Veterans Health Administration

VA Fourth Mission Summary

As of May 9, 2022, there are no new missions. Information will be updated here if this changes.

VA’s “Fourth Mission” is to improve the nation’s preparedness for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to Veterans, as well as to support national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts. You can learn more about VA’s Fourth Mission at https://www.va.gov/about_va/.

The following is a summary of VA Fourth Mission activity as of May 9, 2022 in response to COVID-19. This summary provides updates by state for Mission Assignments, Community Engagement and Outreach: resources provided to the community including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), other equipment and COVID-19 testing to support VA’s Fourth Mission. 

VA has provided PPE of greater than 1,179,775 pieces including gowns, gloves, masks, face shields, Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), goggles, shoe covers and other resources in support of the Fourth Mission. Those resources include hand sanitizer, hair bouffants, coveralls, spot coolers, air scrubbers, negative air machines, HEPA filters and filter screens, ventilators, laundry support, test kits and testing support, no touch thermometers, dressing kits, bandage scissors, under pads, sanitizing wipes, stethoscopes, oxygen concentrators, CARDIOHELP Kits, mountable plexiglass isolation stations, over-the-door isolation stations and webcams for use with existing equipment to state and local facilities.  

As part of the Fourth Mission humanitarian support, VA has admitted 697 U.S. non-Veteran citizens for care at VA medical centers (VAMCs) during COVID-19. 

VA’s support to individual states varies daily due to the fluctuation of requirements issued by the state or the facilities we are supporting. The numbers below represent either the request that was initially issued by the requesting government agency, or the rough order of magnitude of the levels of staffing being provided over a given period but may not be exact on a given day. Some entries may be closed and are indicated as such. 

Personnel

VA deploys personnel to support other VAMCs who have been impacted by COVID-19 as well as provide support to state and community nursing homes. To date, VA has deployed personnel to more than 50 states and territories. The state and community support to non-Veteran beneficiaries is provided as part of VA’s “Fourth Mission,” to assist the nation in times of emergencies and disasters. The VA has supported these mission assignments with direct patient clinical care, testing, education and training. 

The assignments vary in skillsets, geographic locations, and length of time for the support. 

State Veterans Homes (SVH): 1,215
Community Nursing Homes (CNH): 980
VAMC: 3,125
Indian Health Service (IHS) & Navajo Nation: 293
Non-VA Hospital:122

STATE SUMMARIES 

Alabama 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided staffing support to the Bill Nichols SVH
  • Provided staffing support to the Pell City SVH
  • Provided staffing support to Bay Minette SVH
  • Supported the American Legion and other Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) Open POD vaccination clinic in Montgomery on June 17 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Birmingham VA Health Care System (BVAHCS) has provided PPE including gowns, gloves, face shields and goggles 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Local facility leadership has been in contact with all 4 SVHs to help. BVAHCS is in contact with the Alabama SVHs which includes 4 SVHs and 1 Domiciliary, daily throughout the pandemic to determine the needs of each SVH. One Alabama SVH requested a consultative visit. Six clinical staff members and the Public Affairs Officer travelled to the SVH and provided a written summary with recommendations that could also be helpful for the other SVHs 

Arizona 

Mission Assignment(s):

•  Completed:
  • Provided staff augmentation to:
    • Northwest Hospital, Tucson AZ
    • Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital, Green Valley, AZ
    • Summit Hospital, Show Lo, AZ
    • TMC Healthcare, Tucson, AZ
    • Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma AZ
  • Provided Indian Health Services with 5 Med/Surg and 3 ICU beds at the Albuquerque VAMC
  • Navajo Nation Nursing Support to Chinle, AZ; Crownpoint, NM; Kayenta, AZ; Shiprock, NM; and Gallup, NM
  • Provided beds at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
  • Provided support to Indian Health Services in Whiteriver, 7 Med Surge Registered Nurses (RNs), 10 ER Nurses and 3 ICU Nurses and 2 Area Emergency Managers
  • Provided Med/Surg and ICU beds in Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott
  • Provided staffing at the Navajo Nation Regional Healthcare Corporation facility at Tuba City to support vaccination and clinical services 
  • Provided VA Beds to the state as indicated 
    • Tucson VAMC: up to four (4) Med/Surg or ICU beds 
    • Phoeniz VAMC: up to three (3) Med/Surg or ICU beds 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  
  • Navajo Nation support – Albuquerque, NM: providing up to eight (8) beds for non-Veteran patients 
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) Support – Phoenix VAMC providing two (2) Med/Surg and two (2) ICU beds for non-Veteran patients, ends September 30, 2022 
  • IHS Support - Tucson VAMC providing two (2) Med/Surg beds and two (2) ICU beds for non-Veteran patients, ends September 30, 2022  

• Completed:
  • Hopi Tribe support – Phoenix Area Hopi Service Unit: 2 RNs, 1 AEM
  • Navajo Nation support – Gallup, NM: Indian Medical Center staffing
  • Navajo Nation support – Tuba City: Med/Surg Nurses (RNs), Emergency Room RNs and Intensive Care Unit Nurses (RNs)
  • Supported IHS at the Fort Apache Reservation, AZ – provided (2) X-Ray Techs to the Whiteriver Indian Hospital 
  • Navajo Nation support – Phoenix: provided two (2) Med/Surg beds and two (2) ICU beds for non-Veteran patients
  • Navajo Nation support – Tucson: provided three (3) Med/Surg beds and two (2) ICU beds for non-Veteran patients

