The unique partnership began in October 2002, when the Veterans Health Administration and the DoD signed an Executive Council Decision Memo, directing the partnership between the two medical centers. The first phase of the partnership began in October 2003, when the U.S. Navy shifted their inpatient mental health care to the North Chicago VAMC. The initial phase was completed in December 2004 when the Department of the Navy moved their Blood Donor Center, and collection efforts from B200H (former Naval Hospital Great Lakes) to North Chicago VAMC. Patrick Sullivan resided over the commissioning of the Blood Donor Processing Division as director of the North Chicago VA Medical Center. This signaled the completion of the first phase of the DOD and DVA integration.
