Loma Linda University Health Care and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) signed a contract effective September 30 to continue the longstanding relationship with the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center to provide primary care to more than 27,000 United States military veterans for another five years.
Loma Linda University Health Care provides care for the former members of the armed services at five community-based outpatient clinics in Corona, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Rancho Cucamonga, and Victorville.
Loma Linda University Health Care first treated veterans at an outpatient clinic in Victorville in 1997 with one doctor and one nurse. The current five clinics employ 24 physicians from the general internal medicine department of Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group under the medical direction of Bevin Geslani, MD, along with 95 nurses and support staff who provide primary care for the veterans.
The new contract involves a major change in the way care is delivered to former military personnel. A patient-aligned care team (PACT) will now focus on the complete care of each veteran. The team consists of a physician, registered nurse care manager, and licensed vocational nurse or medical assistant. The team follows up with the veterans to enhance their care.