PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is now caring for a handful of non-veteran coronavirus patients in the Valley.
The Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center recently opened 10 beds — five acute care and five intensive care — to COVID-19 patients outside of the veteran system. On July 11, the VA system accepted its first three patients.
VA officials say the decision to open space to non-veterans came after Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state’s requests through the surge line.
“Because Arizona continues to see coronavirus cases and high occupancy in hospitals, we’re proud to open our doors to our community as we expand our participation in VA’s fourth mission,” said Dr. Alyshia Smith, director of the PVAHCS, in a press release. “We made the decision to open these beds because we’re confident in our ability to continue our primary mission of caring for our nation’s Veterans.”
The Phoenix VA has also reportedly sent nurses to support hard-hit areas in Arizona like Kayenta and Tuba City, as well as a community nursing home in Los Angeles. They have also donated supplies to the Navajo Nation.