The ATLAS pod at Emporia’s American Legion Post 5 will have its first patient Thursday.
Local veteran and Legion administrator Ron Whitney says there will be hands-on training of the recently-installed ATLAS pod before the first patient uses the new facility Thursday morning. Whitney is pleased the service is coming to Emporia, especially after the city’s outpatient clinic at 12th and Lawrence closed in 2019.
Project ATLAS was announced last year by US Senator Jerry Moran and Congressman Tracey Mann. The 8-foot-by-8-foot enclosed and soundproofed pod is available so veterans can have telemedicine appointments covering a range of topics, including prescriptions, social work, psychology, nutrition and addiction therapy. Veterans will need to call 913-682-2000, ext. 53577, before using the Emporia ATLAS pod.
VA spokesman Joseph Burks says ATLAS is part of the VA’s Anywhere to Anywhere initiative, which is serving the medical needs of 9 million veterans in part through virtual technology.
Links
*Click here for more information the VA’s Office of Connected Care.
*Click here for information on the VA’s Eastern Kansas operations.
