VA facing same coronavirus concerns as other US hospitals
Hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs are no different that other health care facilities nationwide when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the man who oversees all 172 VA hospitals.
Posted — Updated"We are most concerned about ICU beds across the nation," said Dr. Richard Stone, executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration. "As the numbers continue to go up, our ability to both configure and staff intensive care beds are what we worry about the most."
The VA has 500 mobile hospital beds available across the country, with an addition 500 beds that could be put in the system, Stone said.
According to the VA, more than 86,000 veterans have tested positive for coronavirus since March, including 2,256 in North Carolina. COVID-19 has killed 154 North Carolina veterans.
Stone said the numbers are alarming, but the VA has a lower COVID-19 mortality rate for veterans of color.
"We think it's because of the job that the VA has done in controlling the co-morbid conditions of our veteran population," he said.
The VA is ready to take part several studies of potential coronavirus vaccines across the country, he said.
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