Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
Encyclopedia
The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), opened Oct. 1, 2010, and is the United States' first federal health care center that partners the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Department of Defense
into a single, fully integrated federal health care facility.
, and is on the grounds of the former North Chicago VA Medical Center. The arrangement incorporates facilities and services from both the former North Chicago VA Medical Center and the former Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes, a part of Naval Station Great Lakes
.
The center is a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin that provide medical and dental services to U.S. military
veteran
s, recruits, active duty
and eligible beneficiaries.
astronaut
, Captain James A. Lovell
, USN
.
The Base Realignment and Closure
committee's recommendations of 1995, Executive Order 13214 of 2001 (Presidential Task Force to Improve Healthcare Delivery for our Nation's Veterans), the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhancement Services (CARES) study of 2001, the Center for Naval Analysis recommendations of 2002, and Congressional support drove the integration of these two federal departments.
The unique partnership began in October 2002 when the Veterans Health Administration
and the DoD signed an Executive Council Decision Memo, directing the partnership between the two medical centers. The first phase of the partnership was accomplished in October 2003, when the U.S. Navy shifted their inpatient mental health
care to the North Chicago VAMC.
Phase II of the partnership included a $13 million VA renovation and modernization project to expand the Emergency and Surgery Departments at the North Chicago VAMC. As part of this phase, the U.S. Navy transferred all operating room, intensive care unit and emergency room services to the VA, including pediatrics
. The North Chicago VA Medical Center is the only Veterans Affair] facility to offer pediatrics. In addition, all NHCGL inpatient medical, surgical and services were transferred to the North Chicago VAMC. This phase was completed in June 2006.
Phase III, included a $130 million DoD construction project to build a new 201000 square feet (18,673.5 m²) ambulatory care center next to the North Chicago VAMC, renovation of more than 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²) of existing space, and a new parking garage and surface parking area. This phase was completed in December 2010.
-eligible retirees.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
and the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
into a single, fully integrated federal health care facility.
Location
The medical center is located in North Chicago, IllinoisNorth Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
, and is on the grounds of the former North Chicago VA Medical Center. The arrangement incorporates facilities and services from both the former North Chicago VA Medical Center and the former Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes, a part of Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is the home of the United States Navy's only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago...
.
The center is a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin that provide medical and dental services to U.S. military
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s, recruits, active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
and eligible beneficiaries.
History
The merger was accomplished in three phases and is named in honor of Apollo 13Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, Captain James A. Lovell
Jim Lovell
James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission...
, USN
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
The Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
committee's recommendations of 1995, Executive Order 13214 of 2001 (Presidential Task Force to Improve Healthcare Delivery for our Nation's Veterans), the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhancement Services (CARES) study of 2001, the Center for Naval Analysis recommendations of 2002, and Congressional support drove the integration of these two federal departments.
The unique partnership began in October 2002 when the Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...
and the DoD signed an Executive Council Decision Memo, directing the partnership between the two medical centers. The first phase of the partnership was accomplished in October 2003, when the U.S. Navy shifted their inpatient mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
care to the North Chicago VAMC.
Phase II of the partnership included a $13 million VA renovation and modernization project to expand the Emergency and Surgery Departments at the North Chicago VAMC. As part of this phase, the U.S. Navy transferred all operating room, intensive care unit and emergency room services to the VA, including pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. The North Chicago VA Medical Center is the only Veterans Affair] facility to offer pediatrics. In addition, all NHCGL inpatient medical, surgical and services were transferred to the North Chicago VAMC. This phase was completed in June 2006.
Phase III, included a $130 million DoD construction project to build a new 201000 square feet (18,673.5 m²) ambulatory care center next to the North Chicago VAMC, renovation of more than 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²) of existing space, and a new parking garage and surface parking area. This phase was completed in December 2010.
Beneficiaries
The design of the medical center allows for medical care for military veterans, active-duty military members, their families, and TRICARETRICARE
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
-eligible retirees.