I was excited to learn in today’s Tulsa World that the new VA hospital in downtown Tulsa has received an additional $31.2 million in funding for its construction, according to the nonprofit organization Veterans Hospital in Tulsa (VHiT), which is overseeing the project. TW subscribers can read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7ffux5
The funding, which was included in the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill and the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act, will be used to offset unexpected construction costs that have affected construction projects nationwide.
The new hospital, expected to be completed in late 2024, will be located in the former Kerr-Edmondson state office complex just a few blocks northwest of Central Park. The 58-bed hospital will be affiliated with the neighboring Oklahoma State University Medical Center and will be part of a larger $450 million project that includes a 100-bed inpatient mental health facility and an OSU Pharmaceutical Research Lab and Clinical Center.
The hospital has been a long-awaited and much-needed project for the city’s veterans. It will provide much-needed medical services to veterans, and it is expected to create jobs and economic growth in the area. Not to mention the hundreds of health care professionals who will be seeking nearby housing options.
The hospital will provide a wide range of services to veterans, including primary care, mental health, and specialty care. It will also have a rehabilitation center, which will provide services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to veterans. It will also have a research center, which will conduct studies veterans’ health issues and develop new treatments and therapies for them.
The new development promises to have a major impact on the downtown Tulsa community. It will bring new high-paying jobs and economic growth to the area, and it will also be a major attraction for visitors to the city. The hospital, replacing one in Muskogee, will be located in a prime location in downtown Tulsa, which will make it easily accessible to veterans and visitors alike.
First and foremost, the new VA hospital will be a vital resource for the city’s veterans. It will provide them with the medical services they need to stay healthy and to recover from injuries and illnesses. It will also provide them with a sense of community and belonging, which is important for the well-being of our veterans.
In conclusion, the additional funding will ensure the hospital is completed on time and to the highest standards which would have been impossible without it. I was very concerned when I first heard about the millions in cost increases from inflation and felt very relieved to receive this wonderful news. The new hospital complex will likely encourage more economic growth in and around the new medical and health care corridor. Pop the champagne corks, it’s a win, win, win!
