New Veterans Hospital in North Las Vegas will serve thousands of Nevadans - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

New Veterans Hospital in North Las Vegas will serve thousands of Nevadans - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

The new Veterans Hospital set to open in late 2012 near I-215 and Pecos will centralize the current Veterans healthcare system that uses clinics scattered throughout Southern Nevada.

The VA hospital that is currently under construction and about 50 percent completed will allow veterans from the current two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as veterans from previous wars to avoid having to travel to California for major surgeries.

There are currently 11 VA clinics spread throughout the Las Vegas valley with each specializing in various care for out-patients. The hospital at Nellis Air Force base, the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital does perform some medical procedures for veterans. But most major surgeries are referred to VA hospitals in Southern California which cause hardships for both patients and family members because of the distance. Right now, some veterans need to fly to San Diego to get certain surgeries.

Doctor Ramu Komanduri who is the Chief of Staff for Southern Nevada’s VA system said, "Right now, we operate out of multiple different locations all over the valley. We're going to go from 11 different clinical sites to really coming down to a hospital. "When we open this medical center, the vast majority of their surgical care will be done here."

The Las Vegas VA healthcare system will also get four new outpatient clinics that are set to open in late 2011.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Senator Harry Reid played major rolls in securing the funds needed for Nevada to build the new VA hospital when Democrats in both the House and Senate passed the biggest VA funding legislation in history after President Obama was elected.

Information for Veterans who currently need assistance:

VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
PO Box 360001
Las Vegas, NV 89036
702-636-3000

Las Vegas - Homeless Veterans
912 West Owens Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-636-4077




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