New state-of-the-art health care center opens for veterans in Charlotte

This browser does not support the video element.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new state-of-the-art health care center for veterans has officially opened in Charlotte. The six-story facility is located on West Tyvola Road.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon, Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) said it could revolutionize care for veterans.

“This facility has things that many private sector facilities haven’t even thought of,” Burr said. “And we’re going to be the model that tries them out and proves their success.”

The new health care center replaces another outpatient facility in the university area that was just a quarter of its size.

VA officials said they will be offering expanded services that will allow many veterans in the Charlotte area to avoid traveling to the VA hospital in Salisbury.

“We’ll have dialysis. We’ll have physical medicine and rehab and we’ll have expanded G-I, meaning colonoscopies and we’ll have day surgeries eventually,” said Kaye Green, medical center director for the VA hospital in Salisbury.

Many veterans said they’re looking forward to the new Charlotte Health Care Center.

VA officials said they hope the new buildings and services will send a message.  Sloan Gibson, deputy secretary of Veterans Affairs, said, “When veterans walk in the doors here, what I hope they’re feeling is an expression of gratitude from the American people.”

The VA said there are approximately 25,000 veterans in Charlotte.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: