South Texas Veterans Health Care System opens its doors even wider and increases Veterans’ access to VA health care

This initiative expanded access to care through practices such as expanded hours clinic, increasing usage of virtual care and telehealth, Saturday Clinic, and more. South Texas Veterans Health Care System efforts saw a 11% decrease in new patient wait time e for primary care and a 15% increase in mental health new patient appointments.

This increase in access to care is part of an ongoing, nationwide VA Access Sprint to increase access to care for Veterans. Local VA facilities and regional networks have spent several months focusing on VA’s ongoing strategy of multiple, large-scale initiatives aimed at the goal of providing the soonest and best care to Veterans. This included exchanging and implementing tried and true access practices as well as innovations from VA staff across the country to increase Veterans’ access to VA care.

Nationwide, VA saw approximately 25,000 more new patients from October 2023 to February 2024 compared to the same period last year.

Expanding access to VA care is a top priority for VA and the entire Biden-Harris administration because VA has proven to be the best care in America for Veterans. Veterans who receive VA health care have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans.

“Our mission is to provide world-class health care to our Nation’s heroes. When a Veteran comes to VA, we must be able to give them the care they deserve, whenever and wherever they need it,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “I am so proud of our workforce for finding new ways to open VA’s doors wider – and I’m excited to continue working to make sure that Veterans have access to VA care at every turn.”

“Our Veterans deserve timely access to world-class health care, said Executive Director, Julianne Flynn. “I am proud of our staff and know they worked tirelessly to ensure that our Veterans have timely access to primary care and mental health services.” 

VA is currently delivering more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in our nation’s history, setting an all-time record number of health care appointments in 2023. VA is undertaking this effort at a time when we are also expanding health care eligibility for millions of Veterans nationwide under the PACT Act. A press release, published March 26, 2024, highlights the accomplishments of the Access Sprint.

For more information about VA care, visit www.southtexas.va.gov.