Robley Rex VA Medical Center
{{Short description|American healthcare organization}}
{{coord|38|16|14|N|85|41|51|W|type:landmark_region:US-KY|display=title}}
Robley Rex VA Medical Center is a hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky, and administered by the Veterans Health Administration, an agency of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The center is dedicated to the care of veterans of the United States military living in a 32-county service area in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.{{cite web|url=https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/about-us/|title= About Us, VA Louisville Healthcare |publisher=US Department of Veterans Affairs|access-date=13 April 2024}}
The hospital first opened in 1952, with a construction cost of $8 million, almost double the original cost projection, and was built on the site of a former city reservoir on a hill above Zorn and Mellwood avenues, near the Ohio River. It replaced the Nichols U.S. Army General Hospital, the largest hospital in Louisville during World War II.{{cite news |last=Elson |first=Martha |date= 24 June 2016|title= VA hospital modern wonder in 1952 |url= https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/history/river-city-retro/2016/06/24/retro-va-hospital-modern-wonder-1952/85917306/|work= Courier-Journal |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}} Originally known only as the Louisville Veterans Hospital, the hospital was given its current name in 2010 to honor Robley Rex, a World War I-era veteran and VA volunteer.{{cite web|url=https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/about-us/history/|title=History, VA Louisville Healthcare |publisher=US Department of Veterans Affairs|access-date=13 April 2024}} While the hospital originally opened as a full-service hospital with 494 beds, as of 2024 the facility is listed only as a short-term acute care facility with no staffed beds.{{cite web|url= https://www.ahd.com/free_profile/18006F/Louisville_VA_Medical_Center/Louisville/Kentucky/|title= Louisville VA Medical Center |publisher=American Hospital Directory|access-date=13 April 2024}} In 2022, the hospital received Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians, the highest possible rating.{{cite news |last=Harbsmeier |first= Deborah |date= 29 August 2022|title= National recognition for Louisville's Robley Rex VA Medical Center |url= https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2022/08/29/robley-rex-accreditation/|work= Spectrum News 1 |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}} Current services offered include primary care, mental health care, specialty care, and social programs and services.{{cite web|url=https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/health-services/|title= Health Services, VA Louisville Healthcare |publisher=US Department of Veterans Affairs|access-date=13 April 2024}}
In November 2021, ground was broken for a replacement VA hospital in Louisville.{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Erin |date= 11 Nov 2021|title= Long-awaited Veterans Day gift: Louisville breaks ground on new VA medical center |url= https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2021/11/11/va-breaks-ground-on-new-medical-center/|work= Spectrum News 1 |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}}{{cite news |last=Baute |first=Sean | date= 11 Nov 2021 |title= VA breaks ground on new veterans hospital in Louisville |url= https://www.wave3.com/2021/11/11/va-breaks-ground-new-veterans-hospital-louisville/|work= Wave 3 News |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}}{{cite news |first=Lucas |last=Aulbach |date= 11 Nov 2021 |title= Groundbreaking complete for Louisville's new VA hospital. Here's what to expect now. |url= https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2021/08/20/robley-rex-va-medial-center-new-louisville-hospital-constrution-update/8182033002/|work= Courier-Journal |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Lawrence |date= 11 Nov 2021|title= Construction begins on Louisville's new VA Medical Center after years of delays |url= https://www.wdrb.com/news/construction-begins-on-louisvilles-new-va-medical-center-after-years-of-delays/article_476e752e-430c-11ec-be12-c7f5a5d149b6.html/|work= WDRB |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}} The new hospital, located on Brownsboro Road, just off of Interstate 264, is expected to have 104 beds, as well as a women's health clinic, at a projected cost of $840 million. Construction is expected to be complete by early 2026.{{cite news |last=Street |first=Eileen |date= 9 March 2022|title= Louisville’s new Veterans Affairs hospital 5% complete, expected to be finished in 2026 |url= https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2022/03/09/louisville-s-new-robley-rex-veterans-affairs-va-hospital-is-5--complete--expected-to-be-completed-in-2026/|work= Spectrum News 1 |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}}{{cite news |last=Marijolovic |first= Kate |date= 21 June 2023|title= What's that big building under construction on Brownsboro Road? Here's what to know |url= https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/va-hospital-medical-center-louisville-brownsboro-road-construction/70315020007/|work= Courier-Journal |location= |access-date= 13 Apr 2024}}