Emergency Care Update
Topeka Urgent Care Update (4-17-2014)
EKHCS has hired a full time Physician Recruiter in an effort to hire qualified doctors. The recruiter will place special emphasis on the ER department until those positions are filled.
VHA has also changed the number of hours in a tour of duty that a physician can work which has affected the number of doctors needed to operate the ER and In-Patient Hospital 24/7.
EK will continue to provide 24/7 urgent care to the Veterans in our area until the Urgent Care Clinic can return to Emergency Room status. With that said, Topeka VAMC does not have a Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Dialysis , interventional radiology, nor other equipment and specialists needed to provide emergency care for certain types of emergencies.
Patients with intensive needs and or diagnosis will continue to be transported by ambulance to a higher level of care to ensure the best care for our Veterans.
Topeka Urgent Care Update (May 2013)
The Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center, part of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, will temporarily pause from Emergency Room services to Urgent Care services starting January 31, 2014.
Our first priority is and will be to provide safe, high quality patient care to our Veterans
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has determined that the Topeka Emergency Room is on a temporary pause and will function as an Urgent Care Clinic until VHA has examined all policy, procedures, and staffing levels.
All Veterans reporting to the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center's Urgent Care Clinic will be triaged and given the appropriate care.
All Veterans who are having a medical emergency should call 911.
VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System is working with local hospitals and ambulance services to ensure that Veterans get the emergency care they need.
• Brief explanation of Millennium Health Care Act: http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/millbill.asp
• PDF Online FAQ of Emergency Care in Non-VA Facilities: http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/brochures/EmergencyCareHandout.pdf
