U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins praises San Diego VA during visit

VA Secretary Celebrates San Diego Hospital as National Model During Recognition Visit

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins toured the San Diego VA Hospital Tuesday, highlighting it as one of the nation's top five medical facilities and recognizing outstanding staff achievements that have made the La Jolla facility a benchmark for excellence across the VA system.

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins made his first visit to San Diego since taking office in February, celebrating the VA Hospital in La Jolla's exceptional performance and meeting with staff, patients, and veteran students at the University of San Diego. The visit underscored the facility's role as a model for veteran care nationwide.

A Personal Homecoming and Professional Recognition

Collins' visit held special significance as he returned to the city where his military career began more than 30 years ago. "One of the reasons I'm out here today is because this is one of the best in our system, this is one of the top 5 across our whole platform," Collins said, comparing the San Diego facility to the nation's 170 Veterans Affairs medical centers. "This is one we can point to and say this is one that's doing it right, this is one that's getting a lot done."

The secretary distributed prestigious Secretary coins to several staff members during his visit, including Cindy Abair, the associate medical center director. "It was a huge surprise and it's a very special honor because those aren't given out very frequently," Abair said, reflecting the rarity and significance of the recognition.

Excellence Through Innovation and Care

Since his confirmation in February, Collins has visited approximately 100 VA facilities across 24 states, consistently finding that San Diego ranks among the best performers. The facility's success stems from its commitment to innovative care delivery and operational efficiency that serves as a model for other VA medical centers.

"This is a great facility... this one is actually one that's very good," Collins emphasized, noting the hospital's track record of delivering quality care while maintaining operational excellence. The recognition comes as part of Collins' broader initiative to identify and replicate best practices across the VA system.

Staff Recognition and Morale

Abair, one of the Secretary coin recipients, spoke about the meaningful impact of Collins' visit on staff morale and organizational direction. "It's a special honor for him to come to the area, because we spent some time with him this morning and he was talking to us about the initiatives and some of his goals about what he wants to do and changes that he wants to make for the benefit of the organization," she said.

The recognition ceremony highlighted the dedication of San Diego VA staff who have consistently delivered exceptional care to veterans. Collins' personal engagement with employees demonstrated the administration's commitment to recognizing excellence at the facility level.

Commitment to Veteran Programs

During his visit, Collins made a passionate commitment to maintaining programs that serve disabled veterans, drawing from his personal experience as the father of a 33-year-old daughter with spina bifida. "I'm the father of a 33-year-old spina bifida child, she's never walked. I've had to deal with her being in a wheelchair. We cried when she pushed that wheelchair for the first time, because that was her first step," Collins shared emotionally.

"For any of our disabled veterans who are getting the opportunity to do clinics like that, whether it be winter, summer, wheelchair games, warrior games, we're going to be there to support that. I'm not going to let anyone take that back, because I see what the value of it is," he pledged.

Operational Excellence and Efficiency Improvements

Collins highlighted San Diego's success in streamlining operations while maintaining high-quality care. "I've tasked all of our VA to say, what are we doing that we shouldn't be doing, what has been put in for some reason before that we can now lose so that we have a cleaner line of communication, and a cleaner line of work so we can get our veterans the help that they need," Collins explained.

The San Diego facility exemplifies this approach, demonstrating how effective resource management and process improvement can enhance veteran care delivery. The hospital's ability to maintain top-tier performance while optimizing operations makes it a valuable case study for other VA facilities.

National VA Performance Context

The recognition of San Diego comes as the VA system overall shows strong performance in national quality metrics. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2025 hospital quality ratings, 77% of VA hospitals received 4 or 5-star ratings, with no VA hospitals receiving one-star ratings. More than 90% of VA hospitals maintained or improved their 2024 star ratings.

Collins emphasized that the VA has made significant strides in reducing veteran benefit backlogs, which are down more than 37% since January 2025. The department has also opened 16 new healthcare clinics nationwide and committed $800 million to infrastructure improvements.

Educational Outreach and Future Leaders

The secretary's itinerary included meetings with veteran students at the University of San Diego, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the next generation of veteran leaders. This educational component reflects the San Diego facility's broader role in the veteran community beyond direct medical care.

These interactions underscore the facility's comprehensive approach to veteran services, extending its impact into educational and community engagement realms that support veteran success across multiple dimensions.

Looking Forward: A Model for Excellence

Collins concluded his visit by reaffirming the San Diego VA's role as a benchmark facility. The hospital's recognition as a top-5 performer provides a roadmap for other VA medical centers seeking to improve their operations and patient care outcomes.

"Since March, we've been conducting a holistic review of the department centered on reducing bureaucracy and improving services to veterans," Collins said. The San Diego facility's success in balancing operational efficiency with quality care demonstrates that these goals are achievable when implemented effectively.

