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Temporary domiciliary unit could open soon
by Ruth Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram
-Staff has to be recruited for veterans treatment center.
By Ruth Campbell
Staff Writer
BIG SPRING -- A temporary domiciliary unit should soon be ready at West Texas VA Medical Center, but it may be some time before it begins taking patients, officials said.
The domiciliary unit will offer veterans substance abuse treatment and a way to readjust to the community and gain steady employment. A permanent 40-bed unit also is being planned, Interim Director Chris Bacorn said.
The residential treatment center was recommended by the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Commission in April 2006 after residents rallied to keep the facility open.
The hospital is spending $500,000 to renovate its old housekeeping quarters into 12 apartments. Bacorn said plans are to have it completed by Labor Day. Spokeswoman Iva Jo Hanslik said a ribbon cutting will probably be held in mid-to-late September.
The hospital has to recruit a staff of six to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so Bacorn said he's not sure when the unit will start taking clients.
"The building is much more in our control than the hiring of staff. We've got those vacancy announcements out. It's just who responds. We're going to recruit from local community," Bacorn said.
Veterans in the domiciliary unit typically will be high-functioning, but have substance abuse and mental health problems "well into their recovery, stable in their treatment and medically stable," Bacorn said. He added the veterans will need help with vocational rehabilitation and will start reestablishing ties with their families and community.
Clients will stay in the domiciliary program for 90-120 days. Initially, they will work in the kitchen or as groundskeepers on hospital grounds as part of what's called compensated work therapy. The program will help them find jobs afterward.
The stay is "not a super-long time, but it's long enough to begin to focus on re-establishing their work histories and helping them get a job," Bacorn said.
"... It's been a long time since they've suited up and showed up for a job. It's getting them back to the self-discipline it takes to get out of bed in the morning every day at a certain time, get dressed, get to the job and be ready for work."
The permanent domiciliary -- a 40-bed, $7 million-$10 million project - has hit a snag and has to be put out for bid again because costs came in higher than anticipated, Bacorn said.
"We're having to redesign it slightly and send it out again to a broader set of contractors and hope for what we consider to be more competitive bids," Bacorn said, adding those bids will likely go out in October. "We have every reason to think we're going to have first-class domiciliary providing all of our needs."
Other planned new projects include:
-Approved but not yet funded is a clinical addition to front of the hospital. The estimated $7 million project will feature a new eye clinic, laboratory and dental service. Bacorn said fiscal year 2009 will be spent designing the addition and construction should start in 2010.
-The VA has approval to rebuild and combine its canteen and food service operation. Estimated cost is $600,000. "This is an exciting project for patients and staff. We think we'll have better food service for veterans and employees," Bacorn said.
The canteen chef left in the last two to three months for a new job and this was a chance to combine services under the nutrition chief, he said. It will represent cost savings and "we think the synergy will lift both of the services."
-Rebuilding the pharmacy, replacing part of the electrical system, installing new water heaters and rebuilding part of the boiler plant are also on the agenda. "The building, grounds and outbuildings are 58 years old. They require ongoing maintenance improvements if we're going to keep this place up and looking good."
Search is on
Two years after taking the director's position at West Texas VA Health Care System, Michael Bell resigned in July and took a job with the Veterans Integrated Service Network in Mesa, Ariz.
Bacorn has been at the Big Spring VA since May 2007 when he was appointed associate medical director, Hanslik said, and is applying for the permanent post. "It was a seamless transition, stepping into the interim director position," she said.
During his tenure, Bacorn said he has gotten to know the staff and is familiar with the facility goals and projects.
But the search will be national. "My goals are that we continue to push ahead with a lot of the things we've established her to fully implement veterans' rural access to expand our programs in Big Spring and our community based outreach clinics in Abilene, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo and Hobbs (N.M.)," Bacorn said.
Bacorn got into the VA through an internship when he was a graduate student in psychology. He took a spot in his native Houston and his career began in 1981.
He has a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from University of St. Thomas in Houston, a master's degree in behavioral sciences from University of Houston, another master's in public administration from University of Texas at San Antonio and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska.
The hospital has 18,000 patients in its 47-county service area, which covers West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, and 510 staff members, which is going to grow with added programs. Some 900 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have enrolled for VA services.
"This is such a good job," Bacorn said. "I'm a problem solver and there are a lot of challenges here. I'm a builder, too, and the fact that there is this big construction project going on is exciting to me. West Texans are very friendly. I think these are wonderful, honest, open, straight-forward people who want to do a good job and work hard."
Bacorn said he has devoted 25 years to serving veterans. "It's the most wonderful mission to take care of these guys who have taken care of us," he said.
"We've got this new group coming back," Bacorn added. "We want to welcome these guys back, integrate them into our health care system and provide great care to (them). That's a tough war over there. These guys have experienced a lot of hurt and suffering. We want to relieve their pain as much as we can and help their families, too."
Bacorn and his wife, Viva, have three children, Christian, Ryan and Jenna.
