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Local veterans gather to discuss V.A. Healthcare issues
They were once seen as intimidating and distrusting, but now they have a reputation as one of the best health care providers in the country.
As more and more veterans get older, the Department of Veterans Affairs is become increasingly important. As News 5's Josh Egbert shows us a newly formed group in Grand Island is working to ease some of those pains. Their goal is simple. "To help the veterans get through the system in the most easy and convenient way," said Dean Heiden, Chairman, Grand Island Veteran's Advisory Board. Veterans helping veterans. "I think all the help they need is there, they just have to know where to look for it," said Heiden. The first public forum for the Grand Island Veteran's Advisory Board was held Monday where dozens of people showed up. Angela-"this is just our attempts to let the veterans in Central Nebraska know there's one at the Grand Island VA and this is an avenue for them to express their concerns," said Angela Williams, Grand Island VA Hospital. Similar boards have been formed in Lincoln and Omaha. The groups are becoming increasingly important because of the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act. "We can't pinpoint that, we really can't speak to what that brings, it's still a work in progress and they're still trying to figure out the details," said Heiden. From Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom, they helped each other on the battle field, now they're helping each other back home. "When I was discharged from the service back in 1969, there was very little help in that regards for a veterans being discharged and to use the VA system," said Heiden. "Sometimes veterans are hesitant to bring problems to leadership thinking that maybe they won't be addressed, I think that when they have their peers that can relate to them and can empathize with them that it makes it easier for them to share their concerns," said Williams. To learn more about the advisory board, you can contact Angela Williams at the V-A Hospital in Grand Island |
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