Orlando Area finally getting a VA Hospital

Veterans hospital comes to Lake Nona
An agreement brings the $553 million facility to Orlando's new medical campus.
Harry Wessel Sentinel Staff Writer
December 19, 2007
The two-decadelong dream of a VA hospital in Central Florida took a big step toward reality Tuesday when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Tavistock Group signed an agreement to bring the long-awaited facility to a planned "medical city" in the southeast corner of Orlando.

"Finally, the largest metropolitan area not serviced by a VA medical center will now have a facility at Lake Nona," said U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, who said he would push for full funding of the VA hospital in the federal government's fiscal 2008 budget.

Congress has previously authorized money for the Orlando VA hospital, including $35 million to purchase the property. Terms of the agreement Tuesday were not disclosed, though Feeney's office noted the authorization amount had not changed and that the total amount for the VA hospital "will be over $377 million."


It should be well over that. The total bill for the VA-hospital project will be an estimated $553 million, according to a letter sent Tuesday from U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez to Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. James Peake.

In a separate press release, Martinez pledged to work for full funding of the VA hospital now that "all major aspects of the negotiation have been agreed upon."
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Up until then Orlando has the VA Clinic

About Orlando VAMC
The Orlando VA Medical Center includes the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nursing Home Care Unit, the Domiciliary and Rehabilitation Program, Viera OPC, Daytona OPC, and the 3 Community Based Outpatient Clinics which are located in Leesburg, Kissimmee, and Sanford. Learn more about Orlando VAMC.

About this Facility
The Orlando VA Medical Center, serving an area of more than 90,000 veteran patients in East Central Florida, is one of seven members of the VISN 8 Healthcare System. The Orlando VA Medical Center includes the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nursing Home Care Unit, the Domiciliary and Rehabilitation Program, Viera OPC, Daytona OPC, and the 3 Community Based Outpatient Clinics which are located in Leesburg, Kissimmee, and Sanford.

The East Central Florida veteran population is slated for a new hospital to be built in 2012 to serve nearly 400,000 veterans. This much needed facility will make it easier for east central Florida veterans to access VA’s world-class medical center and relieve the burden of traveling long distances for their inpatient care.

In addition to our main facility in Orlando, we offer services in several outpatient clinics in our 6 county patient service area. These clinics are located in —
Daytona Beach
Kissimmee
Leesburg
Sanford
Viera




Suicide Prevention Awareness
Together, Vet Centers and VA Medical Centers stand ready to reach out and help veterans at risk for suicide. Seek professional help. Learn more about Suicide Prevention.

Not that the news has paid much attention to what is going on with Orlando area veterans.

Senator Martinez what are you doing for veterans and mental illness?

Thank you for the links Senator but what about helping the veterans? What are you doing about the fact Florida is now 49th in the nation on taking care of the mental health needs of our citizens?


I went to a NAMI meeting last night so that I could find out what this state was doing for veterans with PTSD. After all, we are the second largest veterans population in the nation. I introduced myself and immediately I was greeted with news that the VA was asking NAMI what they had for PTSD veterans. Needless to say, I volunteered for whatever they needed me to do.

Central Florida's Orlando NAMI is doing fantastic work on behalf of the people and their families dealing with mental illness and homelessness. Just like all NAMI chapters, they are dedicated because they have family members they live with and feel so much compassion for others they dedicate the rest of their lives to others suffering the same issues and problems they face.

The question is, what are you Senator doing about any of this in Florida? What is Senator Nelson doing about any of this?

Naturally my passion is with our veterans and my heart is tugged by our homeless veterans because I know first hand what these veterans and their families go through. I also know that no matter how hard I work to get these veterans to understand what PTSD so they decide to go for help, I cannot make sure the help is there for them. You can. Not only can you Senator, you have to do it. You have to stop talking about what you've done and start talking about what you need to do and what needs to be done especially here in Florida and then do it!

There would be no need for all of these organizations across the state killing themselves working to fix what Florida refuses to do if you did what you are supposed to do along with the rest of the elected.

The only thing I agree with you is that these organizations need support from us. The veterans however, especially those dealing with PTSD need support and emergency action from you. So Senator, what are you going to do? Try getting informed on what is going on in your own state and the devastation being laid on the families of these soldiers you want us to support when they come home wounded and are not taken care of.

Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com

Supporting Our Military Families This Holiday Season
As we gather with our families and friends during the holiday season, let us remember the sacrifices by the brave men and women serving our nation overseas. By giving up their time to defend our freedom and bring freedom to others, many of the more than 190,000 soldiers serving our nation abroad have also given up their ability to be the main provider for their family. In no time of the year is their absence felt greater than during the holiday season. In the spirit of the holiday season – a time for generosity and goodwill toward others – consider the financial and emotional strain lengthy deployments can have on America’s military families. During their time of need, please consider sending a donation to one of the service organizations listed below – or a military support organization of your choosing – serving our service men and women, their families and our wounded veterans.

These organizations help to ease the financial distress of the holiday season for military men and women and their families. They do this by providing interest-free loans and grants for emergency needs such as food, rent and utilities. They also provide assistance in the form of grants and no-interest loans for educational purposes. Military families already suffer the stress of having a loved one deployed overseas. During this time of year, there is perhaps no better way to honor the families of our bravest Americans than by donating to a military service organization.
Sincerely,

Senator Mel Martinez

Military relief organizations:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society http://www.nmcrs.org/
Army Emergency Relief http://www.aerhq.org/
Air Force Aid Society http://www.afas.org/
Coast Guard Mutual Relief http://www.cgmahq.org/
Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.com/