Department of Veterans Affairs Joint Ambulatory Care Center Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Camilia Benson and Kris Howell prepare to conduct their first MRI scan. VA photo by Thomas Coffelt
This MRI marks the first time that a Community Based Outpatient Clinic within VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System has had the capability to conduct this type of testing in-house. Last year, 6,400 patients were referred to other health care facilities outside of the VA’s Gulf Coast outpatient clinics to receive MRI.
“We are excited to provide this level of care to our veterans now,” Dr. Thomas Brown, JACC Chief Medical Officer, said. “We are committed to providing the kind of care our veterans deserve.”
Brown added that starting this capability falls directly in line with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s vision of transforming VA into an organization that is people-centric, results-driven and forward-looking.
Dennis Flores, supervisory diagnostic radiologic technologist, anticipates that the Radiology section at the JACC will eventually be able to see up to eight patients a day. Veteran patients who need MRI from the other VA Gulf Coast CBOCs (Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Panama City, Fla. and Mobile, Ala.) will also be seen at the JACC, if feasible.
MRI is primarily a medical imaging technique most commonly used in radiology to visualize the structure and function of the body.
The mission of the Veterans Healthcare System is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services. The JACC provides a wide range of primary and specialty care services to eligible veterans who are enrolled here.
For more information about the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, visit: http://www.biloxi.va.gov.
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