VA to Create Three Mental Health Centers of Excellence
December 8, 2005
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=1055
Secretary Nicholson: Locations Will Enhance World-Class Care for Veterans
WASHINGTON – Citing the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) continued
commitment to providing veterans with world-class health care, Secretary R.
James Nicholson today announced that three locations – Waco, Texas; San Diego
and Canandaigua, NY – have been designated special centers of excellence devoted
to advancing research and enhancing care for mental health issues that affect
some American veterans.
The new centers, established under legislation introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-Texas) and passed by Congress during the recent budget-making
process, will provide a concentration of expertise on mental health issues.
“The designation of these new ‘Centers of Excellence’ builds upon VA’s long
history of accomplishment in medical care and research to improve the lives of
veterans,” said Nicholson. “VA is committed to treating the ‘whole’ veteran, and
an important part of the care we provide our heroes is to ensure that they get
the best treatment available to help them recover from any mental health issues
– in addition to any physical medical treatment they may require.”
VA currently operates other centers of excellence that study a variety of issues
affecting veterans, ranging from aging and Parkinson's disease, to spinal cord
injury, brain rehabilitation, and vision and hearing loss.