The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has recommended closing the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center.

In a report to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission released this week, the VA suggested closing the veterans hospital at 2121 Lake Avenue and establishing a new “Community Based Outpatient Clinic” as part of a effort to “modernize facilities” and “expand access for Veterans.”

The VA report recommended closing dozens of hospitals and clinics across the nation as the department works to overhaul its aging health care network.

The report said the VA’s Indiana Market faces slightly decreasing enrollment though demand for long-term care and outpatient care is projected to increase. Demand for inpatient medical and surgical services is projected to remain stable, the report said.

“There is a need to modernize facilities to meet current health care delivery standards and expand access for Veterans to receive care in a new and efficient environment,” the report said about Fort Wayne’s VA health care needs.

Representative Jim Banks says, “no matter what this looks like years down the road, there will always be a healthcare facility in Fort Wayne, it’s just a matter of whether or not veterans will receive inpatient care at the VA like they currently do or whether they receive that patient care at Parkview, IU Health or Lutheran or a VA hospital that’s further away.”

Source: https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/veterans-affairs-recommends-closing-fort-wayne-veterans-hospital/