8/11/2019 VNRC Hot Springs Release Aug 2014
1/2
Bob Krause, PresidentPO Box 12007
Des Moines, Iowa 50312(515)657006!
bob"#rause$%nr&"us
Press Release Monda', uust 11, 201*
For particulars, contact Bob Krause at 515-657-0069
Embargoed until 10:30 !
Proposal for Medical Miracle Announced Today in Hot Springs
An Iowa charity involved with veterans issues today released its
proposal to
enhance the threatened VA Hospital in Hot Springs, South Dakota
and save it from
closure. he proposal was released !y "o! #rause, president of
the Veterans
$ational %ecovery &enter 'V$%&(, and Dr. Don Swift of
)ankton. Swift is one of the
founders of *ewis and &lark Specialty Hospital. He also owns
a clinic and is a
South Dakota pioneer in the use of regenerative medicine in
+oint healing. #rause
is a longtime veteran activist.
According to #rause, the proposal, called the -edical -iracle,
creates a supportplatform to sustain the Hot Springs VA in order
to/
Improve recruitment of medical professionals,
Improve the training and 0uality of VA medical professionals
nationally,
Devise a strategy to make the Hot Springs VA Hospital a
nationalspecialty center,
"ring new medical therapies into the national VA healthcare
system,
1rovide for funding and overhead to support the Hot Springs VA
Hospital, Strengthen the ties of the rural area to the Hot Springs
VA Hospital in
order to !ene2t !oth the hospital and the rural economy and
34er the VA an opportunity for a long term lease for a portion
of the HotSprings VA campus.
o do this, the V$%& proposes to create three elements, a
college of osteopathic
medicine, a research Institute and an operating regenerative
medicine clinic
within the VA hospital. he three operating elements would all !e
private non5
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
8/11/2019 VNRC Hot Springs Release Aug 2014
2/2
Bob Krause, PresidentPO Box 12007
Des Moines, Iowa 50312(515)657006!
bob"#rause$%nr&"us
pro2t concerns. After initial funding from the pu!lic sector and
from charita!le
contri!utions, the operating elements will !e self5funding
through tuition, research
grants and contracts, and an endowed foundation. he endowed
foundation a
private sector startup 2rm that deals in regenerative
medicine.
#rause said that he -edical -iracle plan is the !est and most
via!le alternative
proposal to !e considered in the 6S Department of Veterans
A4airs 7nvironmental Impact
Statement '7IS( process. It closely meshes with the needs and
desires of the VA whileenhancing veterans services in an e8citing
new medical 2eld and while reducing long5
term costs to the ta8payer.
Swift talked a!out the need for a college of osteopathic
medicine in South Dakota.&urrently there is none, and the
closest colleges are in Denver and Des -oines. Swiftindicated that
as well as !eing on the cutting edge of various types of
regenerativemedicine, that the new college will help 2ll a need for
rural doctors, and will !e a!le tocreate a relatively large num!er
of doctors for the investment.
he new college is tentatively called "attle -ountain &ollege
of 3steopathic and
%egenerative -edicine, or "attle -ountain &ollege. "esides
+oints, skin regenerativemedicine will !e an initial focus. During
the 9:: wars, a!out ; percent of warwounded received e8tensive !urn
in+uries. It is a niche that has receivedrelatively little
attention in recent years. A Swiss 2rm founded !y Brookingsnative
Professor Lee Ann Laurent-Applegatehas ownership of technologies in
this2eld, and clinical studies will !e conducted to esta!lish Hot
Springs as a center forregenerative skin surgeries. he technology
re0uires e8tensive hydrotherapy fora period of si8 months after the
surgeries, and Hot Springs mineral water will !eused for that.
5
