Ann Arbor VA hospital's expanded mental health staff serves growing number of veterans
Editor's note: The number of veterans served in the Ann Arbor PTSD clinic in 2013 has been corrected.
Members of the military and ROTC stand during a Veterans Day ceremony at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in 2010. The VA has added a number of new mental health staff to serve veterans as a result of a nationwide effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com file photo
The health system — which includes the VA facilities in Ann Arbor, Jackson, Flint and Toledo — saw 56,886 veterans in its 2012 fiscal year.
As a part of a nationwide push by the Department of Veteran Affairs, the health system committed to hiring a number of mental health workers last year after an executive order from President Barack Obama.
The VA announced this week they’ve met their nationwide goal of hiring 1,600 mental health workers.
In Ann Arbor, that has meant the addition of eight new employees to the staff: A compensation and pension psychologist to help file claims, as well as seven social workers.
Beyond the hiring associated with the federal government initiative, the health system has also brought on board more employees for its mental health services.
Mental health staff in the health care system recently has seen year-by-year increases:
- 2010: 103 employees
- 2011: 126 employees
- 2012: 149 employees
- 2013: 154 employees, with more actively being recruited
In fiscal year 2012, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System served 9,473 veterans through its mental health services across its four locations.
To date during this fiscal year, which extends from Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, the health system has served 8,940 veterans — a figure officials expect to grow to 10,235 veterans.
That growth is also reflected in the VA’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinic in Ann Arbor:
- Fiscal year 2010: 1,352 veterans served
- 2011: 1,414
- 2012: 1,592
- 2013 to date: 1,489, projected to grow to 1,881 by Sept. 30
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
Hunterjim
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.
Good for them, a proper use of our tax dollars to help our Veterans!
Adam Betz
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 12:44 p.m.
I've only had two disagreeable experiences at the Ann Arbor VA which I think could have been fixed with additional staff training on who their younger patients actually are (OIF/OEF veterans). Other than that, I've nothing but outstanding things to say about the staff, especially the OIF/OEF office, and mental healthcare folks at the A2 VA. They give genuine care and concern for people that walk through those doors and we are lucky to have these people in our community. Thank you...your job is a difficult one and you do it everyday. We appreciate all of you.
Judy
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.
This is great news! Our vets deserve the best which means we need to have the VA hospitals staffed with only the best. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a real problem and our vets need to know and have a place to go for help.
craigjjs
Fri, Jun 14, 2013 : 11:41 a.m.
The Mental Health Staff at the Ann Arbor VA are dedicated, hard working, caring professionals. The care they provide is as good as any provided in the private sector. While the VA, as a whole, is experiencing serious difficulties providing needed mental health services and processing related disability claims, the Ann Arbor Mental Health Staff goes above and beyond to provide quality care to their patients. We veterans who have this care available are fortunate and I hope this level of care and efficiency extends to the entire VA system.