Atlanta VA Health Care System

Situation Update

As of Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:33 PM EDT

Our number one priority as we move forward with expanding clinical services remains the safety of our Veterans, staff, and visitors. In an abundance of caution, we have taken a slow approach to moving forward. We have been closely monitoring the number of new COVID cases in the local community, and among our Veterans specifically, as we make plans to expand services. 

In our moving forward, we will continue to use virtual modalities whenever possible and are using a phased approach to expanding services that require face to face visits. 

Many services that provide time sensitive care, like chemotherapy and radiation oncology, have continued to treat patients face to face as appropriate. As we begin to expand, our priority is to increase time sensitive procedural services like surgery and cardiology. 

Currently we are running our operating room at 50% capacity and our gastrointestinal labs at 25% capacity. Last week we expanded rehabilitation services such as physical therapy and occupational therapy that support these patients, to 25% capacity.

This week we are planning to expand services in our pulmonary lab and clinic to 25% capacity. Our next priority areas for expansion will be cardiology labs and clinics, radiology services, nuclear medicine, and dental. These slow and safe plans are subject to change as we continuously reassess our supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as the number of COVID cases in our community. 

Thanks for your continued support of the Atlanta VA Healthcare System.