OCTOBER 29, 2025 – In a landmark step toward stronger partnership and integrated health care, Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville has launched a new initiative in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of War (DoW). The program, led by Cmdr. Elizabeth Farrar as the administrative team lead and Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Marsh as the clinical team lead, aims to streamline access, expand capability, and strengthen readiness across both veteran and military populations.
“By bringing the VA and DoW resources together, NH Jacksonville is breaking down barriers and ensuring that our warfighters, their families and our community’s Veterans receive the timely, high-quality care they deserve,” said NH Jacksonville Director Capt. Craig Malloy. “This initiative brings the best of both systems together for those who have worn the uniform.”
According to Malloy, senior leadership across both the Navy and VA have been instrumental in making this initiative a success – fostering what many describe as the most cohesive working relationship between the two organizations to date.
“The collaboration between the teams has never been more seamless. Today’s healthcare environment demands agility, cooperation, and a unified-mission focus,” said Farrar. “Both sides are fully invested in removing barriers, finding solutions, and putting our patients first. It’s a true example of joint service to those who served.”
VA leadership echoed that sentiment, noting that the partnership has evolved beyond coordination into genuine unity of effort.
“When you have leadership on both sides willing to pick up the phone, share resources, and move in lockstep – that’s when real progress happens,” said Marsh.
This initiative has created a partnership between NH Jacksonville and the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS), which will expanded inpatient and outpatient options for Veterans within the Jacksonville area.
Key components include:
- Unified referral and intake systems connecting VA and DoW providers for faster patient placement.
- Joint clinical huddles co-led by VA and Navy clinicians to align treatment plans and expedite care.
- Streamlined administrative synchronization of patient registration, credentialing, and tracking systems.
- Readiness sustainment for military clinicians through a broader patient case mix that includes Veterans requiring complex care.
For Veterans, this initiative means greater access to timely care and the ability to receive treatment closer to home. For the Navy, it means maintaining critical clinical skills, improving readiness, and reinforcing trust between the two healthcare systems serving the same population at different points in their lives.
“The synergy between readiness and access is what makes this effort so powerful,” said Marsh. “When DoW and VA clinicians work side-by-side, everyone benefits – especially the patient.”
The NH Jacksonville team will continue tracking performance metrics, patient feedback, and readiness outcomes to assess long-term impact. Early results will guide future expansion across other Navy Medicine and VA facilities, potentially serving as a national model for joint health-care delivery.
“Both organizations are proving that collaboration isn’t just possible – it’s powerful,” said Farrar. “Together, we’re building a stronger, smarter, and more unified system for the men and women who served.”
Story by Julie Lucas
Naval Hospital Jacksonville