Great things are happening for Oklahoma Veterans and for downtown Tulsa! A partnership has developed with many stakeholders to build the new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa.
The project is focused on developing a medical center to help support a growing population of US Veterans in Oklahoma. Among those contributing to the project are the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Oklahoma State University, the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, and many other philanthropies and municipal entities.
In addition to the initial funding, a supplemental $31.2 million is on its way to Tulsa’s new downtown Veterans Affairs hospital, according to VHiT, the nonprofit overseeing the project. VHiT (Veterans Hospital in Tulsa) said that the additional appropriation — made through the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill and the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act — will offset unexpected construction costs.
“This new VA hospital has been a herculean effort by so many, and we had faith that our federal delegation would help increase funding to cover this unprecedented inflation,” VHiT Director Courtney Knoblock wrote in an email.
“If the funding had been short, there is no question the project could have suffered from some scope modification. We’re very glad we don’t have to go down that path and can continue with this much anticipated and needed hospital for our veterans.”
Knoblock said the appropriation also will keep the project on schedule for completion in late 2024. The supplemental appropriation brings the total cost of the hospital to $171.2 million, with $151.2 million from federal sources. The remainder is from philanthropic and local and state government sources.
The 58-bed hospital will occupy the former Kerr-Edmondson state office complex on the west side of downtown. According to VHiT, the hospital is the largest nonmilitary, non-transportation federal project in the state.
The hospital will be affiliated with the neighboring Oklahoma State University Medical Center and part of a larger, $450 million project that will include a 100-bed inpatient mental health facility and OSU Pharmaceutical Research Lab and Clinical Center.
VHiT says the medical complex will be the largest construction project in downtown Tulsa since the Williams Center in the 1970s.
We are all grateful for the commitment from all stakeholders to support the health of United States Veterans. The hospital will facilitate care closer to home to many Veterans. Additionally, the facility will continue to contribute to the medical education of many healthcare professionals in our community.
Stephen D. Bruns, MD, FACS
TCMS President
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