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Navy Begins Final Construction Phase for First DoD/VA Health Care Center

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080716-07
Release Date: 7/16/2008 4:31:00 PM

By Bill Couch, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- The first completely integrated Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) federal health care center officially entered its final phase of construction near Naval Station Great Lakes July 14.

Officials from DoD, VA, federal and local government joined in a ceremonial ribbon cutting and groundbreaking to complete a $16-million parking and infrastructure project and also begin construction of a $71-million, four-story addition to the existing North Chicago VA Medical Center.

"Today we officially mark delivery of this new parking facility and the beginning of construction of the new ambulatory care center," said Capt. Bob Gibbs, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Midwest. "We're entering the final phase of construction to bring this vision of a completely integrated Navy and VA hospital into reality."

Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes is gradually merging operations with the existing VA staff and facilities. This will provide a full range of modernized medical and support resources for patients while at the same time eliminating costly duplications that existed between the two nearby medical facilities.

"The care delivered in this area has been just outstanding, and I'm confident it will continue," said Rear Adm. Donald Gintzig, vice commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command and deputy commander, Navy Medicine East. "The Navy and the VA are really leading the way in integration."

"If we want to deliver world-class health care to those individuals who have earned it, we must move forward," said Deputy VA Secretary Gordon Mansfield.

More than 400 veterans, active-duty service members, hospital staff and family members attended the ceremony.

"We owe everything to those who wore the uniform and risked their lives in service to their country," said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Navy Reservist, who addressed the attendees. "This model of health care will be replicated throughout the country to boost services and cost savings."

NAVFAC Midwest is in charge of constructing the facility, which will be the first to use a completely integrated VA/Navy staff to treat recruits, active-duty service members, retirees, family members and veterans.

"One of the Navy's guiding principles is to take care of our people personally and professionally," said Gibbs. "It's the foundation of all we do. We are laying the groundwork--literally--for the best medical care our nation can provide."

Integration will be complete in 2010, and the new care center, named in honor of Navy retiree and commander of Apollo 13 Capt. James A. Lovell, is expected to save approximately $160 million over the projected 40-year life span of the facility.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.