Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, located on a beautiful 125-acre campus in west Alabama, is committed to providing comprehensive and patient-centered care to Veterans. We offer a wide range of services, including primary care, women's health, geriatrics, mental health services, and specialty care, with referrals to Birmingham VAMC for secondary and tertiary care. Our dedicated healthcare teams are experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers. We also operate a satellite outpatient clinic in Selma, AL, and a mobile clinic serving highly rural towns. The medical center houses an outstanding Research Department and provides access to 24/7 virtual urgent care services.

Identifiers

Hospital Name Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
Facility ID 01021F

Location

Address 3701 LOOP ROAD EAST
City/Town Tuscaloosa
State AL
ZIP Code 35404
County/Parish TUSCALOOSA

Health System

Health System Department of Veterans Affairs
Health System Website Domain VA.gov
Recently Joined Health System (Past 4 Years) No

Health System Size & Scope

Health System Total Hospitals 128
Health System Total Beds 73968
Health System Hospital Locations Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, NA, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, NA, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming

Ownership & Characteristics

Hospital Type Acute Care - Veterans Administration
Hospital Ownership Veterans Health Administration
Ownership Details Department of Veterans Affairs
Emergency Services No

John F. Merkle

Medical Center Director

John F. Merkle, FACHE, was appointed the Director of the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center on September 20, 2015. Prior to his appointment he served as the Acting Director of the Medical Center since February 9, 2015. Prior to these appointments, Mr. Merkle served as the Deputy Director of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center since September 2012, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the health care system. Prior to entering the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Merkle was the Deputy Commander of Administration/Chief Operating Officer at the United States Army Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Mr. Merkle is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army, who served on active duty for more than 24 years. He held a variety of healthcare leadership positions in his military career, including Deputy Commander of Administration of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Health Care Facility, Deputy Director of the San Antonio BRAC Integration Office, Air Ambulance Pilot, and Medical Company Commander. He also earned the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Aviator Badge and received numerous medals, culminating with the Army Legion of Merit. Mr. Merkle graduated in 1988 from John Carroll University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In 1997 he earned a Master of Business Administration from St. Martin’s College in Washington. He also earned a Master of Health Administration from Baylor University in Texas in 2000. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.

Tracy Y. White

Associate Director

NA

Charles Gills

Associate Director Patient Care Services

NA

Tony Davis

Chief of Staff

NA

Residency Programs

Allopathic Residency Program No
Dental Residency Program No
Osteopathic Residency Program No
Other Residency Programs No
Pediatric Residency Program No

Capacity & Services

Licensed Beds 928

Staffing & Personnel

FTE Employees on Payroll NA
FTE Interns & Residents NA

Inpatient Utilization

Inpatient Days (Title V) NA
Inpatient Days (Title XVIII) NA
Inpatient Days (Title XIX) NA
Total Inpatient Days NA
Bed Count NA
Available Bed Days NA
Discharges (Title V) NA
Discharges (Title XVIII) NA
Discharges (Title XIX) NA
Total Discharges NA

Adult & Pediatric Subtotal

Inpatient Days (Title V; Adults & Peds) NA
Inpatient Days (Title XVIII; Adults & Peds) NA
Inpatient Days (Title XIX; Adults & Peds) NA
Total Inpatient Days (Adults & Peds) NA
Bed Count (Adults & Peds) NA
Available Bed Days (Adults & Peds) NA
Discharges (Title V; Adults & Peds) NA
Discharges (Title XVIII; Adults & Peds) NA
Discharges (Title XIX; Adults & Peds) NA
Total Discharges (Adults & Peds) NA

Quality Summary

Care Quality Stengths The hospital is average in every measured mortality rate
Care Quality Concerns NA

Hospital Overall Rating

Patient Experience Star Ratings

Nurse Communication – Star Rating
Doctor Communication – Star Rating
Staff Responsiveness – Star Rating
Communication About Medicines – Star Rating
Discharge Information – Star Rating
Care Transition – Star Rating
Cleanliness – Star Rating
Quietness – Star Rating
Overall Hospital Rating – Star Rating
Recommend Hospital – Star Rating

Recommendation Percentage

Percent of Patients Who Definitely Recommend the Hospital

Mortality Group Indicators

Mortality Group – Rate of Complications for Hip/Knee Replacement Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for Heart Attack Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for CABG Surgery Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for COPD Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for Heart Failure Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for Pneumonia Patients
Mortality Group – Death Rate for Stroke Patients
Mortality Group – Pressure Ulcer Rate
Mortality Group – Death Rate Among Surgical Inpatients With Serious Treatable Complications
Mortality Group – Iatrogenic Pneumothorax Rate
Mortality Group – In-Hospital Fall with Hip Fracture Rate
Mortality Group – Postoperative Hemorrhage or Hematoma Rate
Mortality Group – Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis Rate
Mortality Group – Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate
Mortality Group – Perioperative Pulmonary Embolism or Deep Vein Thrombosis Rate
Mortality Group – Postoperative Sepsis Rate
Mortality Group – Postoperative Wound Dehiscence Rate
Mortality Group – Abdominopelvic Accidental Puncture or Laceration Rate
Mortality Group – CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite

