Representatives with Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System made the 100-mile trip to Galesburg today to hold a town hall meeting with local veterans.
About a dozen veterans from the area met in the Galesburg Public Library to hear about the Iowa City VA and share their thoughts on how the health care system could be improved. Among people’s concerns were long wait times for care and long travel distances for appointments.
Iowa City VA Associate Director of Operations Heath Streck said the town-hall-style meeting was held to get a sense of what veterans would like to see done differently. Streck tells WGIL VA facilities are taking action.
“We’re increasing access, increasing providers and nursing staff, shortening the distances with these outpatient clinics reaching out into communities,” he says. “And then, of course, we do have the Choice Act … and also telehealth.
The Choice Program is designed to allow veterans to receive health care when waits are too long or travel is too restrictive. Telehealth services use technologies, such as high definition cameras, to connect with health professionals.
Streck says the Iowa VA holds town hall meetings quarterly in the western end of Illinois and the eastern portion of Iowa.