Ruth Campbell can be reached at ruth@mrt.com.
By Ruth Campbell
Staff Writer
BIG SPRING -- A temporary domiciliary unit should soon be ready at West Texas VA Medical Center, but it may be some time before it begins taking patients, officials said.
The domiciliary unit will offer veterans substance abuse treatment and a way to readjust to the community and gain steady employment. A permanent 40-bed unit also is being planned, Interim Director Chris Bacorn said.
The residential treatment center was recommended by the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Commission in April 2006 after residents rallied to keep the facility open.
The hospital is spending $500,000 to renovate its old housekeeping quarters into 12 apartments. Bacorn said plans are to have it completed by Labor Day. Spokeswoman Iva Jo Hanslik said a ribbon cutting will probably be held in mid-to-late September.
The hospital has to recruit a staff of six to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so Bacorn said he's not sure when the unit will start taking clients.
"The building is much more in our control than the hiring of staff. We've got those vacancy announcements out. It's just who responds. We're going to recruit from local community," Bacorn said.
Veterans in the domiciliary unit typically will be high-functioning, but have substance abuse and mental health problems "well into their recovery, stable in their treatment and medically stable," Bacorn said. He added the veterans will need help with vocational rehabilitation and will start reestablishing ties with their families and community.
Clients will stay in the domiciliary program for 90-120 days. Initially, they will work in the kitchen or as groundskeepers on hospital grounds as part of what's called compensated work therapy. The program will help them find jobs afterward.
The stay is "not a super-long time, but it's long enough to begin to focus on re-establishing their work histories and helping them get a job," Bacorn said.
"... It's been a long time since they've suited up and showed up for a job. It's getting them back to the self-discipline it takes to get out of bed in the morning every day at a certain time, get dressed, get to the job and be ready for work."
The permanent domiciliary -- a 40-bed, $7 million-$10 million project - has hit a snag and has to be put out for bid again because costs came in higher than anticipated, Bacorn said.
"We're having to redesign it slightly and send it out again to a broader set of contractors and hope for what we consider to be more competitive bids," Bacorn said, adding those bids will likely go out in October. "We have every reason to think we're going to have first-class domiciliary providing all of our needs."
Other planned new projects include:
-Approved but not yet funded is a clinical addition to front of the hospital. The estimated $7 million project will feature a new eye clinic, laboratory and dental service. Bacorn said fiscal year 2009 will be spent designing the addition and construction should start in 2010.
-The VA has approval to rebuild and combine its canteen and food service operation. Estimated cost is $600,000. "This is an exciting project for patients and staff. We think we'll have better food service for veterans and employees," Bacorn said.
The canteen chef left in the last two to three months for a new job and this was a chance to combine services under the nutrition chief, he said. It will represent cost savings and "we think the synergy will lift both of the services."
-Rebuilding the pharmacy, replacing part of the electrical system, installing new water heaters and rebuilding part of the boiler plant are also on the agenda. "The building, grounds and outbuildings are 58 years old. They require ongoing maintenance improvements if we're going to keep this place up and looking good."
Search is on
Two years after taking the director's position at West Texas VA Health Care System, Michael Bell resigned in July and took a job with the Veterans Integrated Service Network in Mesa, Ariz.
Bacorn has been at the Big Spring VA since May 2007 when he was appointed associate medical director, Hanslik said, and is applying for the permanent post. "It was a seamless transition, stepping into the interim director position," she said.
During his tenure, Bacorn said he has gotten to know the staff and is familiar with the facility goals and projects.
But the search will be national. "My goals are that we continue to push ahead with a lot of the things we've established her to fully implement veterans' rural access to expand our programs in Big Spring and our community based outreach clinics in Abilene, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo and Hobbs (N.M.)," Bacorn said.
Bacorn got into the VA through an internship when he was a graduate student in psychology. He took a spot in his native Houston and his career began in 1981.
He has a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from University of St. Thomas in Houston, a master's degree in behavioral sciences from University of Houston, another master's in public administration from University of Texas at San Antonio and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska.
The hospital has 18,000 patients in its 47-county service area, which covers West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, and 510 staff members, which is going to grow with added programs. Some 900 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have enrolled for VA services.
"This is such a good job," Bacorn said. "I'm a problem solver and there are a lot of challenges here. I'm a builder, too, and the fact that there is this big construction project going on is exciting to me. West Texans are very friendly. I think these are wonderful, honest, open, straight-forward people who want to do a good job and work hard."
Bacorn said he has devoted 25 years to serving veterans. "It's the most wonderful mission to take care of these guys who have taken care of us," he said.
"We've got this new group coming back," Bacorn added. "We want to welcome these guys back, integrate them into our health care system and provide great care to (them). That's a tough war over there. These guys have experienced a lot of hurt and suffering. We want to relieve their pain as much as we can and help their families, too."
Bacorn and his wife, Viva, have three children, Christian, Ryan and Jenna.
Ruth Campbell can be reached at ruth@mrt.com.
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