VA officially downgrades services
Updated: February 12, 2013
DANVILLE -- The VA says it will continue making veterans the number one
priority, even after having to downgrade its medical services. The VA lacks medical professionals and patients. It's a problem that's been going on for the past year.
But now the hospital is forced to make some official cuts. It's because some services just aren't needed as much anymore. Over the past year, the ICU hasn't been used.
If a patient has an emergency, they're sent to hospitals in Danville or Urbana. When the ICU was working, the VA would only have one patient there at a time.
It made it hard to recruit staff. Leaders don't expect to lose any patients, but may have to move some current employees to other locations.
It's been a slow decline over time. Officials had to rethink what level of care the VA should offer.
"We need to do what's best for the veteran. Our biggest concern and challenge is getting specialty services in Danville. Without that, we are unable to provide certain services that we need to, " spokesman Doug Shouse said.
If there is an emergency with a veteran, the VA has made agreements with local hospitals to make sure they're taken care of. There are still anywhere from 160 - 180 veterans staying there at a time.
But now the hospital is forced to make some official cuts. It's because some services just aren't needed as much anymore. Over the past year, the ICU hasn't been used.
If a patient has an emergency, they're sent to hospitals in Danville or Urbana. When the ICU was working, the VA would only have one patient there at a time.
It made it hard to recruit staff. Leaders don't expect to lose any patients, but may have to move some current employees to other locations.
It's been a slow decline over time. Officials had to rethink what level of care the VA should offer.
"We need to do what's best for the veteran. Our biggest concern and challenge is getting specialty services in Danville. Without that, we are unable to provide certain services that we need to, " spokesman Doug Shouse said.
If there is an emergency with a veteran, the VA has made agreements with local hospitals to make sure they're taken care of. There are still anywhere from 160 - 180 veterans staying there at a time.
