WASHINGTON D.C. - In a recent letter to administrators at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, U.S. Congressman Boren urged immediate steps be taken to better provide critical health care services to the veteran population in southeast Oklahoma. The letter urged Director Walmus to consider southeast Oklahoma as a priority area to receive a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in order to meet the needs of veterans in this rural area of the state.
“Oklahomans have a long and proud history of answering the call to service. It is our duty to show them our respect and appreciation by providing them the best health care services possible,” Boren said.
The letter requested that Director Walmus and his staff begin the necessary procedural steps to obtain funding for a clinic in Idabel from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. These steps include a survey of the veteran population in southeast Oklahoma, a study of the health care services that could be provided by a future clinic, as well as several others.
“Veterans living in McCurtain County and southeast Oklahoma must now travel long and sometimes prohibitive distances to receive the services they need,” Boren said. “After looking into what is required to bring a new veterans’ community clinic into service, it is best to get the ball rolling as soon as possible,” Boren said. “My office stands ready to assist Director Walmus in any way possible.”
During visits this year to southeast Oklahoma and McCurtain County, Boren heard from several local veterans who expressed an urgent need for an outpatient clinic. Many of these veterans have already proposed a facility in Idabel as a potential site for VA consideration. The site is located adjacent to the American Legion Post 8 building.
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