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns, gloves, masks, and swab kits for testing 

Arkansas 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
  • Provided support to the Fayetteville SVH
  • Provided 5 Med/Surg and 5 ICU beds in Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System
  • VHA provided 10 ventilators to the Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock 
  • Offered up to 5 beds at Little Rock VA Medical Center and 5 beds at Fayetteville VA Medical Center based on need 
  • Provided 8 ventilators to the Washington Regional Medical Center in AR 
  • Provided up to 5 Med/Surg and/or ICU beds 

Other Support:

• Testing Support:
  • 7,563 tests performed for Arkansas Department of Health as of August 10, 2020 (Active Mission)
  • 507 tests performed for SVHs
  • Conducted COVID-19 screening daily for SVHs 

California 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Nursing Home Staff: four (4) 6-person teams to provide nursing consultation support to long term care (nursing home) facilities in Los Angeles County region
• Provided California with short term acute care (Med/Surg) and/or intensive care (ICU) beds, in support of FEMA response operations
• Provided necessary staff and support with processing of biological samples for COVID-19 testing and analysis for patients and staff of California SVHs up to 200 tests per week
• Provided Med/Surg and ICU beds in the following VA Medical Centers: West Los Angeles, Fresno, Loma Linda, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, Northern California
• Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns, gloves, sanitizing wipes, and hand sanitizer
  • Test kits 

• Testing Support:
  • 1,739 tests processed for State Veterans Home 

Colorado 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided 20 Med/Surg and 10 ICU beds to decompress state resources
• Provided 3 vaccinators and one (1) vaccine preparer in support of a type 3 vaccination site in Loveland 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) support – Grand Junction VAMC: three (3) Med/Surg beds for non-Veteran patients
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) support – Denver VAMC: three (3) ICU beds for non-Veteran patients 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Provided PPE including masks, gowns and hand sanitizer
  • Provided 40 Nasopharyngeal Swabs to Mesa County
  • CARDIOHELP Kits for treatment at community site
  • Cloth face masks to community homeless shelters 

• Outreach and Engagement:
  • 7/14/20: Participation in Tri County Health and North Central Health Coalitions and Anschutz Medical Campus Security Council
  • Community Blood Drive scheduled for 7/23/20
  • June 28 through July 3 VA personnel visited the Utah Navajo, Mountain Ute, and Veterans group to discuss how VA can support their COVID-19 efforts through the VA 4th Mission 

• Testing Support:
  • Provided testing kits and testing support SVHs in CO
  • Communication with the Ute tribe regarding request for COVID-19 testing and staff support to perform the testing 

Connecticut 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• New Haven Homeless Outreach: 3 clinicians
• Provided 8 CNAs and 3 RNs at Rocky Hill SVH 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Webcams for use with existing equipment 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Homeless Veteran outreach 

Delaware 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided 10 nurses supported 78 CNHs in Delaware
  • Provided up to five nursing staff to perform training and education on infection prevention methods and mitigation strategies for the Delaware DPH 
  • Provided vaccination services at Veteran Service Organization (VSO) conference for beneficiaries and general public 

Florida 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Florida Nursing Home Augmentation: Fifteen 6-person clinical Support Teams. VHA Teams have assisted at 82 LTC facilities with an estimated 8,863 patients
• Provided 37 Med/Surg and ICU beds
• Provided 6 RNs and 19 LPNs to support SVH at St. Augustine
• Provided Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC
• Provided vaccination support to state Point of Dispensing (POD) at the Tampa VAMC
• Provided vaccinations to non-VA beneficiaries at various American Legion and other VSO conventions throughout the state
• Provided 30 acute care and 12 ICU beds across the network for non-VA beneficiaries as needed by the state  

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE and including gowns, gloves, masks, face shields and shoe covers to long-term care facilities
  • Other supplies including thermometers, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and stethoscopes to long-term care facilities
  • Truck drivers and bulk trailer support to Pensacola, FL
  • 5,643 testing kits and swabs 

• Testing Support:
  • 15,564 tests processed for SVHs, CNHs, Regional Medical Center and domiciliary 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Held a Director’s Veterans Engagement Board
  • Monthly Community Veterans Engagement Board
  • Bi-Monthly Director's Veterans Advisory Board 
  • Ongoing communication with Congressional stakeholders
  • Weekly communication with SVH staff about COVID-19 status within their facilities
  • Provided up to 37 short term acute care (Med/Surg) and/or intensive care (ICU) beds for non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 positive patients who are not eligible for such benefits 

Georgia 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Provided Carl Vinson VAMC in Dublin: gloves: large: 88,000, medium: 98,000; masks: LvL-3 50,000; other: hand sanitizer 5,322; Clorox Wipes 390 (March 28, 2022)
  • Sent 300 surgical gowns and 300 boot covers to the State Veterans Home in Milledgeville
  • Provided PPE including masks, surgical gowns and boot covers to SVH in Milledgeville 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Augusta CNH support: Georgia War Veterans Home admissions
  • 120 pounds of groceries distributed to 250 Veteran families on a monthly basis during our Mobile Food Distributions (MFDs) at the Atlanta VA Clinic (AVC)
  • 75 pounds of groceries delivered to 150 Home Bound and HUDVASH Veterans on a monthly basis. The groceries were donated to VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) from several organizations and delivered to the Veteran families following safe distancing/no contact drop-offs
  • In support of the American Red Cross, Atlanta hosted a blood drive in July 2020 

