Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Coatesville VA marks 75 years of Veterans Health Administration
COATESVILLE » This year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs commemorates 75 years of the Veterans Health Administration.
Originally established in 1946 as the Department of Medicine and Surgery to care for veterans returning from World War II, VHA has evolved to meet the unique challenges and care needs of veterans from every era and at every stage of their lives.
“As Coatesville VA Medical Center celebrates this historic milestone and our own 90th anniversary, we are presented with an opportunity to look back on our contributions to veteran health care as part of VHA’s 75-year history,” said Jeffrey Beiler, CVAMC’s Medical Center Director. “It is also a fitting occasion to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Coatesville’s staff and volunteers, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, a testament to our providing Veterans with efficient, quality health care in any setting.”
During the past 90 years since the facility opened, Coatesville has made vast and wide-reaching contributions as part of VHA’s rich 75-year history to improve the health of Veterans and the entire nation by providing services and technologies that have changed the way health care providers across the country practice medicine.
Some of Coatesville’s most notable local contributions include:
• Coatesville has been providing health services to veterans since it opened its doors on Nov. 11, 1930 and in 2020 we served more than 17,500 veterans in the community with Primary Care Outpatient Services, Specialty Care Outpatient Services, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Social Work Services, and Mental Health Services.
• VHA is leading the nation in telehealth services, with telehealth increasing by 2,488 percent at Coatesville VAMC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Established relationships with Veteran Service Organizations and volunteers within the community to create a network of support for Veterans that goes beyond their health care needs.
• Coatesville works with several medical schools and universities providing training to medical/nursing students and residents. The skills and knowledge they learn from VHA are implemented in hospitals and clinics across the country.
“The staff at Coatesville VA Medical Center is honored to share in VA’s 75year legacy of service to America’s veterans,” said Beiler. “We look forward to serving Veterans for the next 75 years and beyond.”