Taking care of military veterans is a role taken very seriously in the Heart of Texas Region.

The Veterans Affairs medical facility in Waco has cared for veterans for more than 75 years, and the community is extending its reach nationwide with the opening of the Health Resource Center’s National Pharmacy Customer Care Center.

The center, located on the medical center campus in an historic building, is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs efforts to improve customer service to veterans and their access to care, specifically their access to pharmacy needs. The call center, which will support veterans calling into 39 VA hospitals in 18 states, plans to further renovate the facility in the coming months.

“This region of the country has always shown tremendous support for military veterans, which is one of the major reasons for locating the facility in Waco," says Debra Redd, VA public affairs officer for the Health Resource Center. 

Redd says another major factor was the access to high quality, professionals employees to staff the center, which is expected to create 350 new jobs.

The location of the new call center underscores the region's support of veterans and its history of hiring them once they enter civilian life. Waco ranked No. 1 in the nation for “Best Places for Military Retirement,” according to a list sponsored by the United Service Automobile Association and Military.com.

The Veterans Affairs campus in Waco, which is part of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care system, includes an outpatient medical center for area veterans, a psychiatric facility, nursing home facility, a rehabilitation center for the blind and a patient rehabilitation unit for post-traumatic stress disorder. The entire campus has and will continue to undergo major renovations valued at more than $50 million.