Then And Now

O n May 30, 1969, The first ground was broken for the new Veterans Administration Hospital, now known as the San Diego VA Medical Center.

Cost of the 400,000 square ft. building was estimated at $35.5 million. At the time, the hospital was described as “the most architecturally advanced in the world” for what was considered innovative design against earthquakes. The hospital was constructed on 26 acres of what was Camp Calvin B. Matthews, a Marine Corps rifle range.

After the San Fernando Earthquake in 1971, the construction of new designs to protect VA hospitals against seismic events became an important priority in Southern California. The San Fernando Earthquake also brought some of the earliest patients and staff in Feb after extensive damage to the Los Angeles region, including the complete shutdown of a Veterans Administration Hospital.

I nitially, the hiring plan was to employ 1,600 people (1,100 of which were local), with a planned annual operating budget of $15-16 million. That’s Almost $80 million if adjusted for inflation. B y contrast, the staff number in FY2011 was 2,544 with an operating budget of $546,596,108.

T he hospital’s formal dedication ceremony was held on March 15, There were over 2,500 invited guests including 49 members of congress, 78 current VA officials and 7 former, 142 state and county representatives, 76 local officials, 75 military attendees, four federal employees and 812 people from service organizations.

W hile one of many Veteran hospitals around the county, it was the first local hospital for Veteran care.

N early 40 years later, we now have medical clinics in Oceanside, Escondido, Mission Valley, Chula Vista, and Imperial Valley. Oceanside Clinic Opened in 2010 Mission Valley Clinic Opened in 1998 Chula Vista Clinic Opened in 1999 Imperial Valley Clinic New clinic open in 2008 Escondido Clinic Opened in 1998 Imperial Valley Clinic Opened in 2008 (first El Centro clinic opened in 1996.)

B y the time the hospital was fully operational at the end of 1972, the hospital was estimated to have 800 patients who received care. L ast fiscal year, we treated 72,419 Veterans at our healthcare facilities.

M arch 15, 1972: “Welcome to the main lobby.” H ere is how the lobby looks today.

In 1972, there were 811 authorized hospital beds. Now there are 256, with the decrease in beds attributed toward a shift from mostly inpatient care in 1972 to mostly outpatient care in 2012.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… Introduction of cogeneration plant as a means to save energy and allow independence from grid in 1986.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… A spinal Cord Injury center in 1988.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… The first Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, a three-day event to provide basic resources for local needy Veterans. In This started a national initiative for homeless Veterans. Dr. Arnold Gass and his team set up the VA medical tent.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… A positron emission tomography (PET) scanner in 1999.

A nursing patient lift system in all areas of the hospital starting in We were the first VA to be retrofitted with this system throughout the hospital. S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of…

A $52.2 million seismic upgrade project starting in 2005 to maintain operational capability in case of a major seismic event.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… T he National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in 2008; an annual gathering for disabled Veterans that builds confidence and development through challenges and education.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… Robotic surgery in Definitely a step up from 1972.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… Patient-centered care initiatives such as the Healing Garden and Matram Repetition.

S ince opening, our hospital has welcomed the innovation of… V irtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Program in San Diego was also selected as the site for the next generation of VA computerized medical record “Health Management Platform” in 2011.

Other achievements include… Numerous green awards : Energy Champion award from San Diego Gas & Electric, received on May 18, Three out of four 2009 Green Globe Certifications for Sustainability in January Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star recognition for superior energy performance. Director’s Award in the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department’s 2011 Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards Program.

Other achievements include… VASDHS being named as one of the Joint Commission’s Top Performers on key quality measures in 2010.

VASDHS was also rated as one of the best places to work by San Diego Magazine in Other achievements include…

Our VA San Diego Research Program Year Number of Projects Number of Investigators Annual Research Expenditures $ 300, $ 12.5 Million $ 55.5 Million 3rd Largest of 110 National VA Research Programs

Roland C. Blantz, MD – 2006 Middleton Award for kidney physiology and pathology research Dr. Blantz is a physician in Nephrology at the VA San Diego Medical Center and is a professor of medicine and head of Nephrology-Hypertension at the University of California, San Diego. He significantly influenced the direction of kidney disease management and treatment as well as universally transformed standard strategies used to delay and even prevent end-stage renal failure. William S. Middleton Award Recipients

Douglas D. Richman, MD – 2002 Middleton Award for HIV/AIDS research Dr. Richman is an internationally recognized researcher in AIDS and HIV Infections and the Director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of California, San Diego. His research helped guide antiretroviral drug treatment and combination therapy for millions of patients leading to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

William S. Middleton Award Recipients Marc A. Schuckit, MD – 1997 Middleton Award for alcohol and drug dependence research Dr. Schuckit was director of the Alcohol Research Center at the VA San Diego Medical Center and is professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. His research helped define the relationship between alcohol’s effect and later alcoholism, leading to research on the genetics of alcoholism.

Larry Squire, PhD – 1994 Middleton Award for memory research Dr. Squire, Senior Research Career Scientist at the VA San Diego Medical Center, made significant discoveries regarding components and mechanisms of memory leading to a greater understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and memory impairment among the aging. William S. Middleton Award Recipients

We would like to thank our community partners: One VA Community Advisory Board Elected Officials California Veterans Home of Chula Vista

What makes VASDHS Special? BEST We have the employees patients care anywhere

W e’ve come a long way in the past 40 years. W e’re looking forward to the future.