Leveraging the strength of the nation’s largest health care network, VA ensured that facilities directly in the paths of hurricanes Fiona and Ian were equipped to take appropriate action to help affected Veterans.
Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 provides care for more than 1.5 million Veterans across Florida, parts of South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. VA’s Sunshine Healthcare Network is well-tested in hurricane preparedness and response, having experienced past storms, and participating in extensive education, training, drills and live exercises.
These steps included the appropriate rescheduling of elective procedures where possible and limiting admissions unless necessary. It also included expediting discharge for those who were clinically ready to leave and ensuring critical supplies were adequate to maintain continuity of operations.
Our teams contacted more than 10,000 Veterans we had identified as vulnerable to ensure they had the care and medication needed in advance of the storm, and we followed up with them after.
We also provided key staff to travel with evacuated patients while keeping other clinical staff onsite at locations where patient care was needed during and after the storm.
Most clinics operational in a day or two after storms
Thanks to preparation and quick response, most of VA’s clinics remained online or were fully operational within a day or two. Even those worst hit were fully operational within two weeks from when these storms made their historic landfalls.
VA employees across the enterprise consistently demonstrate their commitment to the Veterans we serve even when experiencing personal loss. As hurricane season officially comes to an end as we close out the month of November, I could not be prouder of their efforts and determination providing safe, timely access to care.
Topics in this story
More Stories
VA’s new surge initiative aims to find unsheltered Veterans by meeting them where they are and fast-tracking their access to housing and care.
VA Houston recently kicked off construction on a brand-new outpatient clinic in Beaumont. This state-of-the-art facility will be nearly double the size of the current Beaumont clinic and will offer Veterans a comprehensive range of health care services.
Army Veteran Christina Wagner turned her life around thanks to the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, which identifies justice-involved Veterans and facilitates their access to VA services as early as possible.
Iam a disabled veteran , and lost all furniture, personal items etc. Did not receive any help from VA
VISN 8 always delivers in time of disaster. They are consummate pros in emergency preparedness.