Veterans Health System strives to put veterans first, with modernization underway

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

by: David Isaacks

Happy Veterans Day! Today, our country is safe, open and is ruled by its own citizens. This would not be the case without those who have made sacrifices and taken part in military service. Please join me in honoring all veterans on this Veterans Day.

However, saying “thank you” is just the start of how we pay tribute to our veterans. The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System joins the rest of the country in pledging to care for our service members and ensure they receive the resources they need. Our commitment to those who have served does not end when their service ends, and they return home. We will continue to work to enhance veterans’ benefits, opportunities, and health care. It is an absolute priority that we fulfill our obligation to veterans and their families. We, as a country, must see to it that they get the best care they deserve for the sacrifices they’ve made to keep America safe.

Every day is Veterans Day at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, because it is our honor to help the nation repay its debt to America’s veterans. To keep that covenant, the Department of Veterans Affairs and North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System are modernizing how we deliver support to better meet the ever-increasing demand for benefits and health care. We see evidence of that modernization throughout the facility in our construction projects, systems redesign activities, new equipment, changing treatment modalities, and our high reliability journey to Zero Harm.

Our measure of success will be the timeliness, quality, and the experience of the services and support we provide to veterans rather than our promises. We want veterans to choose VA, because they want to and not because they must.

At the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, we will continue to put our veterans first. We salute the spirit of the American service member and we honor the sacrifices of those who fulfilled their obligations and now proudly call themselves American veterans.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to serve these heroes. They are our neighbors. Our friends. Our families. Our loved ones. We have an obligation to serve them as they have served us.

David Isaacks is a Marine Corps veteran and executive director at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. Visit https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/.