Lake Nona VA Hospital Finally Opening

In 2008 the VA had a huge groundbreaking event on the property. Great food and lots of speeches. The kicker was, they handed out shovels as momentos. I have mine hanging on my wall to remind me that after all the speeches veterans needed a shovel to dig themselves out of a lot of empty words.

"No party has deserved the support of the veterans. Politicians are terrible on both sides when they are allowed to be afforded the support they do not return. Politicians are the ones who also feed the division in this nation while it's the veterans who fought for this nation. They showed us that this nation is worth fighting for and works better when we all work together."

Orlando Lake Nona VA hospital opening delayed to mid-2013, When completed, the 300-bed facility will serve Central Florida's 400,000 veterans, who comprise the nation's most active VA system but have no hospital.

VA medical training facility to be built next to hospital at Lake Nona Channel 9 was there Thursday as Sen. Bill Nelson got a look at plans for a new Veterans Affairs medical training facility that will be built next to the VA hospital project at Lake Nona.

Channel 9's Karla Ray got look at some of the simulators that will be built into the 51,000-square-foot training center. The just-announced project will be the hub for all VA physician training in the country.

VA secretary: Lake Nona hospital to open this month
13 News Orlando
By David Bodden, Reporter
Last Updated: Thursday, February 05, 2015,

McDonald said he is looking to hire thousands of health care professionals nationwide. He will be asking congress for more than $1.2 billion for the agency's next budget.

ORLANDO -- It's nearly two years overdue, but News 13 has learned the Lake Nona Veterans Administration Hospital is scheduled to open this month.

While addressing a conference of nurses at Disney's Coronado Springs resort at Thursday morning, the VA's new secretary, Bob McDonald, said the VA is in transition.

McDonald said improved health care and response time for vets are top concerns across the nation. In our area, it's getting the Lake Nona veteran's hospital open and fully functional.

After years of delays and cost overruns, some wondered if the facility would ever open.
McDonald said there was reason for concern, but now he looks forward to seeing veterans getting the help they need at the hospital.
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