VA hospitals provide healthcare to US military veterans and are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Services include preventive care and treatment for disabilities, with some hospitals specializing in certain conditions. Veterans must demonstrate at least 24 months of service to be eligible for services. The history of caring for veterans dates back to 1778.
A VA hospital is a hospital operated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a cabinet-level agency of the United States government. VA hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes offer care to veterans of the United States military, as part of a general benefits package provided to people who are serving in the military. Collectively, the VHA staff makes up the majority of the VA and includes everyone from top-level neurologists to janitors.
Services at a VA hospital are open to anyone who has served in the military, along with members of the Reserves who have been called up. As a general rule, a veteran must demonstrate at least 24 months of service to be eligible for services, although if a veteran is permanently disabled prior to 24 months of service, she will be eligible for VA assistance. The VA also divides veterans into a number of classes, prioritizing care for those injured in combat and placing veterans who can afford their own health care at the lower end of the priority scale.
Veterans can access a variety of services at a VA hospital after enrolling in the VA benefits system. Preventive care is an important part of the offer in most hospitals, together with ongoing treatment for disabilities acquired in the course of services. The VA hospital also offers the same services as a conventional hospital, including diagnosing and treating a range of conditions, from cancer to bronchitis. Veterans can access a VA hospital in any number of districts in the United States; a complete list of sites is available from the Veterans Administration.
Some VA hospitals have wings that specialize in particular problems, such as amputations and prosthetics or head injuries. Veterans may be encouraged to seek care for specific conditions at VA hospitals that specialize in those conditions to ensure they receive a high level of care. VA hospitals may also conduct and publish research, using the data they collect to advance the field of battlefield medicine and to improve general medical care for both civilians and members of the military.
The history of caring for military veterans in the United States dates back to 1778, when the new US government established the first hospital for veterans, and this origin is rooted in traditional attitudes towards military service that date back to Roman times. The military tends to take care of itself, 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.
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