National Independent Liver and
Renal Transplant Centers, Bariatric Surgery Center,
Regional Cardiac Surgery Center, Oncology Network
Center, and Dialysis Center. The VA Pittsburgh
Healthcare System has earned recognition as a
National Center of Clinical Excellence in Women
Veterans Health Programs and in Renal Dialysis.
VAPHS also has the distinction of being awarded four
National Research of Excellence; in Geriatrics,
Rehabilitation Research, Behavioral Health and
Health Equities Research and Promotion.
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