During a ceremony held May 29 at Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Key West, leaders from Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville and Miami VA Healthcare System celebrated the expansion of physical therapy services for veterans as well as active duty and retired military and their families.

"Our Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for delivering top tier care as well as transforming primary care practices through its Medical Home Port team. By combining Navy Medicine and Veterans Affairs resources, our nation's heroes - past and present - will enjoy improved access, improved health and readiness as providers collaborate holistically, and an overall improved experience of care; all the while keeping expenses down for the taxpayer. It's a win-win partnership for everyone," said NH Jacksonville Executive Officer Capt. Christine Dorr.

Through this health care collaboration, thousands of veterans and active duty military in the Keys now have expanded access to physical therapy services. This includes more than 2,100 veterans enrolled at Key West VA Outpatient Clinic and 2,175 military (active, retired, and families) enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at NBHC Key West.

"Bringing VA healthcare services to our veterans and active duty personnel closer to where they live is a priority for us in South Florida," said Paul Russo, director of the Miami VA Healthcare System. "We are very fortunate to have such a willing Navy partner as we continue to add and expand services to Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West and Key West VA Outpatient Clinic."

Physical therapy now takes place alongside existing shared services between VA and NBHC Key West that have been in place since 2000. Key West VA Outpatient Clinic provides physical therapy and mental health; while NBHC Key West provides pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services. Physical therapy, pharmacy, laboratory and radiology are provided to veterans, active duty military and families, and military retirees and families. Mental health is provided to veterans and active duty military.

Veterans can call Key West VA Outpatient Clinic at
(305) 293-4863, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For physical therapy, veterans can talk to their primary care provider to get a referral. Military (active duty, retired and families) make appointments by calling NBHC Key West at (305) 293-4834 or (305) 293-4850, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. For physical therapy, military can talk to their provider (either at NBHC Key West or in the private sector) about a TRICARE referral to physical therapy.

NH Jacksonville has a history of collaborating to enhance health care for military service members of all uniforms - active, retired, and veterans - and their families. This includes more than 100 training, research and support agreements with colleges, healthcare organizations and military bases across Florida and Georgia. NH Jacksonville has another joint effort with the VA at Naval Branch Health Clinic Albany, Ga. aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga.

NH Jacksonville is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia - including NBHC Key West. It consistently earns the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval from the nation's largest accrediting body for U.S. hospitals. Its Medical Home Port teams earned highest-level recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. There are more than 71,000 active and retired Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Guardsmen and their families enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities. To find out more or download NH Jacksonville's mobile app, visit the command website at www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

Naval Air Station Key West is a state of the art facility for air-to-air combat fighter aircraft of all military services and provides world class pier-side support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels.

The Miami VA Healthcare System is a Joint Commission accredited, complexity level 1a facility serving nearly 60,000 veterans in three South Florida counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe. The Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center is located in downtown Miami and is also responsible for two major satellite outpatient clinics located in Sunrise (Broward County) and Key West (Monroe County); and five Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Homestead (Miami-Dade), Key Largo (Monroe), Pembroke Pines, Hollywood and Deerfield Beach (Broward). A Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Center is located about one mile from the medical center.

For more news from Naval Hospital Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/.