The Syracuse Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, New York, Prosthetics Service program was rated best in the country for the second consecutive year. Each of the VA’s 21 Veterans Integrated Healthcare Systems (VISNs) had the opportunity to nominate its top medical center, and VA Central Office Prosthetics selected the best of all nominations.
“We live the VISN 2 [VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York] Prosthetic Standard for Values,” said Joseph McCreary, manager for the Syracuse VA’s Prosthetics program, in a Syracuse VA press release. “Our values are providing outstanding customer service, [exceeding] all performance metrics, and staff excellence.”
The Syracuse VA Medical Center services a 13-county region, and, according to McCreary, his department serves about 40 percent of all veterans who receive services there. The services include a full range of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS), including artificial limbs, dental implants, mobility devices, surgical implants, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and pedorthic services such as shoes and shoe inserts. In 2009, they served 14,938 veterans and issued or repaired 122,448 prosthetic devices.
