Veterans who attended the Truman Veterans Administration town hall meeting in Jefferson City Wednesday were able to gain a breadth of information about what services are available to them through the VA and the local outpatient clinics.
David Isaacks, medical center director at the Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, led the meeting providing the audience with an overview of the expansions the hospital and outpatient clinics will experience in the near future.
He explained the key focus will be to increase accessibility and to reduce overall wait and driving times for patients by improving phone services and adding key programs in the outpatient clinics.
A few of the programs include implementing primary care services, behavioral health services and telehealth services in the outpatient clinics. In the next six to eight weeks, the VA also plans to add more staff to the clinics.
Currently, the Truman VA hospital has eight outpatient clinics, including one in Jefferson City where veterans can go to receive services.
In an attempt to add more specialty care programs locally, Isaacks said the Jefferson City outpatient clinic may even be relocating in the future. No location has been decided upon yet.
"This will reduce that travel time and increase access to services without going to and from Columbia," he said.
The Columbia-based VA hospital will undergo cosmetic changes as well - plans are to relocate its inpatient surgery unit to the third floor of the hospital.
"This is a part of our master plan to move to 100 percent single rooms for patients in our facilities," Isaacks said.
During the meeting, attendees were granted time to voice concerns about the VA.
Norm Hicks, a Jefferson city resident and veteran, suggested VA executives find alternative ways for getting the word out about the services they offer.
"A lot of people don't realize that their eligible for stuff, and I don't see a lot of public service announcements about the information," Hicks said. "They have to know that there are services and that they are eligible. I've been a one-man recruiter trying to get veterans to enroll in services."
Isaacks responded there is an attempt to build up outreach for veterans.
"What you're asking us are things that we are asking ourselves," he said. "How can we get this information out there?"
He explained the VA has in-house data of who is enrolled and not using the services, as well as those who are eligible but not enrolled.
Stephen Gaither, public affairs officer for the Truman VA Hospital, told the audience the key is for veterans receiving services to take ownership and talk to other veterans about what is available.
"The most effective tool is a satisfied customer talking to another potential customer," Gaither said. "Veterans who are getting care need to accept some of that responsibility and help us to get that message out."
After the meeting, a panel of experts were available to answer questions for those interested in areas of eligibility, medical services and veteran benefits.