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What is a VA Hospital?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A VA hospital is a hospital run by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a cabinet-level agency in the United States government. VA hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes offer care to veterans of the United States armed services, as part of a general benefits package provided to people who serve in the military. Altogether, the staff of the VHA make up the bulk of the VA, and they include everyone from top-flight neurologists to janitors.

Services at a VA hospital are open to anyone who has served in the armed forces, along with members of the Reserves who have been called up. As a general rule, a veteran must show that he or she served for at least 24 months in order to be eligible for services, although if a veteran is permanently disabled before 24 months of service, he or she will be eligible for VA care. The VA also divides veterans into a number of classes, prioritizing care for people who are injured in combat, and placing veterans who can afford their own health care at the lower end of the priority scale.

VA hospital care is available to anyone who has served in the military.
VA hospital care is available to anyone who has served in the military.

Veterans can access a number of services at a VA hospital after enrolling in the VA benefits system. Preventative care is an important part of the offerings at most hospitals, along with ongoing treatment for disabilities acquired while in the services. The VA hospital also offers the same services that a conventional hospital does, including diagnosis and treatment of a range of conditions from cancer to bronchitis. Veterans can access a VA hospital in any number of districts across the United States; a complete list of sites is available from the Veterans Administration.

VA hospitals may offer treatment and therapy to soldiers who have lost a limb in combat.
VA hospitals may offer treatment and therapy to soldiers who have lost a limb in combat.

Some VA hospitals have wings which specialize in particular issues, such as amputations and prosthetics or head injuries. Veterans may be encouraged to seek treatment for specific conditions at VA hospitals which specialize in those conditions to ensure that they receive a high level of care. VA hospitals may also conduct and publish research, using the data they gather to advance the field of battlefield medicine and to improve medical care in general for civilians and members of the military alike.

A VA hospital may offer therapy programs for people who are having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.
A VA hospital may offer therapy programs for people who are having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.

The history of caring for veterans of the armed forces in the United States dates to 1778, when the first hospital for veterans was established by the new American government, and this origin is rooted in traditional attitudes to military service which date back to Roman times. The military tends to take care of its own, and society is usually willing to foot the bill as an expression of gratitude for the service of members of the military, and as a reflection of the need for a healthy military.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Phaedrus

My uncle fought in Vietnam, and he lost a leg because of a land mine. He's been receiving ongoing treatment and rehab at a VA hospital, but it wasn't always easy to get. He had to prove that the injury happened during his second tour of duty, which would have included the 24th month necessary for VA medical benefits.

It took a while to prove his claim, but once he was accepted into the program, the VA did provide things like a prosthetic limb and physical therapy. I only wish he could have received a little more mental health therapy along the way. He still has nightmares, and I'd say PTSD. The military's view on mental health issues has changed considerably in the last few years, so now more veterans are being encouraged to get psychiatric and psychological treatments at VA hospitals.

Reminiscence

I think the VA hospital system needs a complete overhaul myself. I've seen footage of an aging building where millions of paper health records were being stored. None of that information was backed up on modern computer files, and the VA apparently hasn't hired anyone to scan those documents into computer files. One good fire and all of that information will be lost forever.

I think it's a shame that our government spends so much money on recruiting young people, training soldiers and outfitting troops for warfare, but spends very little on veterans who require medical care. If Congress votes to go to war, it should realize that wars mean injured veterans who will need long-term care and financial support.

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    • VA hospital care is available to anyone who has served in the military.
      By: Fotoluminate LLC
      VA hospital care is available to anyone who has served in the military.
    • VA hospitals may offer treatment and therapy to soldiers who have lost a limb in combat.
      By: belahoche
      VA hospitals may offer treatment and therapy to soldiers who have lost a limb in combat.
    • A VA hospital may offer therapy programs for people who are having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.
      By: joyb0218
      A VA hospital may offer therapy programs for people who are having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.
    • Veterans may attend physical therapy at a VA hospital to regain mobility after an injury.
      By: belahoche
      Veterans may attend physical therapy at a VA hospital to regain mobility after an injury.
    • VA hospitals often have programs to help soldiers deal with the psychological impact of combat.
      By: John Gomez
      VA hospitals often have programs to help soldiers deal with the psychological impact of combat.