If you’re a military veteran or currently in a branch of military service, you’re encouraged to enroll in Veterans Affairs health care as soon as possible.
Chief of Communications and Public Relations Joseph Burks offered that advice during a recent interview on KVOE’s Morning Show.
Burks touched base on a range of topics, including the different services available — including primary care, surgical, different therapy categories, geriatrics and extended care, behavioral health, audiology and optometry. Burks also updated the traffic flow at Emporia’s new ATLAS pod at the American Legon Post 5.
ATLAS — which stands for Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations — uses 8-foot-by-8-foot enclosed and soundproofed pods so veterans can have telemedicine appointments covering a range of topics, including prescriptions, social work, psychology, nutrition and addiction therapy. Emporia has one of less than 20 ATLAS pods installed nationwide.
In addition, Burks also hailed passage of the PACT Act, which expands free health care for roughly 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Burks says the PACT Act also offers benefits to dependents of affected veterans.
KVOE will have Morning Show interviews with VA administrators monthly through the end of this year. Our next interview is at 8:40 am Oct. 3.
Residents wanting more information can also go online to www.topekava.gov or find VA Eastern Kansas on Facebook.
