Cheyenne VA Medical Center

Cheyenne VA Comp & Pension Specialist Patti Mai assists VA Psychologist Dr. David Webster with a step in the comp & pen exam process. This type of coordination between the Comp & Pen staff and medical providers produces great outcomes for Veterans. Timely and accurate results from comp & pen exams foster faster access to the high quality, VA healthcare system.

The Cheyenne VA Medical Center has earned a top ranking nationally for timely completion of compensation and pension exams to Veterans. These exams, also called “Comp & Pen” exams, are one of the most important clinical activities VA provides as the results of this exam links the Veteran to service connected health care and other potential VA benefits, including potential compensation and pension payments.

In the spring of 2010, access times to complete a Comp & Pen exam at the Cheyenne VA averaged 40-43 days. Through a series of performance improvement activities, access to and the timeliness of a comp and pen exam at the Cheyenne VA is now within the top 10% in the nation. As of July 2011, rates for a Veteran to complete the comp and pen exam process at the Cheyenne VA averaged 16 days, far exceeding the national  VHA goal for timeliness. The national goal to complete the exams is 30 days.

Cheyenne VA Medical Center Director, Dr. Cynthia McCormack emphasizes the achievement, “On behalf of the Veterans who benefit from these important exams and the staff responsible for refining the processes, exceeding the 30 day goal for timeliness is a tremendous achievement.  The Cheyenne VA facility is currently at a completion  rate of almost half the national goal. I feel this really speaks to the dedication, hard working character and creativity of the staff to make this happen.”

Cheyenne VA has exceeded the VA’s national goal of access and timeliness measures for comp and pen exams in a period of significant growth. With now more than 18,500 patients on the roles, there has been a 16.5% increase over the past three years in the number of individuals served at the Cheyenne VA’s main campus and eight additional locations VA services are provided. VA officials estimate that much of this growth has come from the number of returning Veterans in the region, relaxation of VA eligibility regulations and the population growth trends for this region.