About us
At the VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System, we’re dedicated to improving the lives of Veterans and their families every day.
Our catchment area
About the VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System
The VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care, trains America’s future health care providers, and conducts important medical research.
Our Strategic Plan 2022-2025
CAVHS is on a journey to being a High Reliability Organization and we are proud to publish our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. Learn more about the plan.
Health care and services
We provide you with health care services at 10 locations in central Arkansas. Facilities include our John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock; our Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock; and 8 community-based outpatient clinics in Conway, El Dorado, Hot Springs, Mena, Mountain Home, Pine Bluff, Russellville, and Searcy. To learn more about the services each location offers, visit the VA Central Arkansas health services page.
The VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the South Central VA Health Care Network. We’re an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 (VISN 16), which includes medical centers and clinics in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, southeast Texas, and northwest Florida.
Research and development
The VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System is one of the largest and busiest VA medical centers in the country. We conduct research to discover knowledge, develop VA scientists and health care leaders, and create innovations that advance health care for Veterans and the nation. We offer Veterans the opportunity to participate in and benefit from our work. Our goal is to use research to promote better health and health care for all.
Major research areas include:
- Infectious diseases
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cardiology
- Hypertension
- Schizophrenia
- Hematology
- Surgery
- Oncology
Teaching and learning
John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital is a teaching hospital that provides a full range of services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. We serve more than 1,500 students and residents who are enrolled in more than 65 educational programs.
We offer residency training in many major medical specialties and subspecialties.
We also train physician assistants and nurses and provide associated training in other health professions.
Our principal affiliate is the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. We’re proud of our partnerships with top institutions and organizations that support the educational mission of the VA.
Learn more about our internships, fellowships and education opportunities.
Fast facts
- We have 2 hospitals, located in Little Rock and North Little Rock, to provide comprehensive health care services.
- Our hospitals have a total of 280 operating beds, as well as a 119-bed rehabilitation unit and a 152-bed Community Living Center.
- The Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock is located on the grounds of an old Army post known as Fort Roots.
- John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital is named for John L. McClellan, a Veteran of World War I and a longtime member of Congress.
Accreditations and achievements
Our facilities and programs have received accreditation from:
- The Joint Commission
- American Heart Association
- Commission on Cancer
- American College of Radiology Committee on Mammography
- Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International