In late 1995, the center opened a new cardiovascular surgical intensive-care unit. At about the same time, it began using a magnetic resonance imaging unit funded jointly by the center and the university. The center also has a 90-bed nursing home, satellite clinics at Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, and research programs in such fields as cancer, geriatrics, cardiology, and alcoholism. Again, such facilities and programs are not unique to Gainesville. They are common throughout the system.
Patient surveys indicate that the efforts to improve service and expand facilities are paying off.
At the Gainesville center, Ms. Reissener said, recent polls showed that more than 84 percent of users felt that VA care met their expectations. Studies among former users show similar approval rates. Other medical centers claim high approval ratings as well. Overall, VA studies show, patient satisfaction rates have risen from 60 percent to 65 percent over the past two years. Approval ratings for other VA benefits show similar improvements.