Grand Junction, Colo. (KKCO) - It’s a big honor when a VA Hospital is named to the Joint Commission's top performers list. On Thursday, Grand Junction's VA Hospital received that honor. It’s an important award because local veterans don't have to travel to Denver or Utah to receive top notch medical attention.

Receiving the award means the teams at the hospital performed in the top eighteen in the country with regards to surgical measures and complexity. “Everybody is here because we believe in the vets. This shows that we're providing care that’s safe and effective and what we're going to do is try to find ways that we can do even better next year." Says head of surgery DR. Jamie Watkins.

The Grand Junction VA Hospital was the only one in the state to receive the award.