Congressman Mike McIntyre visited the VA clinic in Wilmington with some good news about their health care. He announced plans for an expanded clinic that will offer veterans specialty medical attention, without having to drive to Fayetteville.
McIntyre said, "We have one of the fastest growing veterans populations of any district, really in the nation, between Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Sunny Point."
That's why a new 100,000 square foot facility is so necessary for Wilmington.
"When you've got 77,000 veterans living in southeastern North Carolina, and that population is ever expanding, we want to make sure those who are coming home from serving our country over seas, as well as those in times passed have served our country, get the health care that they deserve and that they've earned."
Veteran Fred Johnson said, "The building here i guess does well, but if they have more services, it would enhance more veterans to come out and they could be better served."
The new center will be equipped with a lab, pharmacy, dental clinic, x-ray machines, and cardiology, and disease specialists.
"For the veterans in the Wilmington area, they won't have to come to Fayetteville for a lot of the specialty services that they now still have to come to even though we have a clinic here,” said Bruce Triplett, Director of Fayetteville VA Medical Center.
The current outpatient clinic is about 8,000 square feet. The new clinic is going to be more than 10 times the size of that, at about 100,000 square feet. It will also have the ability to expand as our vet population continues to grow.
The Veteran's Administration has also gotten approval to open outpatient clinics in Brunswick and Robeson counties.
"What a great way to be able to celebrate Veteran's Day by in a tangible way, on behalf of the United States to say thank you to those who have given that service,” McIntyre said.
The project will cost roughly 95 million dollars in federal funds.
The current outpatient clinic is expected to close and the new center open in June 2011. The new facility will be in Wilmington, but the exact location has not yet been announced.
Veteran's Hospital
I agree with the earlier comment that using the current hospital facility in Supply as a VA facility after Novant vacates it in 2 years makes perfect sense. It is within an easy drive from Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Whiteville, as well as all points in Brunswick County. Moreover, it is in a rapidly growing area that will see tens of thousands of new homes over the next 30 years. As a modern 60 bed facility, it would save construction time as well as costs.
As I see things, it makes so much sense that it will probably not happen. I hope the federal government will be a good steward of our money and make this choice.
On a scale of 1-10, VA care
On a scale of 1-10, VA care rates about a 3. All the modern clinics and money will not change this. Emergency care is pretty much non-existant, The clinics are closed on weekends, but vets get sick and injured on weekends, too. It is production line care, but better than nothing. I had my lab work done in October, but my appointment with the doctor is not until next March. Go figure!
Hmmm
I'm curious why veterans needs their own clinics? Don't get me wrong, if there is a reason thats cool, i'm just curious why they don't use the regular hospitals.
Why do veterans have thier own clinic
Well wilmingtonMaj, Vets get thier own clinic becuase it is a totally seperate health care provider. The regular hosptials have enough to deal with, without bringing the government in and making them do more paperwork for Vets. You see at the clinic, Vets who have been approved due to service related injuries get free health care. Free is a loose term here though becuase they have paid with there service, and thier life of pain now and for some lose of limbs. So since its free to them and paid for by the government it is just easier to have thier own clinic where everything is done with government paperwork.
And I believe that the Va hospitals and clinics are the best way to see how government run healthcare will go. These Vets go and sit waiting for a couple of hours for most and some many more. Then after waiting they are seen and told that they cant be helped at this location they need to drive half a state away to get what they need. So they go and sit again. Now this is on a very small scale only a few thousand vets a day run through these clinics. Imagine the choas of millions of people running through our hospitals, including the people who dont really need to go but will since "Hey its free". Sorry just a side note.
Two additional factors, WilmMAJ
There is normally no insurance mechanism in place to reimburse non-retiree veterans who seek care in a civilian health facility. (There are some limited exceptions for recently discharged Vets)
That's why the VA has a complete, stand-alone healthcare system. When it was first thought of (1930), that was the most cost effective way of doing it....plus, that was before health insurance was common. As Guest 11/10 pointed out, the original intent was to take care of former servicemen who had injury or illness incurred as a direct result of their service.
On the more cynical side, like most benefits (though this one is certainly deserved by it's recipients) this one has become a political golden apple. Once the VA was there, no one was going to dare take it away. All they would do is make it bigger and grander. The number of veterans is staggering and if you do anything to "help veterans," you just locked up a huge block of votes.
Unfortunately, the second aspect sometimes interferes with the first. The politicians get TOO generous. If you visit the VA website and see who rates care at a VA facility, you will see a list of categories and levels that approaches the complexity of a space shuttle launch. That's because politicians, seeking to garner favor among vets, have expanded health coverage well beyond its original intent.
For example, if you are an indigent, homeless drunk who did one hitch in the military thirty years ago and never left Fort Hamilton, you can receive treatment for your alcoholism at the VA. That was never the intent of the system, and the simple truth is that that guy takes space and money away from a vet with a true, service connected health problem.
Though I vote for him, McIntyre is the King of Pork, and this is just his standard M.O.
Very interesting
I appreciate the information. I would definitely agree with your comments about politicians and Vets. It seems that anyone who dares mention reducing benefits or not "supporting our troops" in the smallest fraction of a way is lambasted. You also bring up another great point that the number of veterans is staggering and essentially, call it what you will, it is nothing more than a job that you can have for one tour of duty and then guaranteed benefits and pension for life. It's a drain on the country's resources. Granted I think anyone who truly serves their country and risks their life deserves more than the average pay check, but does a computer tech who never sees real combat deserve the same benefits for life? Lot of debatable material there!
Well, the benefits are mainly educational....
...if you only do one or two hitches and walk out the gate with no injuries.
In order to see the BIG benefits, you have to stick around for twenty years or more. On face value, the pension and health benefits seem incredibly extravagant, but there's one very simple justification: Few people would stick around and make it a career unless the benefits were better than anything else available....and you need people to stick around. You can't have an army or navy run by privates and petty officers.
Looking forward to that monthly pension and lifelong healthcare benefit (interestingly, not provided by the VA) plays a big part in keeping people around for that third tour in Iraq, or keeping them on submarine duty when they can quadruple their salary by operating a nuclear reactor for one of the power companies.
First of all, WilmingtonMAJ,
First of all, WilmingtonMAJ, were YOU ever in the military? Just be honest and tell us in your next post. Also, where did you get the idea that all vets got a paycheck for life? You might want to do some research before you spout off. I served 1 hitch in the Marines. I DO NOT get anything in the form of any kind of paycheck. I DO, however have VA medical benefits, for now unless this gets taken away. But even these benefits are structured depending how long a person served, whether or not he has a service connected disability or injury. You might be surprised just how far off base you really are.
Veteran's Clinic
I just hope this clinic does not experience the same problems as the Fayetteville VA Hospital does.
I would rather see a VA Hospital in either New Hanover or Brunswick County. Our area veteran's still have to travel to Fayetteville or Durham for major procedures even with this clinic expansion.
Right now would be a great
Right now would be a great opportunity to look at the old Brunswick Community Hospital. as a multi use VA Clinic. And it couldn't happen soon enough for the thousands of veterans that live in and around this area.
S/F ROGER FLEMING