CLICK BELOW TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WUTH JOHN SHEALEY, CENTER DIRECTOR
The 2022 PACT Act significantly broadened eligibility for VA benefits and expanded eligibility for healthcare to more Veterans than ever before. To support this increase, the Department of Veterans Affairs saw record hiring in 2023, which filled thousands of critical positions to improve care for our nation’s heroes. The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) was no different and used this expansion to open new services to meet the needs of their Veterans.
The OGJVAMC hired several key positions during last year’s record hiring period. OGJVAMC expanded services for female Veterans and hired its first gynecologist in 2023. In addition, OGJVAMC hired its first gastroenterologist to bring specialty care closer to home for many Veterans who experience digestive issues. Other key positions onboarded include several primary care physicians, nursing staff, and administrative support staff.
The Community Living Center (CLC) has seen a nearly 20% increase in their daily census in the last several months, so beginning in June, the OGJVAMC will shift its staffing to better accommodate Veteran care without adding cost. A limited number of staff in the inpatient acute care unit will be transitioned to the CLC to support care for those patients. Wisely managing resources supports long-term strategic success.
“I have been charged with two very important responsibilities, caring for America’s heroes while simultaneously being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. These changes will better align us for both of these obligations,” stated John Shealey, Medical Center Director.
As part of the VA’s plan to mitigate the projected $4.5 billion budget deficit across the enterprise, the Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with VHA Central Office on a joint solution.
“We have the staffing needed to provide care to Veterans and meet the demands of OGJVAMC’s growing needs,” stated Shealey.
In 2023-2024, the OGJVAMC enrolled 800 Veterans and hired accordingly. All hiring requests are being carefully evaluated to ensure that Veteran care is not affected. The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is committed to providing quality care to Veterans and ensuring that adequate staffing levels remain in place.
“We are not proposing a reduction in services or care for our Veterans. We are working toward right sizing our staffing and resources for the benefit of our Veterans. While our inpatient unit has been underutilized, our outpatient services continue to be very busy. By strategically matching our staffing to where we are serving the most Veterans, we have been able to expand services to include Neurology, Gynecology and Gastroenterology within the past several months. We will continue to assess how and where we can provide the most services and the best access to the care that our Veterans are needing and desiring.” stated Dr. Mark Kadowaki, Chief of Staff.
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