Burlington — Expanding Community Outreach Clinic, Adding Services in the Northeast Kingdom, Covering Veterans’ Dental Care, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during a two-day visit to U.S. Veterans Secretary Denis McDonough To Vermont, who said he was promoting.
“I think he learned a lot about the strengths of the Vermont VA system and some of the problems that still have to be overcome,” Sanders said of a small press pool in a tent outside the Burlington Lakeside VA Clinic. I took off the mask and talked. Thursday storm.
“In a highly fragmented Washington, DC, my hopes and beliefs are that not all members of the US Congress can turn their backs on men and women who have taken their lives to protect the country. For all veterans, quality medical care is a right they have acquired and a right we must provide, “said a longtime veteran champion and Senate Veterans Commission. Says Sanders, a former chairman of the.
Sanders said he wants to expand Burlington’s community-based clinics to let all veterans in Vermont know that quality care, such as hearing aids and low-cost prescriptions, is available.
Sanders and McDonough also refuted rumors that Newport’s community-based outpatient clinic would be closed. Instead, Sanders said he plans to build a large facility in St. Johnsbury to increase access to veterans in the Northeast Kingdom. They did not provide any further details.
“The idea behind community-based outpatient clinics is that veterans can receive care from those they know and trained culturally competent people in their community. To provide more care, “McDonow said.
Dr. Brett Rush of the White River Junction VA Medical Center, which had a press conference on Wednesday, and McDonough, who is adjacent to Ryan Lily, regional director of the New England VA Healthcare System, gave “frank feedback” from Vermont. He said he found it. Veterans during his visit are “irreplaceable.”
According to McDonough, the Covid-19 pandemic is “very much” for veterans, their families, and veterans staff who continue to tackle burnout and fatigue while caring for both veterans and non-veterans Vermonter. It was a heavy burden. ”
It is important that the Vermont delegation recently approved more salaries for Veterans Affairs doctors, nurses, nurses and assistant doctors.
According to McDonough, the VA needs to be equipped to handle the next stage of the pandemic. This includes long Covid investigations and dealing with postponed care.
“Vermont is one of three national systems testing ways to quickly address issues related to health complications from postponement of care,” he said.
Local leaders like Lily and Rush warned him about the housing crisis in Vermont, and the Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating possible local wage inequality, he said.
“High real estate prices, high living costs associated with the effects of the pandemic, and the influx of new Vermont are affecting it,” he said. “We will keep track of this until it is correct.”
Do not miss it. Sign up here to get VTDigger’s weekly email about hospitals, health trends, insurance and state health policies in Vermont.
3,000 books in 30 days
Our journalism is made possible by the donations of our members. VTDigger will partner with the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) during the Spring Member Drive to send 3,000 new books to young people in Vermont who are at risk of growing up with low literacy skills. Make a donation and send the book today!