Timely & Effective Care

Timely and Effective Care: Average (Median) Time in the Emergency Department Before Leaving (Lower Is Better) NA

Readmission Scores & Groups

Readmission Score Hospital Return Days for Heart Attack Patients Not Available
Readmission Score Hospital Return Days for Heart Failure Patients Not Available
Readmission Score Hospital Return Days for Pneumonia Patients Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Unplanned Hospital Visits After Colonoscopy (per 1,000 Colonoscopies) Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Inpatient Admissions for Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Emergency Department (ED) Visits for Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy Not Available
Readmission Score Ratio of Unplanned Hospital Visits After Hospital Outpatient Surgery Not Available
Readmission Score Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Readmission for CABG Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Readmission for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients Not Available
Readmission Score Heart Failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Readmission After Hip/Knee Replacement Not Available
Readmission Score Rate of Readmission After Discharge From Hospital (Hospital-Wide) Not Available
Readmission Score Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available
Readmission Group Hospital Return Days for Heart Attack Patients Not Available
Readmission Group Hospital Return Days for Heart Failure Patients Not Available
Readmission Group Hospital Return Days for Pneumonia Patients Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Unplanned Hospital Visits After Colonoscopy (per 1,000 Colonoscopies) Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Inpatient Admissions for Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Emergency Department (ED) Visits for Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy Not Available
Readmission Group Ratio of Unplanned Hospital Visits After Hospital Outpatient Surgery Not Available
Readmission Group Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Readmission for CABG Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Readmission for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients Not Available
Readmission Group Heart Failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Readmission After Hip/Knee Replacement Not Available
Readmission Group Rate of Readmission After Discharge From Hospital (Hospital-Wide) Not Available
Readmission Group Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate Not Available

Infection SIRs

CLABSI SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) NA
CAUTI SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) NA
SSI SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) NA
CDI SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) NA
MRSA SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) NA

Fiscal Period

Fiscal Year Begin NA
Fiscal Year End NA

Charity & Uncompensated Care ($ thousands)

Charity Care Cost
Bad Debt Expense
Uncompensated Care Cost
Total Uncompensated Care

Operating Expenses ($ thousands)

Total Salaries
Overhead Expenses (Non-Salary)
Depreciation Expense
Total Operating Costs

Charges ($ thousands)

Inpatient Charges
Outpatient Charges
Total Patient Charges

Wage-Related Details ($ thousands)

Core Wage Costs
Wage Costs (RHC/FQHC)
Adjusted Salaries
Contract Labor (Patient Care)
Wage Costs (Part A Teaching)
Wage Costs (Interns & Residents)

Balance Sheet – Current Assets ($ thousands)

Cash & Bank Balances
Short-Term Investments
Notes Receivable
Accounts Receivable
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Other Current Assets
Total Current Assets

Balance Sheet – Fixed Assets ($ thousands)

Land Value
Land Improvements Value
Building Value
Leasehold Improvements
Fixed Equipment Value
Major Movable Equipment
Minor Depreciable Equipment
Health IT Assets
Total Fixed Assets

Balance Sheet – Other Assets ($ thousands)

Long-Term Investments
Other Assets
Total Other Assets
Total Assets

Balance Sheet – Current Liabilities ($ thousands)

Accounts Payable
Salaries & Wages Payable
Payroll Taxes Payable
Short-Term Debt
Deferred Revenue
Other Current Liabilities
Total Current Liabilities

Balance Sheet – Long-Term Liabilities ($ thousands)

Mortgage Debt
Long-Term Notes Payable
Unsecured Loans
Other Long-Term Liabilities
Total Long-Term Liabilities
Total Liabilities

Balance Sheet – Equity ($ thousands)

General Fund Balance
Total Fund Balances
Total Liabilities & Equity

DRG & Program Payments ($ thousands)

DRG (Non-Outlier)
DRG (Pre-Oct 1)
DRG (Post-Oct 1)
Outlier Payments
DSH Adjustment
Eligible DSH %
Simulated MC Payments
Total IME Payments

Revenue & Income Statement ($ thousands)

Inpatient Revenue
Outpatient Revenue
Total Patient Revenue
Contractual Allowances & Discounts
Net Patient Revenue
Total Operating Expenses
Net Service Income
Other Income
Total Income
Other Expenses
Net Income

Ratios & Program Revenues ($ thousands)

Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Net Medicaid Revenue
Medicaid Charges
Net CHIP Revenue
CHIP Charges

EHR Information

EHR VistA/CPRS
EHR Version VistA/CPRS
EHR is Changing No

ERP Information

ERP Unknown
ERP Version NA
EHR is Changing No