The Orlando VA Medical Center

Lake Nona is home to ultra-modern technologies besides new and developing medical practices, including the research conducted in Orlando’s Medical City. One of these exceedingly up-to-date medical advancement sites in the area is the Orlando VA Medical Center (located at 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827). Established in October 2006 and residing in Orlando’s Medical City, this state-of-the-art facility is the fourth largest VA medical hospital in the country!

Their Mission

According to the VA’s website, more than 198,263 veterans reside in Central Florida. These veterans are in great hands, considering this 1.2 million-square-foot facility includes a large multi-specialty outpatient clinic while having an approach to whole-person health from emergency to specialty care and including integrative services designed with each veteran’s needs in mind. According to the VA website, Orlando VA’s mission is to serve the veterans who served us first by being committed to providing the highest quality of care in a safe environment. The Orlando VA is focused on a continuous process of improvement in its medical services as well.

The Care they provide

The Orlando VA Medical Center (OVAMC) has made it very clear that providing the best possible healthcare to military families from across the nation is very important to the facility’s core values and that of the doctors, nurses, and staff at the center. With that in mind, the OVAMC is also home to the SimLEARN National Simulation Center. SimLEARN is where medical professionals and those studying to become medical professionals with UCF’s College of Medicine come to learn and help improve the healthcare provided for veterans here in Orlando. SimLEARN is a simulation-style learning environment; it is where those who go to learn immerse themselves in a training environment similar to that of a real-life patient. Along with SimLEARN, the OVAMC also utilizes Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) to help emphasize the Medical Center’s strive to focus on providing the optimal individual whole health care to each patient. These PACTs are composed of a doctor, nurses, a psychologist, and support staff; and, with each PACT in charge of the care and medical assistance for roughly 1,200 veterans. According to Timothy Cooke, the Director and CEO of the OVAMC, “[a] team approach allows us to focus on groups of veterans who share common health conditions…This way, teams can bring in specialists to help care for multiple patients who are experiencing similar injuries and illnesses.” There are five teams at the VA Medical Center here in Orlando responsible for the individual care of veterans at the center. It is fascinating and immensely awe-inspiring to know that all of this remarkably modern medical and wholesome care for our Central Florida community is right here in Lake Nona.

Housing Opportunities

Another one of the varying unique traits of the Orlando VA Medical Center is the Orlando Fisher House which accommodates 16 suites to provide military families with a place to stay, completely free of any cost. Military families stay as their loved ones receive medical treatment on-site at the medical center. While families stay at this loving home, they share a kitchen, laundry services, a living room, and a dining room. The Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization, established the Fisher House of Orlando as one of the many homes just like it that are spread across the country. These helping homes are near major military and VA medical centers for veteran families to utilize while helping their loved ones on their health journey. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Fisher House of Orlando; on May 17th, celebrating the opening of the new summer kitchen from 9 to 10 am. This renovation and the house itself are only made possible with the help of donations and volunteers; if you are interested in donating or volunteering, please visit the Fisher House of Orlando website for more information or check out their wishlist as well.

Other VA Medical Options in Florida

Besides the presence of the OVAMC, there is a vast network here in Central Florida that this medical center is a part of, known as the Orlando VA HealthCare System. The Orlando VA HealthCare System has 13 locations that provide care to the East Central Florida area. These locations consist of the Orlando VA Medical Center, 11 community-based outpatient clinics (which are in Clermont, Daytona Beach, Deltona, Kissimmee, Orlando, Palm Bay, Port Orange, Tavares, Viera, and Winter Park), and a mobile care unit based at the Winter Park VA Clinic for those who have the inability to visit the VA hospital or neighboring clinics. The Orlando VA HealthCare System understands every veteran is different; and as such has different health needs, which is why integrative solutions are used to focus on the whole health of each patient.

VA HealthCare Service Information

The OVAMC and the Orlando VA HealthCare System provide top-notch medical services to Central Florida’s Veterans. If you or a veteran you know may find the Orlando VA Medical Center helpful with a medical journey, here is a link for more information about the Orlando VA HealthCare system and what services may be the best fit. Or check out va.gov for more information on veteran healthcare assistance.

Think of your Veterans

With Memorial Day soon, many are getting ready to celebrate and reflect on sacrifices made by those who were a part of the military. This day of celebration is not only about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice but those who were affected by war and are still around to share their stories; we are remembering their sacrifices as well. Serving in the military can expose you and others to traumatic experiences, which can be a cause of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veterans. According to the VA, PTSD is a mental health issue that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. According to the VA, if you experience thoughts and feelings from life-threatening events that upset you or interfere with your livelihood, you may have PTSD. These aren’t all the PTSD characteristics; however, if you think that you or someone you know suffers from PTSD, please seek medical guidance. If you are a veteran or think a veteran you know may be suffering from the effects of PTSD, here is more information regarding PTSD provided by the VA. We advise you to seek medical guidance from the VA hospital or an outpatient clinic closest to you. If you or a loved one are in crisis, contact 1-800-273-8255 any time to talk to a crisis counselor (Press “1” if you are a Veteran, the call is confidential (private) and free.); otherwise, contact 911 or go to the emergency room for proper care.

From us at Lately Magazine, thank you to our Troops for all that you have sacrificed. We truly appreciate your efforts and care for our country and our Central Florida community.

Below is a list of resources from the VA’s website that we found that may be of service to help with any potential veteran needs :