Page 25 - Desert Oracle November 2021

Veterans Canteen Service:
On a recent audit at the Canteen, the Inspector stated that “our Canteen was well organized, clean
and prepared”. She said it was one of the best she has ever seen.

Veteran VA Medical Care Debts

• Billing and collection activities have resumed for the VA as of 10/1/2021. Although the VA
covered debts for medical services and prescriptions from 4/6/20 – 9/30/21, Veterans are still
responsible for any unpaid debts for Medical care and prescriptions prior to 4/6/2020.
• More information can be found here: Pay Your VA Copay Bill | Veterans Affairs

NAVAHCS Average Wait Time:

Established Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct-
Patient Wait Time FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21
Mental Health 4.4 5.8 6.4 6.4 6.5 3.8 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.2 3.0 3.7
Primary Care 5.3 4.4 3.6 2.5 2.9 4.0 6.5 6.2 4.9 5.8 4.8 4.3

Specialty Care 11.6 10.1 10.1 11.2 10.1 16.5 12.9 6.4 5.9 4.6 5.9 5.9

New Patient Wait Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct-
Time FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21 FY21
Mental Health 14.4 11.7 7.7 10.6 9.6 16.5 11.4 7.1 10.2 8.5 12.8 10.4
Primary Care 18.6 15.6 11.8 10.1 13.8 20.8 23.5 25.4 24.2 21.2 25.3 25.4
Specialty Care 23.2 21.4 15.8 15.4 21.5 25.4 20.4 19.2 18.2 17.0 15.0 15.4

Construction Updates:

• The new Radiology Expansion Project is scheduled for activation in January 2022
o The main road, COL Holmberg Road will remain closed indefinitely.
• The new Warehouse is scheduled to be tentatively completed in early 2022.
• The Primary Care Expansion and Consolidation contract has been awarded. Estimated
completion is set for January 2023.
• Lake Havasu CBOC contract was awarded, and the site is scheduled to be completed in early
fall, with a few months of activation and a Go Live date sometime in October/November 2022.

NAVAHCS Events & Activities:
• 100 Birthday Celebration: Staff from our Cottonwood CBOC were able to celebrate the 100
th
th
Birthday of one of our Veterans. Voluntary Service provided him a gift bag and his family was
there to celebrate with him.
• Red Cross: The local Red Cross has begun a Coffee Cart at NAVAHCS with FREE coffee and
refreshments for staff and Veterans once a month.
• Breast Cancer Awareness: October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and our staff
showed their support and came out for the PINK OUT group photo.
• Pie Donation: NAVAHCS received 1,000 individual pies donated to Veterans and staff from
the Mountain Institute Culinary School of Arts. The students baked all of the pies themselves
and were happy to do so.