COATESVILLE — Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine took a big bite out of the apple that is healthcare in Chester County.

Penn Medicine signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs to join forces, while improving infrastructure for veteran health care, at the Coatesville VA hospital.

Also this week, Tower Health announced that it had reached a sale agreement for Penn to buy Brandywine Hospital.

“Penn Medicine and VA leaders will work over the next several months to determine the most appropriate programs and will collaborate with community partners and stakeholders as planning evolves,” according to a  Penn Medicine release.

Under-Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said that the Coatesville VA is an important medical center for the region.

“When veterans get into our doors they get care superior to any other option that is available,” Elnahal said. “We are opening the doors as far as possible.”

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan said that the private/public partnership with the VA is the first of its kind as allowed by last year’s Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The act provides additional health care benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, including burn bits and Agent Orange.

The partnership is allowed as the PACT Act calls for the VA to work with academic affiliates.

Brandywine Hospital was shuttered by owner and operator Tower Health 18 months ago.

While details were not released, and much still needs to be decided, the two actions by Penn seem related.

The VA MOU calls for Penn Medicine and the VA to work to modernize aging VA facilities, and infrastructure, with much built in the 1930s, and collaborate with staff, to improve clinical and research partnerships.

Might an emergency room be staffed at Brandywine Hospital?

“In addition, Penn Medicine is currently evaluating the needs of the community to determine additional programming for the Brandywine campus beyond the partnership with the VA,” reads the release. “Emergency care has been identified early as a top priority for residents of the area – where Penn Medicine also operates Chester County Hospital — and leaders will work to develop an innovative plan to provide that type of care.”

Elnahal, said Tuesday, that vets deserve the most modern and advanced medical facilities, with the latest technology and equipment.

Brandywine Hospital housed the last in-house mental health unit in Chester County. The new agreement calls for outpatient, acute mental health, and long-term care on the Brandywine Hospital campus.

“Caring for veterans of our nation’s military is a sacred responsibility,” said University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin B. Mahoney. “The PACT Act allows for great synergy between Penn Medicine and the VA, and we hope to leverage this new model to set the standard for how our nation approaches military medicine.

“Although we cannot fully repay the debt of veterans’ service to protect our freedom, we can ensure they receive the world’s best medical care at every phase of their lives following their service.”

With the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center campus in Philadelphia serving the area, plus the Southern New Jersey service area, more than 100,000 veterans are impacted.

The Penn release reads: “Penn Medicine has provided care to patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in University City since 1948. Currently, more than 100 Penn faculty members hold dual VA appointments, providing care to veterans and conducting more than 250 VA-approved projects aimed at improving veteran health in key areas including mental illness, sleep medicine, cancer, and regenerative and genomic medicine.

“In addition, Penn Medicine is currently evaluating the needs of the community to determine additional programming for the Brandywine campus beyond the partnership with the VA. Penn Medicine and VA leaders will work over the next several months to determine the most appropriate programs for the two locations, and will collaborate with community partners and stakeholders as planning evolves.”

Commenting on the signing of the partnership between Penn Medicine and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline said, “Knowing that Chester County is represented in what is the first formal signing in the nation of an agreement like this is tremendously exciting.  But the truly great news is that this formal partnership will keep comprehensive veteran medical services here in Chester County, and that access to healthcare in western Chester County will be returning.

“We were pleased to be part of the group that helped to facilitate the partnership between Penn Medicine and the Coatesville VA Medical Center, and will continue to support their plans as they work together to provide the best healthcare facilities for both veterans and Chester County residents.”