The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center provides for the health care needs of Veterans in Central PA Joint Commission Notice:
The James E.
Van Zandt VA Medical Center wishes to promote open communication regarding any concerns about patient care or safety in the medical center. If you have concerns about patient care or safety that have not been addressed, you are encouraged to contact your Service Chief/Supervisor. Additionally, you can contact Quality Management Service at extension 7321. If the concern continues, you may contact The Joint Commission at the following:
• www.jointcommission.org, using the “Report a Patient Safety Event” link
in the “Action Center” on the home page of the website
• By fax to 630-792-5636
• By mail to Office of Quality and Patient Safety, The Joint Commission,
One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
It is the policy of this medical center that no disciplinary action will occur because an employee reports safety or quality of care concerns to The Joint Commission. Any questions regarding this matter can be directed to Quality Management Service at extension 7321.
01/15/2026
Combat Veterans: Your story is vital.
If you’ve deployed in support of combat operations, your experiences can help shape the future of Veteran health care. Take the new Military Experiences and Toxic Exposures Survey in your Million Veteran Program (MVP) online dashboard and contribute to groundbreaking research that could improve care for generations of Veterans.
Veterans may join MVP today and be part of the change. www.mvp.va.gov.
01/14/2026
Want to file a stronger VA claim? In this episode of Glad You Asked, Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence shares helpful tips from VSO officers, including why filing online can lead to faster decisions and even more money compared to filing by mail.
Our new Huntingdon Outpatient Clinic is coming along! We are so excited that the outside of the building is taking shape. We will keep you updated as the build continues.
01/13/2026
Opening up about what you’re going through can make it easier to find support and prevent a crisis before it happens. Whenever you need to talk, the Veterans Crisis Line is here to listen.
Dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
Congratulations to our December 2025 Bee Award winner Herbert Niehuus.
Herbert works in our prosthetics department. He helped a Veteran receive a "perfect leg." This is something the Veteran had wanted for such a long time. Herb handled this situation with compassion and truly changed the life of this Veteran.
Thank you for being an asset to our Veterans and being a difference maker in our community.
01/09/2026
It’s time to Defy Your Limits and get ready for the online registration for the 2026 National Veterans Golden Age Games!
Registration for the VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND WHEELCHAIR DIVISIONS will open at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Veterans will log in to the Registration4Vets platform to register.
Registration for the AMBULATORY DIVISION will open at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 29. Veterans will log in to the Registration4Vets platform to register.
Congratulations to our December 2025 Daisy Award winner Charlotte Hill!
Charlotte is a nurse on our CLC 5. She was nominated by her supervisor for her calming presence and compassion during a situation with a Veteran. Her supervisor stated "Charlotte demonstrated the very essence of compassionate nursing providing not only safety but also comfort, dignity, and genuine human connection. She is a true example of the impact one nurse’s care can have, both on a patient’s wellbeing and on the colleagues who work alongside her."
We are very fortunate to have Charlotte as apart of our team at James E. Van Zandt VAMC.
01/08/2026
We’ve now reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits by 60% since the start of the second Trump Administration!
01/07/2026
Your story and experiences can shape Veteran health care.
Million Veteran Program (MVP) participants may complete the new Military Experiences and Toxic Exposures Survey in your online participant dashboard.
Survey responses help researchers better understand how your deployments, occupations, and exposure to toxic or hazardous substances may impact Veteran health and inform improvements in care.
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
Are you a new Nurse Practitioner ready to launch your career with purpose?
Join the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest and most technologically advanced health care system in the nation—dedicated to serving America’s Veterans.
At the VA, you’ll discover an environment where you and our Veterans can thrive.
Residents enjoy a robust compensation package, salaries, first-rate benefits, extensive educational support, paid leave, and countless opportunities for career growth.________________________________________
🎓 About the PC-NPR Residency Program
Our 12-month, full-time Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency is designed for new NPs (
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Welcome to the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center
Since 1950, the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center has been improving the health of the men and women who have so proudly served our nation. We consider it our privilege to serve your health care needs in any way we can. Services are available to more than 81,000 Veterans living in a 14 county area of Pennsylvania. Our 14 counties include Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset.
Improving Access and Timeliness of Care
Learn how we are improving access to health care for nearly 25,000 Veterans in our 14 county service area.
See how our VA Medical Center is doing in Access and Quality.
VA Outpatient Clinics
In addition to our main facility in Altoona, we offer services in five VA Outpatient Clinics. These clinics are located in:
DuBois, Pennsylvania
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Mapleton Depot (Huntingdon County), Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
Mission
The medical center exists to serve the Veteran through the delivery of timely quality care by staff who demonstrate outstanding customer service and quality health care services. We embrace the VHA Mission to honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well being.
Vision
The medical center will be recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as a leader in quality patient care, positive customer service, and excellent employment opportunities. We strive to be a patient-centered health care organization for Veterans, providing excellence in health care; being an organization where people choose to work; and serving as a community partner and back-up for national emergencies.
Key Business Drivers
Our key business drivers are quality, access, financial integrity, patient satisfaction, and employee satisfaction.
Values
Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.
Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Respect: Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.
Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.
