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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Post-Hurricane Sandy Information Contact: Jennifer Sammartino, Public Affairs Officer, 718-630-2804Outpatient Clinics on Target to Reopen in March 2013 -- Significant Progress Being Made at Manhattan VA Campus Manhattan, NY - Robert A. Petzel, MD, Under Secretary for Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs, on his visit to the facility on December 4, 2012, announced that VA New York Harbor Healthcare System’s Manhattan facility will reopen outpatient clinics in March 2013 after being temporarily closed for repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. “Our goal is to continue to provide care for our Veterans and restore the medical center to full operating capacity as quickly as possible,” said Martina A. Parauda, Director of the medical center. “The building is structurally sound, but currently is not safe to provide clinical care to our Veterans. We are making significant progress and anticipate reopening outpatient services in March 2013.” A date to reopen inpatient hospital units has not yet been established, but the VA team is moving aggressively to return all services to Manhattan-area Veterans. Located at 423 East 23rd Street, the VA Medical Center sustained extensive flood damage during the storm. Flooding from the storm resulted in the catastrophic failure of all the major utility systems that service the building, including electrical, heating, fire protection, elevator, water pumping, and information technology support structure. More than 150,000 square feet of outpatient and support areas were destroyed as well as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit and other clinical equipment. Until the facility is reopened, VA is taking all necessary measures to care for Veterans enrolled in the system. All Manhattan VA Medical Center staff is currently assigned to other nearby VA facilities. Services normally offered at the Manhattan VA Medical Center are taking place at other medical centers and community based outpatient clinics, located on Staten Island, in Harlem and Downtown Brooklyn. Two mobile clinics are also located at the Manhattan VA Medical Center site, providing triage, flu shots and phlebotomy. A Veteran Information Help Line has also been established to answer questions and aid concerned Veterans at this time. The number is 1-855-269-8338. The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A team of live attendants are available to answer calls and refer callers to appropriate services to meet their needs. For medical emergencies, Veterans should dial 911.
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