Click here for more photos.
Education Reform
Homeland Security
Medicare
Transportation
Veterans' Affairs
Washington, DC Office:
1124 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3176
Fax: (202) 225-3407

Charleston Office:
5900 Core Avenue
Suite 401
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 747-4175
Fax: (843) 747-4711

Toll-Free: (888) 868-0737

Myrtle Beach Office:
1800 N. Oak Street #C
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: (843) 445-6459
Fax: (843) 445-6418

 Home   /   News   /   News Item

 

 
 

Contact: Brooke Adams (202) 225-3664

VA-MUSC Shared Facilities Report Presented to Chairman Buyer and Subcommittee Chairman Brown

Meeting Unveiled Report Details for Possible Facility Sharing


Washington, Dec 13, 2005 -

Yesterday, Chairman Steve Buyer and Subcommittee on Health Chairman Henry Brown met with Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and VA officials to receive the preliminary report detailing the possibility of MUSC and the VA building a joint-use hospital together in Charleston, SC. This facility could provide a model for the federal government to consider when replacing aging VA hospitals.

“I am confident that this report will provide the needed impetus for additional collaboration here in Charleston and around the nation, while improving the care for those who faithfully served our nation,” said Chairman Buyer. “We must preserve a veterans’ preference and an environment where veterans can be around their comrades.”

“I’m extremely excited that after several months of hard work, we now have a roadmap forward. Equally important, I think this process has changed the way both VA and MUSC view one another – as two institutions who have a mutual interest in leveraging their existing relationship and improving the quality of care to our nation’s veterans,” said Chairman Brown.

Yesterday’s meeting also revealed that in the short-term, VA-MUSC have agreed to share nearly $7 million of medical equipment to improve care for cancer patients and those with coronary disease.

“The agreement between VA and MUSC to share medical equipment signifies great progress toward maximizing both federal and state health care dollars to improve the quality of care for everyone who seeks care in these facilities.”

Background: In August, representatives from VA and MUSC formed the Collaborative Opportunities Steering Group (COSG) to conduct the examination. The COSG reviewed both short-term and long-term ideas for better collaboration between the two entities, such as sharing expensive medical equipment unique to South Carolina and construction of new, joint facilities.

The two health care systems already engage in a considerable degree of collaboration: some 95 percent of the physicians working at Charleston’s Johnson VAMC also work at MUSC and exchange nearly $13 million in health services every year. The two organizations are partners in a mutually supported biomedical research facility, the Thurmond/Gazes Biomedical Research Center.

Print version of this document

 
 

Casework Requests
Grants & Federal Assistance
Flag Requests
Internships
Service Academy
  Nominations
Presidential Greetings
Page Program

Sign up for the latest news and information.


Search Our Site

Enter Keyword(s)
Search Legislation

Search by Bill Number
Search Bills by Keyword
Biography | District | News | Calendar | Issues | Constituent Services | Contact | Recent Votes | Kids Page | Email Updates | Photo Album