Next week will be the last for Maria R. Andrews as the director of the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She has been appointed as the new director of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.
Andrews, a native of Pennsylvania, was the first female director of the Tuscaloosa VA. She was appointed to the position in March 2013 after 34 years working in the VA system.
I have mixed emotions, Andrews said Thursday. Im very excited and honored for the opportunity to serve more veterans, but Im saddened about leaving Tuscaloosa.
The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is larger than the Tuscaloosa VA, serving approximately 45,000 veterans in two separate hospitals, and has about 2,500 employees. In comparison, the Tuscaloosa VA serves about 16,000 veterans and has about 1,000 employees on a single campus.
Before coming to Tuscaloosa, she served as associate director and chief operating officer at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas, where she oversaw more than 1,800 employees and a $400 million budget.
During her time at the Tuscaloosa VA, Andrews said she has enjoyed the atmosphere and work culture shared by the veterans and the employees.
What Ive enjoyed the most is the interaction of the veterans that we serve and the attitude of the employees, Andrews said. The employees at the Tuscaloosa VA are truly patient-centered. Ive taken great pride leading an organization with that kind of culture.
Every year the Tuscaloosa develops a strategic plan, and for 2015 there are 15 initiatives the hospital has taken on, which they call 15 for 15. Andrews said she hopes to see those completed, even in her absence.
One of the initiatives is a walk-in minute-clinic that would allow the veteran who needs a quick assessment for an illness to be treated in a timely manner and can recover without having to make an appointment, Andrews said.
The clinic is set to open in the coming weeks.
One of the other things we are doing is improving the efficiency of our operations, Andrews said. The goal is to improve the efficiency of our systems and processes for care, with better care, timely and cost-effective care.
Andrews last day will be Feb. 6, and she will start her new position in Augusta on Feb. 9.
Ms. Andrews has a proven track record as an exceptional health care leader, said VA Southeast Network Director Charles Sepich in a statement. In her 35-year career with VA, shes held many key leadership positions and has outstanding qualifications.
An interim director for the Tuscaloosa VA will likely be announced soon, said Damon Stevenson, spokesman of the Tuscaloosa VA, followed by a search by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fill the vacancy.
