VA plans treatment center in Norman
A closed hospital in Norman will be converted into an inpatient substance abuse treatment and skilled nursing center by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which acquired it late last year.
The VA paid $3,260,177 for 50-bed former Norman Specialty Hospital at 1210 W Robinson St., and plans to spend about $10 million to remodel it, said Carmen Daugherty, public affairs office for the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System. It should be open by fall 2024, she said.
The seller of the 39,665-square-foot facility was Four Seasons Nursing Center Inc., Cleveland County records show. Chicago-based JLL — Jones Lang LaSalle — represented the seller. The property, built in 1968, previously operated as a nursing home and an acute-care hospital co-owned by Norman Regional Health System.
Oklahoma, with about 290,000 veterans, is the leading state for veterans, per capita, receiving federal serviceconnected disability benefits, noted JLL Senior Vice President Christopher DiSalle. Daugherty said the new VA facility will serve about 72,000 veterans in the Oklahoma City area.
“JLL is pleased to facilitate the sale of this hospital in an excellent location to help provide Oklahoma’s veteran community with increased access to important health care,” DiSalle said.
Daugherty provided highlights of the VA’s acquisition and the need for it.
What kind of facility does the VA want its new center in Norman to be?
“It will be an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility and also inpatient skilled nursing facility. Skilled nursing facilities provide mostly shortterm nursing or rehabilitation services. The typical patient has just been discharged from the hospital, but he or she still needs additional medical care daily before returning home. This might be for a veteran recovering from a planned surgery. Or from a sudden crisis, such as a hip fracture or serious infection.”
What is a skilled nursing center?
“A skilled nursing facility is an inpatient facility type that provides short- or long-term rehabilitation services to senior patients. These facilities provide 24hour medical support to patients requiring transitional care following a qualifying hospital stay for illness, injury, or surgery.”
What is inpatient substance abuse treatment? “Inpatient Substance Abuse treatment, sometimes called residential treatment, is the highest level of rehab services for patients who are diagnosed with alcohol addiction or other drug addiction (known medically as substance use disorder). Inpatient rehab programs often include medical detox, as well as integrated mental health services.”
What changes will turn the Norman center into what the VA wants?
“We will be redesigning the facility to meet both the Inpatient Substance Abuse and Skilled Nursing Facility building requirements. We will also be updating the infrastructure, like the new roof, plumbing and heat and air-conditioning units.”
Why does the VA want this expansion? Is there a need in Norman?
“We are growing at a very rapid rate, and there are limited options in the community for all of our veterans. This will allow us to provide these services to our veterans. Some of our veterans are having to travel to Wyoming to receive these services. Yes, there is a need in Norman.”
What medical services do Norman-area veterans have now?
“Veterans in Norman can receive a full complement of services at the (VA) Norman Community Based Clinic and the main VA Hospital. They could not receive Skilled Nursing or Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment. Most veterans were being sent across the state to receive this care or even out of state. The new Norman center will have 26 Skilled Nursing Beds and 26 Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Beds. (Veterans) will be receiving inpatient intensive service.”
Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize.