Air Force, Dayton VA team to streamline transition for separating vets Published Oct. 30, 2008 By Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force and Veterans Affairs officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week for a new Dayton VA/DOD Transition Center at Wright-Patterson Medical Center here. The center, which opened for business Oct. 30, is designed to streamline the transition for separating and retiring military members. Dayton VA Medical Center officials spent $294,000 to renovate the 2,900 square foot center in Wright-Patterson Medical Center's basement. The facility, initially manned by three VA benefits personnel, includes rooms for VA compensation benefits education and counseling, physical exams and administrative support. While most customers will be Air Force people separating at Wright-Patt, it will serve members from every branch of the military. The new center will be expanded in phases. First, veteran benefits counseling and classes, enrollment processing for VA healthcare services, and case management and consultation for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom vets will be offered. Assistance for service members pending physical evaluation boards will also be available. Services planned for the near future include compensation and pension examinations, and - eventually - a single physical separation examination for DOD and VA disability determinations. Six VA employees are expected to man the center when it reaches full operational capability, including benefits counselors, clinical healthcare providers and an administrative specialist. "All transitions are not the same," said Guy Richardson, Dayton VA Medical Center director. The objective is to take two systems -- each requiring different medical exams -- and move toward the objective of a single streamlined process which meets DOD and individual service requirements, as well as those of the VA. One system is focused on determination of fitness for duty and the other evaluation of disability. "Our goal is to provide a seamless continuum of care," said Col. Kimberly Slawinski, 88th Medical Group commander at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. "We're trying to prevent any 'lost wingmen' in the transition from active duty." Wright-Patterson and the VA have well-established ties. Last year, the two began a joint venture to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients. Wright-Patterson's Medical Center is accredited with commendation as a community cancer center by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. U.S. representative Mike Turner was among community officials who attended the ribbon cutting. Turner -- a member of the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Government Reform committees -- called the center another example of Dayton area innovation. Lessons learned providing care for men and women in uniform at the center "may help make a difference on a national level," he said. Slawinski and Richardson acknowledged the "historic partnership" still had many challenges to overcome and they are committed to ensuring the center's success in eliminating redundancies many separating military members find frustrating. About 50 military members retire or separate from Wright-Patt each month, Slawinski said. She said the proximity of many of Wright-Patt's specialty clinics to the new center will save time and driving for separating military members. Amongst its many beneficiaries, the Dayton VA Medical Center provides healthcare services for more than 1,000 Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans, many suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, Richardson said. The VA provides a range of services, including care for families of service members contending with depression, relationship problems, even substance abuse. "We are very proud to partner with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to make the VA/DOD Transition Center a reality," Richardson said.