Veterans’ Administration Representatives Hold Town Hall Meeting

In an effort to maintain lines of communication and provide information updates for veterans in southeast Colorado, several representatives from the VA hosted a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, August 20^th at the Senior Citizen Center in Lamar.

Crenshaw, Beckett and Gill at SOS Center

On hand were Greg Crenshaw, Veteran Experience Officer from the Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Katie Meckett, MD, Medical Director, Office of Community Care from the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC and Duane Gill, Interim Health Care Director. Those attending included staff members from the Lamar VA Medical Clinic on South Main Street and Gary Harbert, VA Representative for Prowers County.  Cathy Garcia and Nanette Byrne-Haupt from U.S. Senator Cory Gardner’s Pueblo office also attended.

The questions directed to the representatives focused more on forms and record keeping as well as access to some specialty needs in outlying areas, than to specific medical information.  The company, TriWest became the new payment and scheduling firm for Colorado VA recently and Beckett said the change should help facilitate the selection process for a treatment facility for veterans.  “We’re now operating under the Mission Act which will reduce the 30 day, forty mile waiting and travel time for veterans,” she explained.

The representatives took some more specific information on private matters from one or two veterans in attendance and Doug Harbour detailed the plans that have gone into the annual 9/11 Tri State Tribute Parade and ceremonies, set for Saturday, September 7^th in Lamar.

Mobile Vet Center

The local VA Clinic at 1401 South Main Street in Lamar is holding an open house on Wednesday, August 28^th for the public in general and any veterans who may be new to the area or ones who want to learn more about the offerings from the medical facility which has been open since 2014.  The VA Mobile Center will also be on hand at that time.

By Russ Baldwin