South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)

DAV Texas State Commander, Jay Johnson, led a group of south Texas site commanders to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veteran's Hospital for an overview and tour of their mission and facilities.(VA photo by Steve Goetsch)

The Texas state commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Jay Johnson, along with local DAV chapters from San Antonio and Universal City, Texas, visited the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital May 27.

The group met with senior leaders, including South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Director, Robert Walton and received an overview briefing of one of the premier VA centers in the National network, boasting one of five polytrauma centers, one of three bone marrow centers and a robust research program.

The briefing covered instruction updates, the STVHCS coverage area and primary and specialty care services offered.  Walton highlighted many of the challenges the hospital faces, such as securing providers and floor space for them to practice.

After the briefing, the floor was opened for questions and comments which ranged from women’s health to the future plan for same day appointments, part of Dr. David Shulkin, VA Undersecretary for Health’s initiatives to improve access.

Johnson started the group off by providing accolades to the emergency department, and their level of service. Dr. Calvin Leuschen, STVHCS Deputy Chief of Staff, accepted them humbly, but said he was planning on projects that will nearly double the size of treatment areas to further improve services. 

South Texas VA Healthcare System engineering service employee Roger Deveaux demonstrates a patient lift device for the visiting DAV representatives. The new patient rooms were designed around comfort and patient safety.(VA photo by Steve Goetsch)

The STVHCS took the opportunity to show off their latest hospital improvement to their strategic partners.  A new 4th floor inpatient ward with more bedspace to house post-op patients.

The ward is a state-of-the-art wing, complete with bed-to-bathroom lift systems for patient safety and a complete entertainment and information system, the GetWell Network in each room.

The DAV visit is part of an overall improvement process of Walton, who wants to improve relationships with community partners like the DAV and other veteran service organizations.

The next opportunity for the public to get a similar overview of the STVHCS, and to ask questions to senior leadership is June 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Audie L. Murphy 2nd floor Auditorium.