WHAT IS CARES?

• CARES is a realignment of medical facilities and services to meet veteran’s needs and provide high quality care in the following ways:

  • In more accessible locations
  • To more veterans
  • To improve unnecessary or inadequate space

Our KEY component is Good Communication With You, Our Stakeholders

• One of Our Main Goals is to:

  • Keep you, our stakeholders, informed
  • Provide opportunities for your input throughout the CARES process

WHY ARE WE DOING CARES?

• To better serve our veterans!

  • VA needed a new way to address projected changes in veteran population, their locations and medical needs, and to continue VA’s health care changes.

HOW CARES STARTED

• A Phase I project was completed in February 2002

  • VA’s medical system is divided into 21 regional networks. A pilot CARES study was first conducted in Network 12 (Chicago, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan)

AS A RESULT OF PHASE I

• Access to long-term care was expanded

• Four new clinics are planned

• Blind rehabilitation and spinal cord injury care will be enhanced

• Inpatient care will be shifted from one Chicago hospital to another only 6 miles away, a large outpatient clinic will remain near the former hospital site

HOW CARES STARTED

• A Phase I project was completed in February 2002

  • VA’s medical system is divided into 21 regional networks. A pilot CARES study was first conducted in Network 12 (Chicago, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

• The VA is conducting CARES in the remaining 20 Networks

• For Phase II

  • Strengthened communications
  • VA Headquarters-led standardized process
  • Greater use of VA experts in the process

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WHAT IS THE PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR PHASE II?

• Step 1 – Define market areas – July 2002

  • Market Area – is the geographic area used for planning. Market Areas are based on data such as how many veterans live in a county and use VA services as well as projected veteran population. Consideration is given to transportation issues and natural geographic barriers

• Step 2 – Analyze Needs – August through September 2002

  • Veteran population projections to 2022
  • Veteran health care use and needs projections to 2022
  • Information on the locations of and access to V A facilities and the services they offer

• Step 3 – Identify Planning Initiatives – Fall 2002

  • Determine gaps between current supply and future demand
  • Consider specialty referral services, emergency preparedness and Homeland Security
  • Identify opportunities to collaborate with the Department of Defense and other V A offices
  • Identify opportunities for more effective use of space

• Step 4 – Develop Planning Initiatives & Market Plans – Late Fall-Winter 2002

  • Networks will develop a Market Plan from the Planning Initiatives to match V A facilities and services with veterans’ future health care needs

• Step 5 – Under Secretary for Health Review – Winter 2002 – 2003

  • Review by:
    • National CARES Program Office
    • CARES Clinical Advisory Group
    • CARES One V A Committee
  • Under Secretary for Health reviews and prepares final Draft National CARES Plan
  • As stakeholders your comments are welcome and sought throughout the process
  • You will have an official 60-day comment period once the Draft National CARES Plan is developed and published

• Step 6 – CARES Commission Review – Spring-Summer 2003

  • CARES Commission:
    • Appointed by the Secretary
    • Reviews comments from 60-day public comment period
    • Holds public hearings
    • Provides recommendations to the Secretary

• Step 7 – VA Secretary’s Decision – Late 2003

  • Secretary’s decision to accept or reject the Commission recommended national CARES Plan

• Step 8 – Implementation

• Step 9 – Integration into Strategic Planning Cycle

  • Networks prepare detailed Implementation Plans based upon the Secretary’s decision
  • Plans will be integrated into the VA strategic planning process

HOW WILL VETERANS BENEFIT?

Once CARES is completed, VA will have a national plan for realigning capital assets where they are most needed; preserving VA’s missions and special services; and, at the same time, improving access and providing cost-effective, high-quality care to veterans.

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