Atlanta VA Medical Center

About Atlanta VA Health Care System

U.S. veterans suffer a disproportionate rate of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The Department of Veterans Affairs has made strategic connections to give veterans access to the care they deserve.

For Atlanta VA, this means close collaboration with Emory School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Atlanta VA Medical Center is also a partner of the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI). Funded by the National Institutes of Health, ACTSI focuses on turning laboratory discoveries into improved treatments for patients.

These alliances made the Atlanta VA a research and treatment powerhouse. In 2011, it earned the distinction of top performer from The Joint Commission. This honor places the Atlanta VA Medical Center in the top tier of hospitals in America, public and private.

Atlanta VA primarily serves veterans living in northeast Georgia, but local VA clinics across the South refer patients to Atlanta for specialized treatment and complex surgeries. The medical center’s state-of-the-art facility near downtown Atlanta has a capacity of more than 400 hospital beds.

In July 2021, veterans in Georgia reached out to a local news station for help contacting the Atlanta VA Medical Center. A new phone system was installed in May 2021, and it led to malfunctions that prohibited veterans from making appointments and requesting prescription refills.

The technical issues were resolved, but veterans are encouraged to look for other ways of reaching the VA when phones are down. Patient advocates are available to help veterans make appointments and access VA benefits.

Based on Your Reading:

Access Free VA Claims Assistance

Get Help Now

Free Cancer Guide for Veterans

Request Yours Today

Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor

Find Your Doctor

Atlanta VA Treatment for Mesothelioma

Atlanta VA cancer patients receive world-class care through the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University.

The Winship Cancer Institute is the only cancer center in Georgia with the direct support of the National Cancer Institute. In addition to providing treatment at the Atlanta VA and Emory’s hospitals, its other partners include Grady Memorial Hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Winship has attracted talented doctors and researchers from around the world. Their discoveries in cancer-cell biology and genetics lead to superior cancer therapies.

The institute’s director of thoracic oncology, Dr. Seth Force, is an expert in advanced chest procedures and robotic surgery. Before Force’s tenure, Winship’s thoracic oncology program benefited from the leadership of Dr. Daniel Miller, a leading authority on pleural mesothelioma.

This sort of expertise is essential for a medical team to effectively treat a rare cancer such as mesothelioma.

To live longer and better with malignant mesothelioma cancer, veterans must take advantage of the best specialists available. Many veterans do not realize they can receive treatment anywhere within the VA health care system. The VA can arrange for patients to travel for treatment.

Transportation expenses for veterans with cancer are often covered or reimbursed as part of a veteran’s health care benefits. Often, traveling veterans and family members can also take advantage of free lodging near VA medical centers.

The VA health care systems in Boston and Los Angeles also rank among the best mesothelioma treatment centers for veterans.

Recommended Reading