Part of VA Heartland Network, the Kansas City VAMC provides acute medical surgical, neurological, psychiatric and rehabilitation medicine for the veterans of the Kansas City area. We are a Center of Excellence and referral center for our Network and work closely with the Medical Centers in Leavenworth, Topeka, and Wichita, Kansas.. Our specialty services include audiology, cardiac catheterization, sine-angiography, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, renal transplants, vascular laboratory services, and specialized low vision care. The Kansas City VAMC is located on a 40 acre campus in eastern Kansas City. This is a major metropolitan area with a population exceeding 1.5 million. Our primary service area includes over 200,00 veterans, some 25 percent of whom are over 60. Our motto is "Keeping the Promise to America's Veterans." With a special emphasis on customer service, we are proud to serve the veterans of the Heartland.

AFFILIATIONS
University of Kansas School of Medicine
60 additional affiliations in such areas as audiology and speech pathology, chaplaincy, pharmacy, psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.

AUTHORIZED BEDS
125

TYPE OF FACILITY
GM&S

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Primary Care
Ambulatory Surgery
Regional Eye Center
Health Care for Homeless Veterans
Outpatient Services
PTSD Clinical Team
AIDS Program
Geriatric Evaluation and Management Program
Substance Abuse Treatment Unit
Compensated Work Therapy
VICTORS
VIST

Mission Statement

"To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan."

These words, spoken by Abraham Lincoln during his Second Inaugural Address, reflect the philosophy and principles that guide VA in everything we do, and are the focus of our endeavors to serve our Nation’s veterans and their families.


Vision

We will strive to meet the needs of the Nation’s veterans and their families today and tomorrow by: (1) becoming an even more veteran-focused organization, functioning as a single, comprehensive provider of seamless service to the men and women who have served our Nation; (2) cultivating a dedicated VA workforce of highly skilled employees who understand, believe in, and take pride in our vitally important mission; (3) continuously benchmarking the quality and delivery of our service with the best in business and use innovative means and high technology to deliver world-class service; and (4) fostering partnerships with veterans organizations, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, state and local veterans organizations, and other stakeholders to leverage resources and enhance the quality of services provided to veterans.


Core Values

President Lincoln’s words guide VA today. The men and women of VA are dedicated to fulfilling the Department’s mission and vision and they commit their abilities and energy to continue the rich history of providing for those that have served America. In doing so, we will strive to uphold a set of core values that represent the basic fabric of our organizational culture. These core values are…

Commitment

Veterans have earned our respect and commitment, and their health care, benefits, and memorial services needs drive our actions.

We will value our commitment to veterans through all contingencies and remain fully

prepared to achieve our mission.

Excellence

We strive to exceed the service delivery expectations of veterans and their families.

We perform at the highest level of competence with pride in our accomplishments.

People

We are committed to a highly skilled, diverse, and compassionate workforce.

We foster a culture of respect, equal opportunity, innovation, and accountability.

Communication

We practice open, accurate, and timely communication with veterans, employees, and external stakeholders, and seek continuous improvement in our programs and services by carefully listening to their concerns.

Stewardship

We will ensure responsible stewardship of the human, financial, information, and natural resources entrusted to us.

We will improve performance through the use of innovative technologies, evidence-based medical practices, and sound business principles.

The United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for veterans of any nation in the world. This benefits system traces its roots back to 1636, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were at war with the Pequot Indians. The Pilgrims passed a law which stated that disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony.

The Continental Congress of 1776 encouraged enlistments during the Revolutionary War by providing pensions for soldiers who were disabled. Direct medical and hospital care given to veterans in the early days of the Republic was provided by the individual States and communities. In 1811, the first domiciliary and medical facility for veterans was authorized by the Federal Government. In the 19th century, the Nation's veterans assistance program was expanded to include benefits and pensions not only for veterans, but also their widows and dependents.

After the Civil War, many State veterans homes were established. Since domiciliary care was available at all State veterans homes, incidental medical and hospital treatment was provided for all injuries and diseases, whether or not of service origin. Indigent and disabled veterans of the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and Mexican Border period as well as discharged regular members f the Armed Forces were cared for at these homes.

Congress established a new system of veterans benefits when the United States entered World War I in 1917. Included were programs for disability compensation, insurance for servicepersons and veterans, and vocational rehabilitation for the disabled. By the 1920s, the various benefits were administered by three different Federal agencies: the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized the President to "consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans." The three component agencies became bureaus within the Veterans Administration. Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who directed the Veterans Bureau for seven years, was named as the first Administrator of Veterans Affairs, a job he held until 1945.

The VA health care system has grown from 54 hospitals in 1930, to include 171 medical centers; more than 350 outpatient, community, and outreach clinics; 126 nursing home care units; and 35 domiciliaries. VA health care facilities provide a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care. The responsibilities and benefits programs of the Veterans Administration grew enormously during the following six decades. World War II resulted in not only a vast increase in the veteran population, but also in large number of new benefits enacted by the Congress for veterans of the war. The World War II GI Bill, signed into law on June 22, 1944, is said to have had more impact on the American way of life than any law since the Homestead Act more than a century ago. Further educational assistance acts were passed for the benefit of veterans of the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, Persian Gulf War, and the All-Volunteer Force.

In 1973, the Veterans Administration assumed another major responsibility when the National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred to the Veterans Administration from the Department of the Army. The Agency was charged with the operation of the National Cemetery System, including the marking of graves of all persons in national and State cemeteries (and the graves of veterans in private cemeteries, upon request) as well and administering the State Cemetery Grants Program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established as a Cabinet-level position on March 15, 1989. President Bush hailed the creation of the new Department saying, "There is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America."

The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. The following Web addresses are provided for your reference to explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees.

Flexible Spending Accounts - The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. For additional information visit:

https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp

Health Insurance - The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program offers over 100 optional plans. For additional information visit:

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp

Leave - Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information visit:

http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp

Life Insurance - The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) offers: Basic Life Insurance plus three types of optional insurance, for additional information visit:

http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp

Long Term Care Insurance - The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for Federal employees and their parents, parents-in-law, stepparents, spouses, and adult children. For additional information visit:

http://www.ltcfeds.com/

Retirement Program - Almost all new employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan. The three tiers are: Social Security Benefits, Basic Benefit Plan, Thrift Savings Plan. For addtional information visit:

http://www.opm.gov/retire/index.asp


This link provides and overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

4801 Linwood Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64128
Phone: (816) 861-4700 or (800) 525-1483
Fax: (816) 922-3303