BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — For the first time in several years, the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center has reopened its Valor Center for Physical Rehabilitation.
The Valor Center, which had a soft opening on Sept. 30, had closed during the wake of COVID-19 restrictions which limited surgical procedures veterans could receive. The 16-bed unit focused on veterans building physical strength and mobility following surgery, stroke, amputation and other conditions.
“We are excited to begin admitting Veterans to the Valor Center for Physical Rehabilitation,” director John Merkle said in a statement. “The closure of the unit these past few years has created a gap in care for Veterans needing short-stay rehab in the Tuscaloosa area. We have had to depend heavily on our community outpatient rehab facilities up to this point and for our dedicated and caring VA staff to be able to provide these services again to qualifying Veterans is extremely satisfying.”