NEWS RELEASE - Spokane Veterans Home COVID-19 Positive Residents will Transfer to Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs News Release - April 23, 2020

Spokane – The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center and Spokane Veterans Home serve the same Veteran population and have always partnered to serve the best interests of Veterans and their families.  As a result of the challenges experienced by the Spokane Veterans Home with multiple residents diagnosed with COVID-19, this partnership will take on a new form.  Today we are announcing the transfer of COVID-19 positive Veterans Home residents to the VA Medical Center, COVID-19 Unit.

This unit was recently converted from being a VA Community Living Center to a specialized unit prepared to handle a surge of COVID-19 positive veterans in the area. 

“I want to emphasize Mann-Grandstaff VAMC’s support and assistance to the WA State Department of Veterans Affairs reflects the quality of our community partnership in providing the best care for Veterans in a changing environment.” said Dr. Robert J. Fischer, Medical Center Director – Mann-Grandstaff VAMC.  “The Spokane Veterans Home has done a remarkable job and we are privileged to work with them to enhance the care of the Veterans we collectively serve.”

The VA Medical Center infrastructure offers several capabilities that the Spokane Veterans Home simply does not have and will not be able to acquire without significant capital improvements.  These include:

·       Isolated COVID-19 positive zones with specified engineering controls

·       Daily attending physician rounds.

·       More hospital focused care.  The unit is attached to the VA Medical Center which has an ICU on site.

·       Tailored resident rooms to meet specific infection control and health care requirements

A recent visit to the Veterans Home by a team from the VA Medical Center prompted the idea of transferring residents after the team reviewed some of the environmental challenges in the Spokane Veterans Home Building. 

“We are grateful to our partners at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center and know that they are as passionate about serving Veterans as we are,” said Lourdes E. “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos. “Following a visit by their specialists, it was clear that they are simply better equipped to treat COVID-19 positive residents with the infrastructure and staff resources available to the VA.  It’s not important where our Veterans receive care, only that they receive the best possible care in the best possible environment.” 

A team of medical and infection control professionals is standing by to assist and will provide care for these veterans.  Transfers will begin later this week.

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