By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

Lourdes Health System of Camden has partnered with a federal program designed to offer active and retired military personnel and their family increased access and reduced exorbitant wait times for those in need of medical care. The hospital is one of only six in New Jersey to participate in the HealthNet Federal Services Patient-Centered Community Care program, or PC3.

PC3 provides specialty care to veterans when the local Veterans Administration hospital cannot provide services due to lack of available medical personnel, long wait times or great distance from the patient’s home. Lourdes is contracted to provide veterans service under PC3 in Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Mercer counties, parts of Ocean County and parts of Bucks County and Philadelphia.

“It is unfortunate that our military veterans often have to wait weeks or months to get care,” said Alexander J. Hatala, Lourdes Health System president and CEO. “We have extensive experience providing care to service members at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and elsewhere, so participating in the PC3 program is a natural part of our mission.” Lourdes has provided pre- and post-deployment medical care to service members at the base since 2001.

If an eligible individual visits VA providers and needs specialty care unavailable there, or if the VA cannot meet the new wait time standards, they are then referred to the PC3 network. Lourdes’ department of military affairs makes an appointment, enabling the patient to be seen within 48 hours or sooner. Healthcare services covered under the new PC3 program include pathology, surgery, oncology, cardiology, home health care, inpatient rehabilitation, labor and delivery, vision rehabilitation and emergency services.

Mark Nessel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lourdes Health System, revealed the reasons the medical facility has taken steps to fill the gap in veterans’ health care.

“We have worked very closely with the active military for a number of years,” he noted. “TRICARE [the U.S. Department of Defense healthcare program] approached us about being their selected provider for the south Jersey area because Lourdes met all of the criteria required by regulation, and because we are known as a great partner with their organization and with the military.”

In 2012, Lourdes continued its military outreach by opening Living Springs, the area’s only inpatient behavioral health program for active-duty personnel, veterans and their families. The 21-bed unit at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro, which describes itself as a “renewal and resilience center,” enables patients to address the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse, anxiety and other emotional traumas.

Nessel stated, “We have had extremely positive feedback from the service men and women and their families that we have served at Living Springs. We have also received support for that program from local organizations to help us better serve the needs of the military, which have included family support and transportation services. We believe our program is unique and is definitely filling a need.”

Another valuable resource for military personnel is the hospital system’s new LourdesCare at New Hanover. Located just a half-mile from the main McGuire Air Force Base entrance, the facility offers services that are limited or unavailable at the base, such as MRI and physical therapy, close to where its users live and work.

“Our military is deeply focused on its mission, and so are we,” Hatala said. “We do whatever it takes to ensure our active-duty service members and veterans receive the prompt and top-notch care they deserve.”