The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center will be joining other VA hospitals across the country for a “stand down” Saturday, when health officials will analyze ways to reduce wait times for patients with urgent needs.
The Lovell facility in North Chicago, which is a hybrid health model that treats veterans and active duty members and their families, currently ranks among the top five VA hospitals for shortest wait times, said Stephanie Caccomo, the center’s public affairs specialist.
“We are showing that we are committed to getting veterans care in a timely manner,” she said, noting that a similar stand down effort was held at Lovell in November.
The nationwide stand down program was launched about two years ago after VA whistleblowers across the country reported chronic delays for veterans seeking care. The scandal prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs to reevaluate how long it took for veterans to secure appointments.
To reduce wait times, the VA instituted a Veterans Choice Program, which allows a veteran waiting more than 30 days to see his or her doctor to make an appointment with another medical provider within a local network. The care is still be covered by the VA health system.
Lovell currently treats 26,000 veterans a year and over 90,000 active service members and their families, according to the center.
Caccomo said less than 25 people have had to wait for appointments beyond 30 days at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC).
“What Lovell is seeing is we aren’t sending a lot (to the choice program). We have many who want to wait so they can see a provider they are familiar with,” she said.
On Saturday, Lovell administrators will oversee a performance review in an attempt to further remove or eliminate wasteful practices, Caccomo said.
“It’s to improve the system to make it more efficient,” she said.
Lovell administrators will place a particular focus on improving efficiencies in some of its busiest clinics, like podiatry.
Lovell center director Dr. Stephen Holt said the facility continues to open new and expand clinics to broaden the hospital’s range of services and reach more patients. The initiative also has proved to decrease the wait time for medical care, he said.
“Lovell FHCC is proud of our history of providing high-quality, timely care to our patients. Access and quality are priorities in every clinic, ward and operating room,” Holt said. “Like the VA nationally, Lovell FHCC has incredible success with our cardiac care for patients.”
Holt said the center completes 99 percent of veteran appointments within 30 days.
“We are treating this stand down as an opportunity to pay heightened attention to patient access data and respond deliberately and quickly to any issues that may arise. This is part of our ongoing mission of ‘Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes,'” Holt said.
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