Hawaii 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Completed on-site assessment in the Yukio Okutsu SVH in Hilo, Hawaii for an infection control
• Provided 19-person medical team and or other personnel to support medical facility operations in Hawaii
• Provided Yukio Okutsu SVH in Hilo, Hawaii medical personnel: Nurse Leader Team Lead (1), Infection Control RN (1), Nurse RN (1), Nurse Educator RN (1), Employee Health RN (1), Safety and or Industrial Hygiene (1), Housekeeping, Supervisor (1), Logistics Supervisor (1), Licensed Practical Nurses (5), Nursing Assistants (4), Area Emergency Manager (1), Timekeeper (1), Geriatrician or Infectious Disease Physician on a as needed basis sourced from VAPIHCS 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Provided PPE including gowns, gloves, masks, PAPRs, face shields, hair covers, and shoe covers to SVH in Hilo
  • Other supplies provided include disinfectant and germicidal wipes, disinfectant spray, and office supplies

Idaho 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Supported nursing home operations in Idaho
  • Provided ventilators to Idaho Falls Community Hospital, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Kootenai Health
  • VHA supported State lab testing
  • Provided up to 5 acute care and 4 ICU beds to non-beneficiaries at the Boise Medical Center
  • Provided 2 Covidien 980 Vents to St Joseph Regional Medical Center and 4 Puritan Bennett 980 Vents to Kootenai Health 
  • Provided up to 8 acute care and 7 ICU beds to non-beneficiaries at the Boise Medical Center
  • Provided up to 5 acute care (Med/Surg) beds at the Spokane VAMC

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Provided 3,150 test kits 

• Testing Support:
  • As of October 21, 2020, processed 18,187 external tests for ID 

Illinois 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Current:
  • Providing ICU and Med/Surg beds in Danville, IL., St Louis, MO., Marion, IL 

• Completed:
• Provided personnel to augment COVID-19 vaccination services at O’Hare Airport in Chicago
• Provided Mobile Pharmacy Unit and staff
• Provided IL Nursing Home up to 60 skilled nursing care (nursing home) beds at the Edward J. Hines VAH, Illiana HCS (Danville)
• Illinois Beds: 45 Med/Surg and 15 ICU beds
• Provided vaccinations services at VSO location for beneficiaries and general public 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including 21,600 masks and gowns to SVHs 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Conducted Hines, IL Townhall Meeting  
  • Community NH support
  • Virtual Townhalls conducted via Facebook
  • Communication to Veteran community about telehealth
  • Tele-townhall for patients held on August 13 

Iowa 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Des Moines/Iowa City Beds: 20 ICU or Med/Surg beds
  • Marshalltown SVH Staff: RN (4); LPN (16); NA (27)
  • Provided Iowa SVH (Marshalltown) up to twenty-one (21) Registered Nurses (RNs) OR Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) OR any combination thereof, per day
  • Iowa State Beds: provided up to 2 ICU and 6 Med/Surg beds 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns
  • As of August 18, 2020, have provided 100,000 surgical masks to SVH 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Iowa City held a Townhall 4/16/2020 via Zoom
  • Iowa City held a Townhall via Zoom with several Representatives and Veterans Service Organizations
  • Central Iowa held a tele-townhall 4/29/2020
  • Central Iowa held a tele-townhall 5/5/2020
  • Iowa City held a Zoom Townhall 6/23/2020 Representative Ernst and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie attended 

Kansas 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Four ventilators provided for support of inpatients at Southwest Medical
• Provided up to 10 Med/Surg and 3 ICU beds at various medical centers Center in Liberal, KS

Kentucky 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided 4 RNs, 5 LPNs and 9 nursing assistants to the Thompson Hood SVH
  • Provided staff and resources to assist the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs with process of biological samples for COVID-19 testing and analysis for patients and staff for the Radcliff Veterans Center and Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gloves, gowns and masks to SVHs in Mississippi and Kentucky
  • Provided test kits to SVH in Kentucky 

• Testing Support:
  • Testing of Veterans and staff in CNH in KY
  • Processed test kits for SVH in KY 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • CNH support 

Louisiana 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
• Shreveport, LA beds: 2 ICU and 20 Med/Surg beds
• Provided 4 Certified Nursing Assistants, 4 Licensed Practical Nurses, 2 Registered Nurses at the Southwest LA SVH
• Provided 7 registered nurses to support vulnerable residents/patients at the Iberia Medical Center in New Iberia, Louisiana
• Provided 4 Housekeeping Aids and 1 Supervisor to the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier, LA
• Provided New Orleans - 5 beds (3 Med/Surg and 2 ICU), Alexandria - 5 Med/Surg Beds and Shreveport - 4 Med/Surg beds
• Provided up to 8 medical personnel for the Northeast SVH in Monroe
• Supported Louisiana Resource Service Center mass vaccination site at Lake Charles
• Provided a total of 10 acute care and ICU beds in New Orleans (5 beds) and Shreveport (5 beds) for non-VA beneficiaries depending on need of the state 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE to include gowns and face masks sent to the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve in Louisiana
  • PPE including isolation gowns, gloves, surgical masks, N95 masks, face shields, shoe covers, thermometers, hand sanitizer, and disposable stethoscopes in support of SVH
  • Thermometers provided to Barksdale AFB
  • Loaned 20 ventilator circuits to a hospital, which will be returned when supply arrives 

