Merit Health Wesley's VA clinic moves into a new building
|This is a press release from Merit Health Wesley
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Veteran’s Affairs (VA) clinic at Merit Health Wesley has moved to a new location, allowing for more space to care for an estimated additional 5,000 Veterans per year. This marks the 19th year Merit Health Wesley has been awarded the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Based Outpatient Clinic contract.
The new contract continues to operate under the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model which allows for Veterans to receive care in a way that is customized specifically for them.
“We recognize that Veterans sometimes need a special kind of care, and this new approach and increased space allow us to serve this distinguished population in a way that recognizes that need,” said Stephen Beam, M.D., Medical Director.
The PACT model focuses on:
Partnerships with Veterans
Access to care using diverse methods, such as telemedicine and secured online messaging
Coordinated care among team members, such as primary care physicians, mental health professionals, pharmacy, dietary technicians and physician specialists
Team based care with Veterans at the center of the PACT
The model is patient-driven, proactive, personalized, and team-based. The team works toward wellness and disease prevention to improve Veteran satisfaction, healthcare outcomes and costs. Using this approach, the patient is the center of a care team which also includes the patient’s family members, caregivers and health care professionals such as the primary care provider, nurse care manager, clinical associate, and administrative staff.
“The PACT teams meet daily to discuss any patient issues as well as the individual’s health goals,” said Dr. Beam. “We work hard to create trusting relationships with those in our care so that they will feel appreciated and understood.”
While one large benefit is the team approach, Veterans will also have access to educational seminars as well as the wealth of information provided by My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov). Veterans can even communicate with members of their team via telephone or through Secure Messaging via My HealtheVet.
“We have been providing great care to our Veterans for 19 years and are continually improving processes and procedures to benefit the patient,” said Dr. Beam. “Our goal is simply to always provide the best care possible to these people who have given us so much.”
The VA clinic is now located at 5003 Hardy Street, Tower B, Suite 402 on the Merit Health Wesley campus. To contact the clinic, call 601-296-3530.
