The type of clinic in each town will depend on both the needs of the community and the existing providers. In some instances clinics will be staffed by VA medical providers while in other communities local providers who have contracted with the VA will staff the clinic. In still other situations, there may not be a separate physical facility but patients will continue to see their existing health care providers, with VA then covering reimbursement of the care given to the veterans, a plan referred to as a contract capitation model. The Veterans Department will be working with each community to develop strategies which are most appropriate for their areas. Regardless of weapons sophistication or technology involved, our National security has always turned and will always turn on the ability, dedication and determination of the individual human beings engaged in the effort.
Veterans deserve our best in return for having given their best.
Access to health care remains a problem for many rural Texans, including veterans. The state ranks 49th nationally in the supply of nurses and 37th in physicians per 1,000 population. The VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network plan attempts to respond to the many changes in health care delivery while expanding the availability of services to a growing number of veterans. The Texas Network became the first in the VA system to integrate all of its facilities, including both medical centers and clinics. The integrations have served to increase access, increase the predictability and consistency of high quality patient care, optimize the utilization of physical plant and capital assets, personnel and other resources, and reduce unnecessary costs.