VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System: A Vision for the Future in Care for Veterans 
 

Animation: The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System logo is at the top of the screen
with aerial photographs of the VAPHS' three divisions.  The opening title,
"A Vision for the Future in Care for Veterans" appears over top of the images
of the three divisions. 

Narrator: The model for the future success of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
began years ago, addressing specific improvements

Narrator: in the quality of care, decreasing waiting times, and increasing access
to healthcare across the entire continuum of care.

Narrator: To achieve our vision of excellent care, we worked with staff, clinicians,
and stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for the future.

Narrator: After our extraordinary success in demonstrating improved quality of care,
we invested in modernizing and expanding many of our busiest clinics and patient
care units.

Narrator: Constructing a new 108-bed tower that improved privacy and modernized
the inpatient environment at University Drive.

Narrator: Upgrading our critical care units.

Narrator: Increasing capacity and modernizing 56 medical and surgical specialty
exam rooms.

Narrator: Adding operating room suites featuring cutting-edge robotic technology,
which reduces the potential for infection and speeds the recovery process.

Narrator: And establishing an independent liver and kidney transplant program,
increasing the number of veterans receiving transplants from 18 to over 45 in the
first year alone.

Narrator: Improvements were also made in long-term care at the H.J. Heinz Division
with the addition of:

Narrator: Two Palliative Care units

Narrator: Primary care clinics, improving access and convenience for our veterans.

Narrator: Home-like, communal space incorporated into the dementia care unit.

Narrator: Now, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is preparing to launch into
possibly the greatest opportunity to improve the environment of care for both
this generation of veterans and the generations to come.

Director Moreland: It is my great pleasure to announce an almost $200 million dollar
construction project for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Director Moreland: This plan, which has been fully endorsed by the independent
CARES Commission and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is in the
best interest of the veterans we serve.

Director Moreland: The major construction project includes over half a million
square feet of new and renovated space helping us to move into the next phase
of VA healthcare.

Narrator: Transforming into a more cost efficient, veteran focused,
two-division system.

Narrator: When people think of world-class healthcare, VA Pittsburgh will be
proud to set the standard.

Narrator: This construction project scheduled to begin in 2005 will allow us
to achieve the next four phases of our vision.

Narrator: Improving access to the University Drive Division:

Narrator: by constructing a 1,500 car parking structure.

Narrator: A veteran service center focusing on convenience and satisfaction
the moment veterans walk through the door.

Narrator: A new lobby entrance linking the garage, the existing building
and a new behavioral health pavilion.

Narrator: Developing the future of behavioral medicine.

Narrator: Construction of a new behavioral health pavilion will provide
both clinicians and veterans an environment that supports the healing process
by providing private, state of the art inpatient units and outpatient clinics
in close proximity to acute medical care.

Narrator: These outpatient clinics and inpatient units will emphasize more
outdoor activities, gardens, and other holistic approaches to health in a
more secure environment.

Narrator: The new behavioral health pavilion will serve as a model for
behavioral health care, not only for VA, but also for the nation, as we look
to further understand and address the future behavioral health needs of veterans.

Narrator: We're building a world class Ambulatory Care Center including
primary care clinics, specialty clinics, rehabilitation, prosthetics, dental,
and pharmacy in a single, more accessible location.

Narrator: We'll also be developing the model for residential care.

Narrator: Transforming the current institutional environment into a residential care
villa assisting veterans on their path to rejoining the community.

Narrator: In completing our vision we will renovate and create new space for
administrative and support needs for the entire healthcare system while reserving
space for any future expansion of care.

Narrator: In summary, the strategic plan we developed over the past few years was
the foundation of a plan that will be fully realized following the completion of
the $200 million construction project.

Narrator: This construction project and consolidation provides the VA Pittsburgh
Healthcare System with the unique opportunity to serve as a national model for
the Department of Veterans Affairs' ongoing commitment to providing the best care
to America's veterans.

Narrator: It represents an investment in the future of veteran health care.
We look forward to your continued support and input into this process as we continue
our shared commitment to provide world-class healthcare to veterans in Western Pennsylvania.

Narrator: A collage of images with VAPHS staff, veterans and aerial photos of the
three divisions over a background of animated, flying red, white and blue stars and stripes
with the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System logo.