VA health care

For veterans in need of medical care, access to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Southeast Missouri means shorter trips. John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has expanded its clinic in Cape Girardeau and opened a new clinic in Sikeston, Mo. The reaction from veterans taking advantage of these facilities has been positive.

The aim of the VA is to have medical facilities for veterans within a 30-minute drive of their homes. The expanded clinic in Cape Girardeau, in the space near West Park Mall previously occupied by Barnes & Noble, offers basic primary care, mental health services and a home health service.

Since opening last October, the new Cape Girardeau clinic has seen an average of 1,100 patients a month. Some 3,000 veterans are enrolled for the clinic's services.

The new space also provides better accessibility, say veterans who previously received treatment at the VA-operated clinic at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Providing high-quality health care for men and women who have served in the armed forces is a high priority for most Americans. The VA is to be commended for providing these services and for reaching out to rural areas that are too often underserved.