Printer Friendly Page

VA NARROWS OPTIONS TO MODERNIZE MONTROSE AND

CASTLE POINT FACILITIES -- "Any plan must ensure

that veterans using both facilities will have

necessary access to all services."

 

 

Story here... http://www.midhudsonnews.com/
News/VA_recommends-04Feb07.htm

Story below:

---------------

VA narrows options to modernize Montrose and Castle Point facilities

Montrose – Veterans in the Montrose or Castle Point areas are another step closer to receiving a modernization of the facilities at the VA hospitals.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has narrowed down its lit of options for modernizing the facilities, said Maryann Musumeci, chairwoman of the local advisory panel for the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System.

Four options will be explored for the Montrose campus.

Three will seek the best location to build new domiciliary and ambulatory care facilities.

One of the options will study the construction of only a new ambulatory facility.

Two Castle Point options will be studied.

One involves replacing all of the current buildings at the center and a second would authorize building only a new nursing home while renovating the other facilities.

The Castle Point options would also provide new facilities for services that will be moved from Montrose.

Musumeci said the department will examine a full range of potential reuses for unused and vacated land on both campuses that would provide benefits to veterans such as senior housing.

Congressman John Hall of Dover Plains said the Hudson Valley VA healthcare system is “already stretching” to meet needs of local vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The VA must have the resources for the growing Vets population, he said.

Any options considered for the future of both hospital campuses “must improve care for veterans,” Hall said. “That means that any plan should protect property on the Montrose campus from private development that doesn’t serve veterans, and any plan must ensure that veterans using both facilities will have necessary access to all services including mental healthcare.”

---------------

Larry Scott  --