• Testing Support:
  • Processed test kits as needed 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Four Townhalls via Facebook Live 

Maine 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided 7 medical personnel to Deer Isle Nursing Home 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • iPads to support telehealth 

Maryland 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided up to 45 nursing staff to support the Charlotte Hall SVH 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including masks distributed to McVets Veteran Home in Baltimore
  • VAMHCS provided 15,600 gowns, 3,600 gloves, 136 masks, and 5 Air Mate PAPRs setups to Charlotte Hall SVH 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) has held 11 Veterans Service Organization and Congressional Staff Meetings about COVID-19 since February 2020
  • The VAMHCS has held 31 Employee Town Halls about COVID-19 since February 2020
  • The VAMHCS released the latest edition of Veterans' HealthWatch in January 2021 about COVID-19. The cable show is broadcast on cable stations throughout Maryland
  • Regularly post content on the VA Maryland Health Care System’s Facebook and Twitter pages reiterating operational messaging to external stakeholders
  • Posted good news stories, and suicide prevention, PTSD and virtual care videos recorded by VA Maryland HCS subject matter experts with the VA Maryland Health Care System
  • Hosted monthly VSO and Congressional Stakeholder meetings to discuss the VA Maryland HCS’s response to COVID-19 with the stakeholders. Provide information they can share with their constituents
  • Recorded and posted six video messages from the Director of the VA Maryland HCS, to patients and employees informing them about safeguards in place throughout the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, including operational changes and important telephone numbers and websites 

Massachusetts 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided 5 RNs and 5 CNAs at both Hunt Nursing Home in Danvers and Charlwell Nursing Home in Norwood
• Testing at the Chelsea Soldiers Home
• 30 beds for residents/patients of Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers’ Homes
• Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC 

Other Support:

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Congressional updates with Boston and Bedford
  • Daily calls with Town of Bedford
  • CLC Family Townhalls
  • CLC Family Hotline held daily for 2 months
  • Mini Management Advisory Council participation
  • VSO update calls
  • Weekly Newsletter to families
  • Operation Mail Drop to encourage the community to support our Veterans and staff 

Michigan 

Mission Assignment(s):

•  Completed:
  • Provided Ann Arbor/Detroit beds: 35 Med/Surg and 15 ICU
  • Provided Mobile Pharmacy Unit
  • Provided up to 15 observers at the TCF Center (Vaccination Clinic) in Detroit and Lansing
  • Provided beds as needed at Ann Arbor or Detroit VAMCs for those not eligible for VA benefits
  • Provided up to 5 Med/Surg and 5 ICU beds at the Detroit VAMC 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns and isolation gowns to SVHs 

Minnesota 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Long Term Care Facilities Support: up to 50 Nurses
• Beds: approximately 8 ICU and 10 Med/Surg beds at the Minneapolis VAMC 
• Provided 5 ICU and 5 Med/Surg beds in the Minneapolis VAMC for COVID-19 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) support – Cass Lake Staffing; two (2) rotations of up to 8 people each
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) support – Red Lake Staffing; two (2) rotations of up to 8 people each 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE to include N95 masks
  • Test kits to SVH in Minneapolis 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • St. Cloud held a tele-townhall for the Brainerd CBOC. Network Director participated on 5/11/2020
  • Minneapolis held a tele-townhall for congressional/CVSO/CAB 5/14/2020 

Mississippi 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
• SVH Training Support: PPE training and infection control measures for COVID-19 patients and staff for all five Mississippi SVHs
• Provided 1 Physician, 1 NP, 1 RN, 1 LPN, and 1 PAO to assist the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) to support the Choctaw Health Center, various mobile testing sites (*swabbing only) at tribal locations across Mississippi (10 rural counties), and case management of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, providing one public affairs officer to support public awareness communication assistance to target the MBCI Veterans and community vulnerable populations
• Provided SVH Staff Support: registered nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses and 2 certified nursing assistants (or similar) at two Mississippi SVHs
• Provided SVH Training Support: PPE training and infection control measures for COVID-19 patients and staff for three Mississippi SVHs
• Provided up to 3 short term acute care (Med/Surg) and/or up to 7 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19-positive and non-COVID-19 patients
• Provided staffing for vaccinations to the general public and to support VSOs throughout the state
• Provided up to 5 ICU beds at Jackson VAMC and up to 5 ICU beds at Biloxi VAMC for non-VA beneficiaries 

Other Support:

• Testing Support:
  • Processed 1,371 tests for a SVH in Florida 

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns to Biloxi for 4^th Mission support in Pensacola, FL
  • PPE including N95 masks and fit testing for SVH in MS
  • Laundry support to Department of Defense Naval Operations:
    • Seabee Base
    • USS Tripoli
    • Eglin Hospital 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Media: VA providing COVID-19 resources and training to Pensacola nursing homes. https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/05/07/va-providing-resources-and-training-pensacola-nursing-homes/3085178001/ 

