Earlier this summer, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System officials met with veterans at a series of town-hall-style meetings in Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Fayette and Belmont (Ohio) counties, to seek their input on the VA and how it can be improved.
“We heard questions and comments on urgent-care options, emergency department wait times, CBD and medical marijuana, massage therapy, and the transition of AA meetings from being mandatory to optional for veterans recovering from substance abuse,” said Shelley Nulph, acting public affairs chief for VA Pittsburgh.
A 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12 meeting will take place at the Westmoreland County VA Clinic at 5274 Route 30 (Suite 10) in Hempfield.
“Topics for the upcoming town halls this month will likely include (implementation of the MISSION Act, launched this summer and aimed at giving veterans more health care options), a national smoke-free initiative, suicide prevention and more,” Nulph said.
The VA is in the midst of a national initiative to prohibit all smoking and tobacco use at VA facilities and campuses.
The meetings are open to the public, and experts from the Veterans Benefits Administration will be on-hand to offer assistance with individual questions.
The VA serves approximately 9 million enrolled veterans at 1,255 health care facilities around the country every year.
For more, see Pittsburgh.VA.gov or call 866-482-7488.
