The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opened a 1,330-square-foot
prosthetics lab at the VA San Diego Healthcare System’s Oceanside Clinic,
California. According to the San Diego
Union Tribune, the prosthetic clinic is a partnership between the VA and
the U.S. Navy to serve VA patients, active-duty service members, military retirees,
and their family members.
The facility will be managed by the VA’s prosthetics service
and will include a full-time prosthetist and two support staff. The U.S. Department
of Defense (DoD) will also have a prosthetist, two physical therapists, and a technician
on-site. Initially, the VA and DoD will provide separate care for their
respective patients, but plan to merge services in the future. Appointment
scheduling and medical records will remain separate at this time.