Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Paul Lawrence visited the Wilmington VA Medical Center (VAMC) on Saturday, May 3, to attend their 75th Anniversary and Patient Carnival. The Wilmington VA has been providing world-class care since 1950.
Over 500 Veterans, Wilmington VA Community Living Center (CLC) residents, their families, VA employees, community partners and the public attended Wilmington VA’s 75th Anniversary and Patient Carnival. Attendees enjoyed carnival games, Delaware National Guard displays and much more. Veterans had access to resources and support for filing claims, enrolling in VA health care, suicide prevention, Behavioral health, homeless program, nutrition, women’s health and whole health resources.
During Deputy Secretary Lawrence’s visit, he toured the Wilmington VA CLC and met with veteran residents and enjoyed the outdoor festivities, visiting resource tables, thanking VA employees and recognizing top performers for their dedication and hard work.
“I encourage VA leaders to spend more time with their top performers,” said VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence during his meeting with Wilmington VA leadership. “We want to our staff to feel valued and seen and know we appreciate them.”
Lawrence met with Wilmington VAMC leadership, National Guard and Congressional leaders to discuss any challenges and successes.
“Decreasing Veteran confusion when coming to the VA for an appointment and ensuring timely care are things we’re reviewing,” said Lawrence. “We need to make it easier for our Veterans to receive care. VA has a new electronic health record system, that rolled out to initial sites in October. The new system will improve how patient records are stored by clinicians and accessed by patients.”
Wilmington VA is not one of the initial sites using the new system but is preparing their staff for the upcoming change.
Wilmington VA Executive Director, Mr. Vamsee Potluri shared, “Delivering high-quality patient-centered care to more Veterans than ever before is at the forefront of our priorities. Veterans continue to choose VA for their care. Last year, Wilmington and our five clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey provided services to over 44,000 veterans and project to serve around 48,000 this year.”
History of the Wilmington VA Medical Center: In May 1946, President Harry S. Truman approved a VA hospital to be built in Wilmington, Delaware. Soon after, VA took control of the former Army Air Corps Hospital at New Castle Air Base (now the New Castle County Airport) and turned it into a temporary VA health care facility. The first patients were admitted a few months later, on August 26, 1946. About 75% had served in World War II, and 77% of the staff that treated them were Veterans.
In March 1948, VA broke ground for a permanent hospital building on a 32-acre site. On April 2, 1950, VA dedicated the new 336-bed hospital. The Wilmington VA Medical Center was the 9th VA hospital to open after the end of World War II, but one of 32 new VA hospitals or major additions scheduled for completion in 1950. A few months later, the Korean War started.
“We are so proud of all the accomplishments over the past 75 years and this event is to celebrate our commitment to Veterans and their families for their service to our country, and to also recognize our employees for the great care they provide to our Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors every day,” said Potluri.
Over the years, the medical center has continued to add new facilities and expand its services. Recently, expanding prosthetic and orthotic services to southern Delaware and southern New Jersey through their new Mobile Prosthetics and Orthotics traveling unit, adding X-ray and CT scan services in southern Delaware reducing Veterans having to travel outside the VA, and will soon be expanding services in Atlantic County New Jersey in September of this year.
Source: VA