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CHARLESTON, SC - Today, Congressman Henry Brown hosted Dr. Michael J. Kussman, Undersecretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration and provided him with a status update on the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC and the Medical University of South Carolina.
Brown was joined by Congressman Steve Buyer (R-IN), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, MUSC President Raymond Greenberg and Mr. John Barilich, Director, VAMC Charleston, in offering Secretary Kussman an up-close look at the unique sharing opportunities which exist between these two entities.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Kussman to Charleston,” Brown said. “We are excited to have this opportunity to give him first-hand knowledge of these facilities and how they work together.”
Following the facilities tour and briefing, Kussman remarked on his first visit to Charleston, saying “I am very impressed with what I’ve seen today. We’ve done a great deal of sharing thus far and I’m committed to building on that.” Kussman also made note of the commitment to patient care by local staff.
Dr. Greenberg thanked the Congressmen for their efforts and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to showcase these facilities. Referring to the long-standing relationship between MUSC and the VAMC he said, “We take great pride in serving the veterans of this community.” Mr. Barilich reiterated the local VAMC’s commitment to the ongoing project and said, “We are excited about the possibility of further sharing opportunities.”
Several years into the planning stage, this approach is now being referred to as ‘The Charleston Model’ within the VA system. Rep. Buyer went on to explain, “We are setting a course to build a new paradigm for cooperation that will be an example throughout the nation.” He also referred to the “synergies of excellence” created by such endeavors.
Congressman Brown, Congressman Buyer and members of the South Carolina delegation have been working to provide the collaborative project with a dedicated funding stream from the VA.
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