Loma Linda VA Hospital and Clinic

The importance of the VA Hospital and VA Clinics in the California 23rd Congressional District is rooted in their role as the primary, integrated healthcare system for a vast and diverse veteran population in the Inland Empire. The entire system, known as the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System (VALLHCS), is crucial for both veteran well-being and the regional economy. Hence, their continued funding is a top priority with me.

The Hub: Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital

Located in Loma Linda, the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital is the central facility for VALLHCS, providing comprehensive care that is often unavailable elsewhere in the local VA system.

• Comprehensive Tertiary Care: The hospital is a major, high-complexity facility providing specialized and acute inpatient care, including emergency services, intensive care, and complex surgical procedures (both inpatient and outpatient). With hundreds of thousands of annual non-Emergency Department outpatient visits and over 20,000 annual ED visits, it is a vital lifeline.

• Integrated Mental Health Services: The facility is a crucial regional center for the treatment of mental health disorders unique to veterans, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, and depression. It offers both residential and confidential outpatient counseling programs.

• Academic and Research Center: The hospital is a teaching facility, affiliated with Loma Linda University Health. This partnership ensures a high standard of medical practice by training residents and fellows across many specialties. It is also involved in clinical research, which allows veterans access to innovative treatments and medical advancements.

The Reach: Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)

The importance of the VA Clinics (CBOCs) lies in their ability to decentralize care, bringing essential services closer to veterans who live across the large geographical expanse of the 23rd District (which includes the High Desert, such as Victorville, and parts of the Inland Empire).

Clinics under the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System that serve this general region include:

• Victorville VA Clinic: Serves the High Desert veteran community, reducing the long commute to Loma Linda for routine care.

• Rancho Cucamonga VA Clinic: Provides access for veterans in the western part of San Bernardino County.

• Loma Linda VA Clinic (Ambulatory Care Center): Provides extensive primary and specialty outpatient care, including advanced imaging (MRI, CT, PET), women's health services, and rehabilitation.

• Other nearby clinics like those in Corona and Murrieta help cover the wider Inland Empire area.

The CBOCs are vital for:

• Primary Care: Providing basic health maintenance, labs, and chronic disease management.

• Women's Health: Offering dedicated, gender-specific services like mammograms and gynecological care.

• Telehealth and Social Services: Connecting veterans with mental health counseling and social workers to address homelessness and food insecurity.

Economic and Social Impact

Beyond direct medical care, the VALLHCS represents a massive economic and social benefit to the 23rd Congressional District.

• Major Employer: As a large federal medical facility, it is a significant source of stable, high-skill employment, driving local economic activity.

• Addressing Homelessness: The VA coordinates efforts to combat veteran homelessness, providing immediate assistance with food and shelter, as well as job training and long-term supportive housing programs—a critical social safety net function for the region.

• Advocacy and Accountability: As evidenced by the work of the district's Representative, the VA hospital and its clinics are consistently a central focus for congressional oversight and advocacy, ensuring the federal government meets its commitment to veterans' quality of care and services.

In essence, the VA Hospital and its Clinics are an indispensable lifeline for the Inland Empire's veteran population, ensuring they receive the specialized, integrated, and accessible healthcare they earned through service.

the population of women veterans is the fastest-growing demographic within the VA system. The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System (VALLHCS) has made significant strides in providing comprehensive, gender-sensitive care specifically tailored for women veterans.

The dedicated services for women veterans are primarily centralized in the Women's Health Center at the North Loma Linda VA Clinic and integrated throughout the main hospital and Ambulatory Care Center (ACC).

Comprehensive Women's Health Services

VA Loma Linda's program ensures women veterans receive high-quality care that covers both general primary care and female-specific needs:

• Gender-Specific Primary Care: Women Veterans are seen by a dedicated Women's Health Primary Care Provider (WH-PCP) who specializes in addressing the unique health issues of female veterans. This provider manages general health, disease prevention, and nutrition counseling.

• Preventative Screening: This includes essential cancer screening services:

  • Cervical Cancer Screens (Pap smears and HPV tests).

  • Breast Cancer Screens (mammography/mammograms) and ultrasounds, often located in the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) for advanced imaging.

• Reproductive Health and Gynecology: Comprehensive services for all stages of life:

  • Contraceptive Care and Family Planning.

  • Preconception Counseling and Infertility Evaluation.

  • Maternity Care, Childbirth Education, and Postpartum Support. (Care is often coordinated with community providers for delivery).

  • Menopause Care and Hormone Replacement Therapy.

  • Gynecology Surgery Service for various conditions.

Mental Health and Specialized Trauma Support

A critical component of the VALLHCS program is its integrated mental health care, recognizing the unique mental and emotional burdens women veterans may face.

• Integrated Mental Health: Mental health care and counseling are offered directly within the Women's Health Center setting, making it easier for veterans to access these services alongside their primary care.

• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Treatment: The VA provides free, confidential counseling and treatment for both mental and physical health conditions related to MST, regardless of whether the veteran is enrolled in VA healthcare or received a service-connected disability.

• Dedicated Program Manager: The Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM) serves as a key point of contact to help women veterans navigate the VA system, connect with specialists, and access all their earned benefits.

The Women's Health Center

The establishment of the specialized Women's Health Center at the North Loma Linda VA Clinic signifies a major commitment by the VALLHCS to the women in the 23rd Congressional District's region:

• Designated Space: The center provides a private, dedicated space with single-patient private exam rooms designed to be sensitive and welcoming, which helps overcome potential barriers to seeking care.

• Wraparound Services: In addition to clinical care, the center offers support services like Social Work, Nutrition counseling, and Peer Support to address the whole-health needs of the veteran.

This comprehensive, integrated approach ensures that the increasing number of women veterans in the Inland Empire receive respectful, high-quality, and specialized care across all aspects of their health journey.