CAPE MAY – The 2,238 Cape May County veterans enrolled at the Cape May County VA Clinic at the Coast Guard Training Center will not see any differences when they schedule appointments or are seen there, stated David E. Cowgill, communications manager, VA Healthcare VISN 4.
He responded to a Herald inquiry in the wake of the May 9 change in supervision of the Cape May community-out based clinic, along with similar facilities in Northfield and Vineland, to Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 director from the Wilmington VA Medical Center.
“We are in the process of recruiting an additional staff member who will be a licensed practical nurse,” Cowgill stated.
Veterans presently served by outpatient clinics at the Wilmington facility will continue to be seen there, he added.
Asked if examinations, such as hearing tests, would be done elsewhere, he replied, “The same sites of care, with the following exception, some services for which veterans were sent to Wilmington may be available locally based on the hardship exception for use of the Choice program.
The Veterans Choice Program is a new, temporary benefit that allows eligible veterans to receive health care in their communities rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility.
To be eligible, veterans must have been enrolled in VA health care on or before Aug. 1, 2014, or be eligible to enroll as a recently discharged combat veteran. They must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
Be told by the local VA medical facility that they will need to wait more than 30 days for an appointment from the date clinically determined by the physician, or, if not such date is provided, VA’s preferred date.
Their residence is more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility.
They face an unusual or excessive burden in traveling to the closest VA medical facility based on geographic challenges, environmental factors, or a medical condition. Staff at the local VA medical facility will work with them to determine if they are eligible for any of these reasons.
They reside in a state…without a full-service VA medical facility that provides hospital care, emergency services and surgical care, and reside more than 20 miles from such a VA medical facility.
Lower Township – Who are these people that are obvious experts on trash cans and leaf pick-up? Maybe they don't have any trash to put out or leaves in their yard!!
