Veterans Administration Takes Control of Garland/Baylor Hospital 4/07/20 K.Agee
Many of you had heard that
Baylor-Garland was in negotiation with the Veterans Administration to have the
VA take over Baylor’s campus which had been closed since 2018. The COVID-19 / Corona Virus issues caused
these discussions to be finalized much sooner than they normally would be.
Of course the new
operation is intended to serve US veterans, but they have apparently included
provisions for emergency support of non-veterans, at least on a temporary
basis.
Following is a summary
taken directly from the City’s website:
(source=
https://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1827)
Posted on: April 7, 2020
The VA North Texas Health Care System has officially taken possession of the
former Garland-Baylor, Scott & White hospital located at 2300 Marie Curie
Drive. The facility will now be known as Garland VA Medical Center.
In a news release issued April 6, VA North Texas Health Care System
announced the facility will serve as an outpatient and specialty care clinic
for some of the 184,000 North Texas veterans enrolled in VA health care. Due to
the increasing number of veterans needing care for COVID-19, the facility will
initially be stood up as an in-patient overflow unit with a capacity for 100
beds.
“The official acquisition of this donated hospital by Baylor, Scott &
White couldn’t come at a more essential time than today,” said Dr. Stephen
Holt, Director of the VA North Texas Health Care System. “The added capacity
this new facility brings will help make a difference as we care for veterans
during this national emergency.”
Baylor, Scott & White closed the 470,000-square-foot facility in 2018
after exhaustive efforts to sell the hospital failed. In early 2019, the site
was identified for the possible expansion of veteran medical services in
region. Along with an initiative from the City of Garland, a bipartisan North
Texas congressional effort helped facilitate efforts with Baylor, Scott &
White and VA Central Office to navigate and ultimately finalize the
unprecedented donation effort. The donation of the hospital will save the VA
system hundreds of millions of dollars with estimates to build a new hospital exceeding
$800 million.
“We are looking forward to having the VA as a part of our Garland community
and the opportunity to serve our veterans,” said Garland Mayor Scott LeMay. “This new facility will
bring a long-term result of almost 5,000 jobs to Garland, as well as a
much-needed catalyst for renewed development in the surrounding area. I want to
thank Mayor Pro Tem Robert John Smith for his efforts in keeping the community
informed during this long process. He has worked tirelessly to help facilitate
this exchange which will benefit our city for many years to come.”
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who represents portions of Garland, calls this a
long-term victory for veterans and the City of Garland. “I am so proud of our North Texas community as everyone involved
has rolled up their sleeves to get this much-needed agreement across the finish
line. It will create thousands of jobs, help serve 184,000 veterans and save
the VA hundreds of millions of dollars.”