Missouri 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
• Provided up to 13 Registered Nurses (RNs) OR Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) OR Certified Nursing Assistance staff at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, MO
• Provided up to 13 Registered Nurses (RNs) OR Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) OR Certified Nursing Assistance staff at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, MO
• Provided up to 18 Registered Nurses (RNs) OR Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) OR Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) Mt. Vernon SVH
• Provided up to 18 Registered Nurses (RNs) OR Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) OR Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) Warrensburg SVH
• Provided up to 22 staff to the Cameron SVH
• Provided a Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC
• Provided staffing to support vaccinations for VSOs 

Other Support:

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • PPE fit testing, education and training support to several SVHs 

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Oxygen concentrators and vital sign machines 

Montana 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Fort Harrison VAMC provided two (2) ICU and four (4) Med/Surg beds to the state of Montana 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) support – Fort Harrison VAMC: one (1) ICU and two (2) Med/Surg beds for non-Veteran patients 

Other Support:

• Media:
  • Leadership participated in a news interview with CBS regarding vaccines 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Virtual Townhall in Billings, Montana the week of August 24, 2020
  • Staff deployed from VISN 19 to several locations through Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel (DEMPS)
  • Fort Harrison and Billings held state sponsored surveillance clinics held June 26 

Nebraska 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided Omaha Lab with testing support 
• Provided the state up to 5 Med/Surg and 5 ICU beds 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns to several SVHs
  • Test kits to Kearney SVH 

• Testing Support:
  • Test processing support 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • NWI held tele-townhalls 3/31/2020 and 4/22/2020 

Nevada 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided the State of Nevada Department of Veterans Affairs with collection of biological samples for COVID-19 testing of patients and staff of Northern Nevada SVH. Reno VAMC is providing three trained staff members to perform testing at the Northern Nevada SVH
  • Provided 15 vaccinator staff to the state PODs established at Las Vegas and Reno-Carson City 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including N95 masks and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) to Las Vegas SVH 

• Testing Support:
  • Staffing support for testing residents and staff at SVH
  • Reno VAMC providing 3 trained staff members to perform testing (swabbing only, approximately 150-200) at the Northern Nevada SVH 

New Hampshire 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided Nursing Home Support - up to 29 Registered Nurses
• Provided staff to support St. Teresa Rehab and Nursing Facility in Manchester, NH
• Provided 2 RNs, 1 LPN, 2 NAs to support nursing homes 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Test kits 

• Testing Support:
  • Processed tests for staff and residents of SVH 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Manchester VAMC staff deployed from VISN 1 in support of DEMPS
  • Homeless Outreach, VIST, and HBPC continue to engage Veterans. Service lines engagement through telephone, Vet Text, for information about appointments 

New Jersey 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided NJ Veterans Homes Assistance: Nurses/Aides/testing supplies + services/telehealth
• Provided 4 Licensed Social Workers
• NJ Nursing Home Teams: Nursing home augmentation and training teams
• NJ Beds: VHA provided 5 ICU and 15 Med/Surg at the East Orange VAMC
• NJ Nursing Staff: 1 Nurse Educator and 1 Infection Disease Control Nurse for support of Paramus and Menlo Park Veteran Homes as needed
• Provided health care personnel and services to support vulnerable residents/patients and staff at the Menlo Park Memorial Veterans Home and Paramus Veterans Memorial Home
• Provided a Type 4 Vaccination Team to support vaccination campaign at Vineland, Pleasantville and Newark
• Provided up to six Pharmacists and up to six Pharmacist Techs to support federal vaccination PODs in New Jersey
• Provided up to 4 Pharmacists and 4 Pharm Techs at three locations in Northern NJ: Rockaway, Edison and Newark
• Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC 
• Activated an OEM Liaison Officer (LNO) to FEMA Region 2 in response to a critical New York State need for VA Bed assistance 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
• PPE including gowns, gloves, masks, and face shields
• Oxygen concentrators
• Vital sign machines
• Testing kits
• Nasopharyngeal transport media
• 200 masks to support Vineland Community Clinic 

• Testing Support:
• Processed tests as needed 

New Mexico 

Mission Assignment(s): None 

Note that Navajo Nation HQ is in Arizona, therefore FEMA lists all Navajo Nation support in Arizona. 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • IHS support – Albuquerque VAMC: eight (8) beds for non-Veteran patients 

New York 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• NYC Beds: provided 15 ICU and 35 Med/Surg beds at the Manhattan/Brooklyn VAMC
• Provided personnel to augment COVID-19 vaccination services in Yonkers, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo
• VISN 2: provided Eastern NY beds if available up to 36 Med/Surg and 5 ICU 

North Carolina 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • NC Testing: Assistance Requested: NC LTC Testing
  • NC Staff Support: provided 1 van driver, 3 Community Living Center nurses, 2 infection control nurses, 1 social work, 1 public affairs officer, 4 nurse screeners, 1 Administrative lead, 4 RNs, and 4 LPNs 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gloves, gowns and masks
  • Respiratory Protection/Fit Testing in accordance with Current: SVH policies by Fayetteville IH to three SVH staff that included infection Prevention/Control SVH staff. SVH requested COVID-19 specific Don/Doffing training from Fayetteville VAMC & sharing of Fayetteville VAMC COVID-19 protocols/processes for SVH review-modification-implementation
  • Cepheid Xpert Viral Transport Medium swabs (SWAB/B-100) to the SVH in Black Mountain, NC and 4 swabs have been processed at the medical center
  • XENEX Machine was provided for use for two shifts on May 11 and returned same day
  • Test kits 

