Printer Friendly Page

STUDY APPROVED FOR POSSIBLE VA HOSPITAL IN

SOUTHEAST OHIO -- "Veterans living in rural areas and

across Appalachia face significant barriers to

VA services they deserve."

 

 

Story here... http://www.chillicothegazette
com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2
0070627/NEWS01/70627
0313/1002/NEWS01

Story below:

-------------------------

Study of possible new VA medical center to southeast Ohio approved

Special to the Gazette

A study has been approved to look at the possibility of bringing a new VA medical center to southeast Ohio.

According to 18th District U.S. Rep. Zack Space, who represents Ross County, an initial approval for such a study from a subordinate in the Department of Veterans Affairs has become an official approval from VA Secretary Jim Nicholson.

"Veterans living in rural areas of my district and across Appalachia face significant barriers to VA services they deserve," Space said. "I am thrilled that Secretary Nicholson, the highest-ranking VA official in the land, has acknowledged the need to examine this problem and is committed to conducting a thorough study."

In March, Space conducted roundtable discussions in Chillicothe and Newark concerning the needs of veterans and National Guardsmen.

During the Chillicothe visit, he toured the Chillicothe VA Medical Center and met with patients there.

In May, Space and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown conducted a joint House and Senate field hearing in Ohio on the subject.

Some of the feedback received from those visits and other veterans in the district deals with distance to the nearest VA facility.

"We have a moral obligation to provide our veterans with the care and support they have earned through unselfish sacrifice to our country," Space said. "The distance many have to travel to obtain care at a VA facility is often prohibitive, and many go without."

No specific location has been announced as part of the newly approved study.

According to the VA Web site, other VA facilities in southern Ohio are located in Portsmouth, Lancaster, Marietta, Cambridge and Athens.

-------------------------

Larry Scott  --