Washington DC VA Medical Center

About the Washington DC VA Medical Center Welcome to the Washington DC VA Medical Center's website, a window into all of the outstanding programs and services we offer for enrolled Veterans and a great way to get to know about our many activities and our staff. The Washington DC VA Medical Center's employees and volunteers take great pride in serving Veterans of the national capital area. "Capitol Excellence" is our number one priority. From the Executive Office to the mailroom, from the canteen to the warehouse, whether offering you medical services, prosthetic devices, or a warm meal, every staff member and volunteer here is charged with the responsibility of providing an environment of respect, courtesy and concern. While you are on our website, please take some time explore My HealtheVet and set-up your personal profile. My HealtheVet is an excellent health management tool. You can keep track of your medical appointments, graph your weight and blood pressure, manage your prescriptions and learn more about your medical conditions. Please consider this site as an extension of our relationship with you as a member of our community, a Veteran, a patient, or the family member of a patient. Again, welcome to the Washington DC VA Medical Center! Thank you for your service to our nation. About Us Located in the nation's capital, only a short distance from the historic buildings that house today's leaders and commemorate yesterday's, the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center is one of the most visible and dynamic facilities in the VA system. This tertiary care teaching facility provides acute general and specialized services in medicine, surgery, neurology and psychiatry, as well offering nursing home care unit treatment. The medical center also oversees a satellite Substance Abuse Clinic and three Vet Centers. The medical center's staff of 1,700 provides care to veterans residing in the District of Columbia and portions of Virginia and Maryland. The medical center treats over 50,000 veterans and has over 500,000 outpatient visits each year. The Washington DC VAMC is the only VA medical center to hold three medical school affiliations. It is also affiliated with many other colleges and universities in such areas as pharmacy, rehabilitation medicine, biomedical engineering, dietetics, social work, nursing and medical center management. The medical center has a multi-million dollar research program that supports more than 100 investigators and 300 active research projects. Major research in alcoholism, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and spinal cord regeneration is being conducted. In 1995, the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center was one of the first VA medical centers to use the Enhanced-Use Lease to build a childcare center on VA property. The childcare center, operated by La Petite Academy, offers convenient childcare for VA employees. The Enhanced-Use Lease enabled La Petite to lease VA land and build the center that will revert back to the medical center in 30 years. The Washington DC VAMC has VA/DoD sharing agreements with National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and Walter Reed Army Medical Center and was selected as a primary back-up facility during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.