Staten Island Reporter

(BROOKLYN, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and Timothy Graham, Medical Center Director for the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been making significant investments and improvements into the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. 

Specifically, the VA has invested roughly $60 million to renovate the Brooklyn VA Medical Center's Mental Health Ward, oncology pharmacy and continued elevator renovations, modernize the entire Electronic Health Record, upgrade the library, Nutrition Food Services, the boiler and chiller plants, prepare for a new Nuclear Medicine Suite, and construct a new Rehabilitation Unit. The Medical Center also made a series of operating room renovations that were completed in October of 2019.

"Our veterans have fought and sacrificed so much for our nation and they deserve high-quality health care," Malliotakis said. "By making these necessary investments to modernize this critical facility, the VA is ensuring that it will be used by future generations of veterans for years to come. We welcome our veterans, particularly new veterans not as familiar with these resources, to take advantage of our local VA facilities that are best equipped with the specialized care and services to address their individual needs."

"In addition to infrastructure investments, VA has recently expanded care for millions of veterans and their survivors with the passage of the PACT Act, and we invite all veterans to apply for toxic exposure-related benefits and health care right now," said Director Timothy Graham. "This historic legislation will open VA’s high quality of care to more veterans than ever before. VA New York Harbor Health Care System welcomes all veterans to apply for benefits under the PACT Act and we look forward to serving even more of our Nation’s heroes. Learn more about the PACT Act and apply for benefits by visiting www.va.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411."

Veterans interested in applying for benefits can contact:

Brooklyn VAMC: (718) 836-6600 ext. 1807

Manhattan VAMC: (212) 686-7500 ext. 3691

A project breakdown can be found below:

• Renovation of Mental Health Patient Wards
  • Consists of the design and construction of a drug and substance abuse ward at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. Work will include, but is not limited to, the architectural, asbestos remediation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, lighting, security, and sprinkler upgrades to the patient ward.
  • Estimated completion: March 2024
• Renovation of the Oncology Pharmacy
  • Site preparation and the installation of a new cleanroom. This includes interior finishes and other finishes controls testing and certification.
  • Estimated completion: March 2024 
• Elevator Renovations
  • Work includes upgrades to existing elevators in Building #1. Installation includes new flood protection systems, gibbs, guardrails, controller and drive, selector, wire ways, conductors, traveling cable, hoist machine, hoist ropes, normal and final terminal stopping devices, car operating devices, limit switches, car leveling devices, emergency stop switches, hall position indicators, operating panels, position indicators, hall push buttons, hoist way doors, hoist way door panels, car doors, door operators, top of car operating station, new or refurbished elevator cabs, ADA compliant elevator car intercom/communication system, security camera, pit switch and disconnect switches. The project also includes installing smoke detectors, heat detectors, sprinklers, shunt trip breakers as required to comply with latest NFPA codes for fire service operation and fire service elevator recall.
  • Estimated completion: September 2024
• Modernizing the entire Electronic Health Record
  • The EHRM upgrades will reset telecommunications infrastructure to a modern system that can support an ever-changing landscape of technology for years to come with redundancy and resiliency to protect against both natural disasters and deliberate damage. 
  • Estimated completion: FY27
• Library Upgrades
  • Upgrade three individual study rooms in the patient library. Add skylight for each Wellness room and add sound proof study rooms. 
  • Estimated completion: FY24
• Upgrades to Nutrition Food Services to support the room service initiative
  • Demolition of current walk-in freezer. Renovation work: drop-in-ceiling, skim coating, painting, cleaning.
  • Estimated completion: September 2023
• Upgrade Chiller Plant
  • Replace five main house chillers to include a 900t, 800t, 750t, 700t, and 500t chillers. This project includes controls and apparatus associated with the chiller replacement project. 
  • Estimated completion: FY25-FY26
• Upgrade Boiler Plant
  • Replace the boiler plant to include three 32Btu boilers and one 10KBtu boiler.
  • Estimated completion: FY25-FY26
• Site Preparation for Nuclear Medicine Suite
  • Site Prep includes renovating approximately 1200 sq. ft. of the existing Nuclear Medicine space. Full gut renovation of the existing Nuclear Medicine SPECT CT Space, fire suppression work, electrical, plumbing, architectural, rigging services, construction administration, demolition, asbestos abatement, fireproofing, metal framing, gypsum board, acoustical ceilings, flooring, painting, HVAC, med gas, direct-digital controls, wiring devices, communications, telephone/data, fire alarm, etc.
  • Estimated completion: April 2024
• New Rehabilitation Unit
  • Project involves design and construction of the existing 2nd floor Physical Rehab Medicine, Assembly/Conference room and 12 East Swing space. The design and construction include gut renovation of the assembly room to be relocated to the basement OPC building, Rehabilitation Suite on the Second Floor North West of Building #1 and the cosmetic upgrade of 12 East swing space to accommodate the Rehabilitation Suite during construction.  
  • Estimated completion: October 2025

Original source can be found here.