• Testing Support:
  • Tested 100% of an SVH
  • Processed 5,801 test kits
  • Provided transportation using GOVs for staff to conduct the testing
  • Provided respiratory protection/fit testing to SVH in Fayetteville
  • Provided training in infection prevention/control to SVH staff 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • PAO conducts weekly meetings with Chairman of the Buncombe County Veterans Council and shares information on what the WNC VA HCS is doing in relation to COVID-19. Medical Center Director conducts calls with VSOs for plans about facility plans related of COVID-19 and the Moving Forward plan
  • On June 22, 2020, Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease and Acting Chief Nurse Manager of the Community Living Center (CLC) will be engaging the members of the Durham Rotary Club in a virtual meeting to discuss their work performed to contain COVID-19 in the CLC
  • The Durham VA Health Care System Quick Response teams have partnered with the NCDHSS to perform COVID-19 testing in Wilson, NC, the North Carolina Veterans Home in Kinston, NC, and Murdoch Center in Butner, NC
  • Since February 2020, 9 Veteran Townhalls and 7 Stakeholder Calls with VSO/Congressional Reps and a list of internal and external communication through our communication media 

North Dakota 

Other Support:

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Community support to Fargo. VA staff delivered meals from a community not-for-profit to homeless Veterans and non-Veterans throughout the community through an agreement with MN
  • Virtual townhall and stakeholder calls 

Ohio 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided staffing to support vaccinations to Volunteer Service Organizations (VSOs) and general public 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including 11,000 isolation gowns, N95 masks and face shields to SVH
  • COVID-19 test swabs 

• Testing Support:
  • Georgetown SVH: the local health department worked with the State Health Department for all testing
  • Georgetown SVH: provided COVID-19 swabs and completed: N95 respirator testing for 30 employees 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Supported effort of Greater Cincinnati Health Collaborative for transformation of Duke Energy Convention Center to hospital 

Oklahoma 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided Claremore SVH 20 Registered Nurses, 6 Licensed Practical Nurses, and 4 Nursing Assistants 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • IHS support – Oklahoma City VAMC: providing 10 beds for non-Veteran patients
  • IHS support – Eastern Oklahoma VAMC: providing 10 beds for non-Veteran patients 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE and other equipment and supplies including syringes, catheters and other medical supplies, coveralls, spot coolers, air scrubbers, negative air machines, HEPA filters and filter screens, PAPR hoods, dressing kits, under pads, bandage scissors, waffle mattresses and waffle cushions, bouffant caps and shower caps
  • Fit testing kits and fit testing provided to 2 SVHs in catchment area
  • Provided 652 test kits to support two SVHs and 1 CNH in the EOVAHCS catchment area. Sent to local lab for processing
  • Test kits and swabs to State Veteran Center 

• Testing Support:
  • Processed 398 test kits as of September 15, 2020 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • OKC VA Emergency Manager participates in OK Gov. Kevin Stitt's COVID-19 teleECHO and State Emergency Operations Center meetings
  • OSU-CHS has launched a new ECHO program to keep health care providers updated as the situation changes
  • Emergency Management
  • Information sharing conference call: daily at 11 am. COVID-19 briefing: Liaisons Preparedness Meeting 

Oregon 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• OR LTC Teams: LTC Support Teams
• Roseburg PPE Decontamination: 50 filtered face masks decontaminated daily
• Roseburg VAMC Beds: provided 25 Med/Surg beds
• Portland Oregon Beds: provided 25 Med/Surg and 5 ICU beds at the Portland VAMC
• Provided up to 10 acute care and 5 ICU beds for non-beneficiaries 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns, gloves, masks, face shields, and goggles
  • N95 mask decontamination for Mercy Medical Center
  • Virtual assessment and education at 72 facilities 

Pennsylvania 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Spring City Nursing Home Staff: 20 RN/LPN
  • 10 Med/Surg nurses to the Southwestern Veterans Center (SWVC) in Pittsburgh, PA
  • Provided 10 Med/Surg nurses to the Erie Soldiers and Sailors Home
  • Provided staffing at VAMC open vaccination POD to support PA residents
  • Provided Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC
  • Provided staffing for vaccination support to VSOs 
  • Activated an OEM Liaison Officer (LNO) to FEMA Region 3 due to critical community bed inventory levels 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns, gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, hair covers, shoe covers, face shields, and PAPRs
  • PPE including gloves, gowns, masks, surgical masks, face shields and hand sanitizer to support Arizona and San Antonio
  • PPE and supplies to support Biloxi, MS including isolation gowns, gloves, disposable face shields, N95 masks, foot coverings, hair bouffants and hand sanitizer
  • 15 Oxygen Concentrators to SE PA Veterans Home in Spring City, PA
  • PPE and supplies including gowns, surgical masks, gloves, disposable face shields and hand sanitizer to support Oklahoma City, OK
  • PPE and supplies including surgical masks, gloves, face shields, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to support the Mission Assignment in Hawaii
  • PPE and supplies including isolation gowns, gloves, surgical masks, N95 masks, disposable face shields, hair and shoe coverings, and hand sanitizer to support Biloxi, MS
  • PPE and supplies including surgical masks, medical gloves, isolation gowns, Controlled Air-Purifying Respirator (CAPR) and CAPR supplies, temporal thermometer, thermometer covers, and blood pressure cuff to support Missouri
  • PPE and supplies including surgical masks, gloves, isolation gowns, goggles, and sanitizing wipes to support North Carolina facility
  • PPE and supplies including gowns, gloves, masks, CAPR and CAPR supplies to support Roanoke, Virginia 

