VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCB)

VATVCBHCS Press Release graphic element (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs graphic/Luis H. Loza Gutierrez)

HARLINGEN, Texas — Today, VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) announced the start of the SAIL Project for Effects, Actions and Results (SPEAR). This work group of healthcare professionals, led by VATVCBHCS Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Eric Kendle, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and flight surgeon, will be responsible for the oversight and coordination of activities related to the improvement of the quality of care provided to our Veterans.

The team will also facilitate collaboration to expand best practices between the health care system’s six sites in Harlingen, McAllen, Laredo, and Corpus Christi, Texas.

“We are working every day to fulfill our promise to care for our Nation’s heroes and provide them the service they earned and deserve,” said VATVCBHCS Director Joe A. Perez. “Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of care and the overall patient experience that we provide them.”   

The Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) Model is VA’s internal tool for ensuring quality and efficiency at VA facilities. This model gives each health care system the opportunity to comprehensively examine its performance against other facilities and gauge improvements over time. While VATVCBHCS is rated with 1-Star for now, initiatives to move its measures in a positive direction have been underway for months.

Since the last rating period, VATVCBHCS has worked with community partners to improve the overall care coordination between VA and non-VA facilities. This includes streamlining hospital admissions, discharges and medication management for Veterans who need more complex care. The health care system is also making significant strides to regain the trust and confidence of Veterans by improving communication with their providers, improving access and being more responsive to incoming calls from our Veterans. VATVCBHCS currently has one of the best Mental Health Departments in the VA, which also serves as a hub for Texas, minus Houston, and is a model for other health care systems across the Nation to emulate. It is also important to note that in November 2017, VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System received acknowledgement from Senior VA Leadership for the health care system being one of the most improved.

For more information or questions, members of the press may call Reynaldo Leal, Public Affairs Officer at 956-291-9340 or 956-491-8105.


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