SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury’s VA Hospital officials spoke out Thursday after a report exposed employees fixed veteran wait times to make them appear shorter. "We've made such vast improvements ...

The entire Salisbury VA system fell slightly below the Asheville system for average patient wait time in days. Salisbury’s average wait time in days was 3.53. Asheville’s was 3.49.

At the Asheville VA, 97 percent of appointments were scheduled in fewer than 30 days, followed by the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury at 96 percent, and the Durham VA at 95 percent.

Growing campus The Hefner VA Medical Center has two Centers of Excellence — one for long term or geriatric care, the other for mental health care. They’re both undergoing expansion, as are ...