VA Maryland Health Care System hires 186 new employees to care for Veterans amid COVID-19 pandemic

BALTMORE, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The VA Maryland Health Care System, which includes the Baltimore, Loch Raven and Perry Point VA Medical Centers and five community based outpatient clinics, announced today it has hired 186 new employees to care for Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic since March 29.

The VA Maryland Health Care System has hired a number of positions during the pandemic, to include 14 physicians, 89 nurses and nursing assistants, 40 staff members in geriatrics, and 33 mental health providers. There are opportunities still available in a variety of areas to include physicians, nurses and medical technologists.

"As we recognize Veterans Day during these unprecedented times, the VA Maryland Health Care System is proud to hire qualified personnel to care for our Nation's Veterans and support our community in response to COVID-19," said Jonathan R. Eckman, Acting Director for the VA Maryland Health Care System. "VA has the most noble of missions to provide high-quality health care to America's Veterans."

To streamline the hiring process, VA significantly reduced the amount of time it typically takes to hire and onboard new employees by implementing expedited credentialing practices to onboard highly qualified, licensed medical staff in a timely manner, lifting the bi-weekly pay cap for General Schedule (GS) employees and broadening authority for awards and incentive approvals.

VA employees are actively involved in strategic efforts and hands-on assignments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The VA Maryland Health Care System has deployed 34 employees through the Disaster Emergency Management Personnel System (DEMPS) to provide care to Veterans and non-Veterans throughout the country under VA's Fourth Mission.

VA has ranked among the top employers on Forbes 2020 Best Places to Work Survey in 17 states, and is featured on the Forbes 2020 Best Employer for New Graduates list. The VA Maryland Health Care System is one of 1,200 VA health care locations across the country with more than 350,000 employees who hold more than 300 clinical and non-clinical occupations, roughly one-third of whom are Veterans.

Visit http://www.vacareers.va.gov for more information about obtaining a meaningful career serving Veterans and to view current openings.

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The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at three medical centers and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans' health care, research and education. It costs nothing for veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a veteran can do. To enroll for VA health care, interested veterans can call 877-222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or they can visit http://www.va.gov and clinic on "Apply now for VA health care."

Media Contact

Rosalia Scalia, VA Maryland Health Care System, 410-605-7464, [email protected]

SOURCE VA Maryland Health Care System