• Testing Support:
  • Testing of 297 residents of SVH in Pennsylvania on September 21, 2020 

Rhode Island 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided RI Group Home Support: 6 RNs and 9 NAs
• Provided SVH Staff: 12 Certified Nursing Assistants
• Provided six (6) vaccinators at Middletown
• Provided a pharmacist at state Vaccination Clinic in Cranston 
• Provided FEMA one Regional Liaison Officer for the RRCC 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns
  • Testing kits
  • Provided a clinical access cart on site for telehealth 

• Testing Support:
  • Testing support provided to South Carolina SVH 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • COVID-19 Outreach Team created and comprised of GEC SW and CNH Program RN - Team effort designed for outreach to Veterans and families as an added layer of support and resource in the face of restricted visits and reduced staffing. Addressed psychosocial stressors related to the pandemic, provided active listening, education and communication bridge 

South Carolina 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided 4 registered nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses and 2 certified nursing assistants or similar to support SVHs 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • To date, PPE of more than 173,500 pieces including gowns, gloves, face shields, and masks to SVH in South Carolina and Alabama
  • Provided 4,000 test kits to three SVHs in South Carolina and four SVHs in Alabama
  • Provided test kits to SVH in Florida 

• Testing Support:
  • Processed 4,000 tests for three SVHs in South Carolina and four SVHs in Alabama
  • Testing support provided to SVHs in Florida as needed 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Partnering with community to host 3 blood drives
  • Consultative services to contract CNH 

South Dakota 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE: Sioux Falls and Black Hills VAMC has distributed 1,000 masks to the Standing Rock Reservation and the Cheyenne Reservation 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Sioux Falls and Black Hills partnered in a tele-townhall with Senator Rounds 5/5/2020
  • John Deere manufactured and donated 5,000 face shields to Sioux Falls VAMC 

Tennessee 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided 10 vaccinator staff to state POD in Knoxville 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Disposable isolation gowns to CNH
  • 45 Test kits 

• Testing Support:
  • Test kits and testing support. Nine total staff supporting 4 CNHs for testing. VAMC processing tests for CNHs of resident Veterans 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Assisted CNH to outreach with County Taskforce for future PPE. April 2020: Assisted 3 CNHs to obtain gowns, gloves and mask from Community Taskforce Stockpile
  • Outreach to 16 CNH/SVH
  • VHA admission liaisons, strategically placed at contracted homes coordinate admissions and placement determinations for Veterans in need of Long-term Care and sub-acute rehabilitation. Have conducted proactive outreach to CNHs to identify COVID-19 positive Veterans and provide supports, services, and needs to ensure safe care of patients 

Texas 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided the Texas Veterans Land Board SVHs with collection and processing of biological samples for COVID-19 testing and analysis for patients and staff
  • Provided vaccinators to serve multiple locations when tasked
  • Provided acute care (Med/Surg) and/or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds at multiple locations for immediate and short-term medical treatment for non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 positive patients
  • Provided Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including gowns, gloves, shoe covers to SVH
  • Hand sanitizer and stethoscopes
  • Test kits
  • Transport media for sample collection 

• Testing Support:
  • Conducted and processed tests for SVH 

Utah 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided acute care (11 Med/Surg) and Intensive Care Unit (2 ICU) beds at Salt Lake City for immediate and short-term medical treatment for non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 positive patients who are not eligible for such benefits 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Current:
  • IHS support – Salt Lake City VAMC: providing three (3) ICU beds for non-Veterans 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE including masks
  • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System performed fit testing of staff at 10 CNHs 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • AEM deployed to Utah Division of Emergency Management to assist with the creation of their Alternate Care Site in Salt Lake County
  • Townhall hosted 

Vermont

Mission Assignment(s):

• Current
  • Providing 10 acute non-COVID-19 MH Beds 

Virginia 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• Provided VHA Medical Task Forces to assist in the assessment of infection control procedures in 852 long-term care, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities
• Provided staff and support services to assist the Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs with collection and processing of biological samples for COVID-19 testing and analysis for patients and staff of SVHs
• Provided staff and support services at SVHs (second MA)
• Provided vaccine in support of a closed Point of Dispensing (POD) for repatriation efforts
• Provided Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Face shields and fit testing kit to Roanoke SVH (Virginia Veterans Care Center)
  • Ventilator to New Orleans
  • Provided test kits and ensured 5 test kits are on hand at all times at SVH 

