New Permanent Director, Great Opportunity for New Era at Northport VA

Anyone who has followed the Northport VA Medical Center throughout the years knows that there have been many issues due to staffing shortages, aging infrastructure and so much more that comes with running a huge medical center like Northport. There are many veterans who have received high-quality care at Northport, but where there is room to improve we must rise to the challenge. 

The veterans who go to Northport have put their lives on the line for us and we must always strive to do better. With the installation of a new permanent Director at Northport this past summer, I’m encouraged that we can work together to improve the longstanding issues that have plagued the campus and our local veterans’ treatment in an open and transparent manner. 

I had the opportunity to meet with the new Northport VA Director, Dr. Antonio Sanchez, shortly after he assumed office, and I had many questions regarding some of the ongoing issues at Northport. Dr. Sanchez was forthcoming and transparent about the status of so many of the issues facing the campus, a promising sign as he takes the helm of the medical center. 

Regarding the current staffing vacancies at Northport, he said, “In the last few weeks, our leadership team has been working with our human resources office and our service chief to expedite the announcement and recruitment of vacant positions. To attract a wider and deeper talent pool, these announcements have been shared with outside agencies, like the New York Department of Labor, and posted to our social media platforms. Additionally, we are utilizing director-hire authority and offering a relocation allowance whenever possible.” 

When asked about the homeless shelter in Building 11 and its ongoing, prolonged closure, he stated that “bidding is currently open for the contract to provide administrative and management services for the on-site homeless shelter, and the federal contracting office is on track to award the contract sometime this fall.” 

After I inquired about the timeline for the long anticipated deconstruction of Buildings 1 and 2, and whether or not the parking lot promised by previous leaders would be placed immediately after the structure’s removal, he stated, “Buildings 1 and 2 remain on track to be demolished by the end of December 2020. The design for deconstruction is 90 percent complete and it is expected that the contract for demolition will be awarded by the end of 2019. While we anticipate using the space vacated by Buildings 1 and 2 for patient parking, any permanent decision on the matter must compliment overall infrastructure improvements. In the interim, we have implemented valet parking service that eliminates the need for veterans to search for parking. Utilization of this service has averaged 47 cars per day since its inception on July 29, 2019, and there is plenty of additional capacity for veterans who want to take advantage of this free service.”

Many of Northport’s services are now facilitated through the Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOC). When asked about the availability of primary care during the evenings and weekends at Northport and all of their CBOCs, the Director stated, “We provide extended hours for primary care and mental health services at our clinic in Bay Shore, two days per week. Additionally, our leadership is engaged in an intensive review and needs-assessment process to help facilitate the expansion of this model to other sites, if needed.”

Recently, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease was discovered in two faucets at the medical center, and in light of this concerning test, my office has been in constant contact with the team at Northport to ensure the spread of this bacteria is prevented and all proper protocols are followed. Most importantly, we must ensure we are not putting band aids on this serious situation, but investing in our nation’s veterans’ treatment and care long-term. 

These are just a few of the many issues facing Northport and our local servicemembers. There is still so much progress to be made when it comes to the VAMC pool and gym, new operating room and emergency department, assisted living for veterans and more.

Ensuring our nation’s veterans have access to the care they have earned in the communities they love should always be one of our top priorities, and ensuring Northport is up to the task is a critical part of that mission. Thankfully, with the installation of a new permanent director, I’m hopeful this marks a new era for Northport VA. 

Congressman Lee Zeldin represents New York’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.