The visit reinforced the facility's position as a leader within the VA system, providing tangible evidence that excellence in veteran care is not only possible but sustainable when supported by dedicated staff, effective leadership, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

As the VA continues its transformation under the Trump administration, the San Diego facility stands as proof that the department can deliver world-class care to America's veterans while operating efficiently and responsively to their needs.

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SIDEBAR: Top-Performing VA Hospitals by the Numbers

CMS 2025 Hospital Quality Star Ratings

Secretary Collins' recognition of San Diego as a top 5 VA facility nationwide reflects strong overall performance across the VA system. According to the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2025 hospital quality ratings, 77% of VA hospitals received 4 or 5-star ratings, with no VA hospitals receiving the lowest one-star rating.

Five-Star VA Hospitals (2025):

• Salem VA Health Care System (Virginia) - Third consecutive year at 5 stars
• Madison VA Hospital and Clinics (Wisconsin)

Performance Excellence Indicators:

Quality Metrics: CMS hospital star ratings evaluate five key categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience, and timely and effective care. The ratings use risk-adjusted data that accounts for patient acuity upon admission, ensuring fair comparisons across facilities.

Exceptional Outcomes:

• Wilmington VA Medical Center (4-star facility): Achieved an 18% reduction in congestive heart failure readmissions through enhanced case management
• Madison VA: Achieved lowest rate in the nation among all VAs for Veterans returning to homelessness after being permanently housed

Patient Trust & Satisfaction:

• Salem VA: 93% of Veterans surveyed since January 2025 reported trusting the facility for healthcare services
• Madison VA: Overall Veteran trust score of 95.7% and respect score of 97.6%

Access Improvements: The VA has enhanced access through nearly 1 million healthcare appointments offered outside normal operating hours since January 2025, providing early-morning, evening, and weekend options. The department has opened 16 new healthcare clinics nationwide to expand veteran access.

VA Leadership in Healthcare Quality: VA hospitals consistently outperform private sector facilities in CMS ratings, with 58% of VA hospitals receiving 4 or 5-star ratings compared to 40% of non-VA hospitals. This represents the ninth consecutive quarter where VA facilities exceeded non-VA performance metrics.

System-Wide Achievements:

• Staffing Strength: National vacancy rates of 14% for doctors and 10% for nurses
• Claims Processing: Record 2.52 million disability claims processed in FY25
• Infrastructure Investment: $800 million committed to facility improvements system-wide
• Benefit Processing: 37% reduction in veteran benefit backlogs since January 2025

Quality Assurance: The VA participates in CMS Hospital Compare, enabling direct performance comparisons with private sector hospitals using standardized, nationally recognized metrics. This transparency ensures accountability and continuous improvement across the VA healthcare system.

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Sources

1. FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. "VA Secretary commends San Diego VA hospital as top 5 in the nation during visit." September 10, 2025. https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/va-secretary-commends-san-diego-va-hospital-as-top-5-in-the-nation-during-visit/
2. KPBS Public Media. "VA Secretary defends staff reductions, anti-union moves at agency during San Diego visit." September 9, 2025. https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2025/09/09/va-secretary-defends-staff-reductions-anti-union-moves-at-agency-during-san-diego-visit
3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "VA earns top scores in latest CMS hospital ratings report." August 2025. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-earns-top-scores-in-latest-cms-hospital-ratings-report/
4. Salem VA Health Care System. "Salem VA Health Care System receives top scores in latest CMS hospital ratings." September 2025. https://wfirnews.com/news/salem-va-health-care-system-receives-top-scores-in-latest-cms-hospital-ratings
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Madison VA receives top scores in latest CMS hospital ratings." August 2025. https://www.va.gov/madison-health-care/news-releases/madison-va-receives-top-scores-in-latest-cms-hospital-ratings/
6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Wilmington VA Medical Center receives high scores in latest CMS hospital ratings." August 2025. https://www.va.gov/wilmington-health-care/news-releases/wilmington-va-medical-center-receives-high-scores-in-latest-cms-hospital-ratings/
7. Federal News Network. "VA hospitals score higher than private sector in nationwide surveys." September 2024. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/veterans-affairs/2024/09/va-hospitals-score-higher-than-private-sector-in-nationwide-surveys/
8. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Veterans Health Administration Hospital Performance Data." https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality-initiatives-patient-assessment-instruments/hospitalqualityinits/va-data
9. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Douglas A. Collins - Staff Biography." https://department.va.gov/staff-biographies/douglas-a-collins/
10. Newsweek. "VA Given Boost for Veterans' Hospitals." September 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/va-boost-veterans-hospitals-rankings-2122645
11. U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins praises San Diego VA during visit