The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS), Reno, Nevada, provides primary and secondary care to a large geographical area that includes 21 counties in northern Nevada and northeastern California.  Approximately 116,000 veterans reside in this region, with Reno representing the largest urban area.  The Reno campus is the site of the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center, which operates 64 hospital beds and 60 Transitional Care Unit beds.  During FY 08, VASNHCS provided care to 25,996 unique patients, which accounted for approximately 270,872 outpatient visits, while treating more than 3,727 inpatients.
 
VASNHCS has an operating budget of more than $174m and employs approximately 894 employees. VASNHCS provides a broad array of inpatient care and outpatient services in medicine, surgery, neurology, mental health, pharmacy, interventional radiology, alcohol/drug treatment, ophthalmology, audiology/speech pathology, dental care, and home care.  The hospital offers a wide range of diagnostic services, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, as well as diagnostic cardiac catheterization services.  Geriatrics and Extended Care includes, rehabilitation, skilled care (post acute), palliative care, respite care, geriatrics evaluation, transitional care, and long-term care.  Tertiary and unique specialty care not available within VASNHCS are supported through a variety of means, including referrals to community hospitals and VA Medical Centers in San Francisco and Palo Alto, Caliornia.  Access to outpatient primary and mental health care is also available through community clinics: the VA Sierra Foothills Outpatient Clinic in Auburn, California, the VA Carson Valley Outpatient Clinic in Minden, Nevada, and our newest clinic, the VA Lahontan Valley Outpatient Clinic in Fallon, Nevada.
 
The major academic affiliations for VASNHCS are the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, and the East Bay Surgical Program at the University of California, San Francisco.  Approximately 30 medical, surgical, and psychiatry residents rotate annually through VASNHCS, as well as approximately 12 pharmacy students through a partnership with the Idaho State University and University of Southern Nevada Schools of Pharmacy.  Additionally, there are five pharmacy residents through the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) residency program.  A number of students, interns, and residents from ancillary services and other academic affiliations also receive training at VASNHCS.  The VASNHCS Research program has a budget of approximately $1.3m, with 34 projects in neurology, oncology, surgery, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, and pharmacy.

AFFILIATION

University of Nevada, Reno
University of California, San Francisco (East Bay Surgical Program)

AUTHORIZED BEDS

64 Hospital
60 NHCU

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & REGISTRIES

AIDS Clinic
Behavioral Medicine/Biofeedback
Day Treatment
Home Based Primary Care
Respite Care
Sleep Apnea Clinic/Treatment
Telemedicine
Women's Health
Persian Gulf
Agent Orange
Ionizing Radiation

COMMUNITY BASED PRIMARY CARE CLINICS

The VA Carson Valley Clinic opened in January of 2001 in Minden, Nevada. The clinic relocated in July of 2001 and opened on a full-time basis providing veterans living in the Carson Valley area access to primary care services. Patients requiring specialty services and inpatient care are referred primarily to the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center in Reno and community or network facilities. Services provided include Primary Care & Preventive Medicine and Mental Health.

VA Carson Valley Outpatient Clinic
925 Ironwood, Suite 2102
Minden, Nevada 89423
888-838-6256 ext 4000

The VA Sierra Foothills Outpatient Clinic, which opened in June 1998, is located in Auburn, CA. Patients requiring specialty services or inpatient care are referred primarily to the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center in Reno and secondarily to community or network facilities. This clinic is a key outreach effort to provide health care services to veterans living in the greater Auburn area. Services provided include Primary Care & Preventive Medicine and Mental Health.

 

VA Sierra Foothills Outpatient Clinic
3123 Professional Drive, Suite 250
Auburn, CA 95603
530-889-0872

 

The VA Lahontan Valley Outpatient Clinic, opening in August 2007, is located in Fallon, Nevada. Patients requiring specialty services or inpatient care are referred primarily to the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center in Reno and secondarily to community or network facilities. This clinic will provide health care services to veterans living in the Fallon area. Services provided include Primary Care & Preventive Medicine and Mental Health.

VA Lahontan Valley Outpatient Clinic
345 West A Street
Fallon, Nevada 89406
775-428-6161