V.A. medical center for Springs proposed
Published July 22, 2008 by CSBJ Staff
A proposal from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs calls for the creation of medical and surgical centers in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction in addition to upgrades at Fitzsimmons medical complex in Aurora.
The proposal strays from a plan to centralize all V.A. medical services at the Fitzsimmons facility.
Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs James Peake sent a letter to the Colorado legislature last week saying that “evolving medical practices and the geographical location of Colorado’s veterans, spread throughout the entire Rocky Mountain region, required lawmakers to consider something other than a large, centralized facility.
Even though land for a central hospital near the University of Colorado medical center was acquired by the VA at Fitzsimmons during 2004, Peake asked that the project undergo further review.
Cost of a new central VA hospital is estimated at $1.1 billion, although the VA said a smaller facility with two satellite medical centers would cost about $769 million.
Filed under CSBJ Daily
It would be interesting to see the actual distribution of Veterans across Colorado to support or counter the rationale for this proposal. May be especially needed with service reductions at the USAFA Hospital. (Ed note: There is only one “m” in Fitzsimons.)