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Columbus VA Mobile Medical Unit visits Coshocton

| April 30, 2014

COSHOCTON – The Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center is reaching out to veterans in rural areas with its mobile medical unit.

“We want to bring VA to where the veterans are,” said Pam Richardson, outreach coordinator for the Columbus VA.

The mobile medical unit was in town April 29 at the intersection of Main and Fourth streets to offer enrollment information to veterans and do exams.

“This is a great opportunity for us and we want to thank the veterans service office for helping us and being very welcoming,” Richardson said. “Going to Columbus or Zanesville is too far for some veterans, but with the mobile unit they can come right here and get enrolled (in VA healthcare).”

The mobile medical unit is scheduled to be back in town again on Tuesday, July 29; Tuesday, Oct. 28; Tuesday, Jan. 27. Veterans are asked to bring with them their DD-214/DD-215 and income and medical expense information.

“We have on board today an administrator, medical provider, LPN and social worker for those who might have mental health concerns,” Richardson said.

She also stressed that VA healthcare meets the guidelines for health coverage of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

“If they aren’t insured we are here for them,” Richardson said. “If you do have insurance that’s ok too. You are still eligible and we will work with doctors in the private sector as well.”

The mobile medical unit will be open from about 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each time it visits town.

“It’s our privilege to be able to do this,” Richardson said. “When we were in Hardin County I had a veteran tell me that if we had not been there he would never have enrolled. He had been in Vietnam and definitely earned benefits.”

Russell Hammond, assistant veterans service officer, encouraged area veterans to take advantage of the mobile medical unit when it visits.

This is an opportunity for them to see and experience what you get with VA healthcare,” he said. “I’ve used VA healthcare for years and have nothing but good things to say about it.”

For more information, call 622-2313 or 740-257-5579.

josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

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Category: Government, People & Places

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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