• Testing Support:
  • Processed tests for SVH in Roanoke
  • Processed tests for CNH 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Two Mental Health staff members participated in a roundtable discussion with local U.S. Representative on August 24, 2020
  • CNH support
  • Hampton: Two virtual townhalls weekly, since March 2020
  • Richmond: VSO: 2 virtual townhalls, since March 2020
  • Congressional: 2 virtual townhalls, since March 2020. The facility has accepted two donations of banners made by Veterans to thank staff members for their work during the pandemic
  • Use social media to inform the public about current facility status
  • Virtual Veteran Town Hall regarding Vaccination held May 10, 2021
  • Salem VA Health Care System held three Virtual Employee Town Halls on June 9, 2021 

Washington 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
• Provided Spokane Beds: 25 Med/Surg and/or 5 ICU beds at the Spokane VAMC
• Provided SVH Testing Support: Testing and SVH Support
• Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) LNO: Regional Level Activation – Activate VA to FEMA RRCC 
• Provided staffing at Spokane State Veterans Home 
• Provided 12 Community Living Center (CLC) beds to support the Spokane State Veterans Home

Other Support:

• Testing Support:
  • 268 test kits sent to Palo Alto
  • Testing support in Seattle via Mission Assignment
  • Provided 325,320 pieces of PPE to include gloves (over 300K), gowns, masks, face shields, and shoe covers 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Consultative support to SVH 

West Virginia 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • Medical Surge shelter provided to Berkley Medical (Community Hospital)
  • PPE and other equipment and supplies including gowns, gloves, masks, face shields, shoe covers, disposable stethoscopes and hand sanitizer to support Maryland SVH
  • Provided disposable masks to SVH in West Virginia
  • PortaCount Respirator Fit Tester training to community medical center personnel 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Veterans from the Martinsburg VAMC participated virtually in the Golden Age Games 

Wisconsin 

Mission Assignment(s): 

• Completed:
• Provided Alternate Care Site Staff: 2 RTs and 2 Pharmacists
• Provided 2 registered nurses, 6 licensed practical nurses, and 12 nursing assistants or similar to support Union Grove Veterans Home in Union Grove, WI
• Provided 5 registered nurses, 5 licensed practical nurses, and 10 nursing assistants or similar to support King SVH in Waupaca
• Provided 2 pharmacists to the Milwaukee alternate care facility
• Provided 8 vaccinator staff at state POD in Milwaukee
• VHA provided nurses and nursing assistants to aid Union Grove SVH at levels dependent on the need 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • No touch thermometers 

Wyoming 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided 20 Med/Surg beds at Cheyenne VA Medical Center 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • PPE to include masks and face shields donated to SVH
  • Test kits to Muskogee VAMC to support Community Living Center testing initiative 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Communication with local hospital regarding any need for mental health assistance
  • 1 Veteran Townhall
  • Continued partnership with State and County Operations Centers
  • Outreach to VSO and other stakeholders
  • Meetings with Congressional office representatives
  • Veteran Update Newsletter 

DISTRICT AND NATIONAL

American Samoa (Territory) 

Mission Assignment(s): 

•  Completed:
  • Provided staff augmentation with 1 clinician, 2 RNs and 2 LPNs to support vaccination services to the general population 
  • Provided Clinicians, RN’s, LPN’s Medical Personnel to augment COVID Vaccination Services 

Guam (Territory) 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided 5 RNs to support vaccination services to the general population 

U.S. Virgin Islands 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided oxygen regulators for H type tanks to the USVI Department of Health 

District of Columbia 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided vaccination Open POD for one day event at 810 Vermont Ave 

Other Support:

• Equipment/Supplies:
  • DC VAMC processed the loan of 5 no touch thermometers 

• Testing Support:
  • Testing support to residents and staff of a CNH
  • Tested Veterans and staff at the U.S. Vets Grant and Per Diem housing facility 

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Tiger team site visit (11 through 12 June)
  • 8 Member Tiger team established to assist State Home as consultants (Logistics, Infection Control, Safety and Nurse Management). The team assessed current status, risks, and stress points and presented recommendations after two-day visit to facility 

Puerto Rico (Territory) 

Other Support:

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • VAHCS staff is participating in weekly virtual meetings with USVI Department of Health as well as daily PR Public Health Interagency calls. The VAHCS IMT receives daily COVID-19 status reports from PR and USVI 

National 

Mission Assignment(s):

• Completed:
• VA National Acquisition Center provided operational management of pharmaceuticals nationwide
• NRCC LNOs: National Level Activation – Activate VA to NRCC/RRCC and other locations identified by FEMA
• Provided for Type 4 Vaccination Teams to be deployed to perform up to 250 vaccinations a day when tasked
• NRCC LNO to support the Vaccination Campaign 

Interagency Agreement(s):

• Completed:
  • Provided vaccinations to FDA employees at VA facilities
  • Provided vaccine to beneficiaries in the Philippines through an agreement with Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
  • Provided vaccinations to National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in St. Louis, MO at the John Cochran VAMC
  • Provided vaccinations to HHS employees at multiple locations in the VA Valley Coastal Bend Healthcare System in Texas
  • Provided vaccinations to DHS employees at multiple locations around the southwest border in Texas, New Mexico and California
  • Provided vaccinations to U.S. Courts Administrative Office (AOUSC) personnel at VAMCs across the country
  • Provided vaccinations to GSA employees at multiple VAMC locations