Souder Discusses Goshen Clinic With Veterans In N. Webster
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
NORTH WEBSTER - U.S. Congressman Mark Souder met with veterans Monday to discuss the Goshen outpatient clinic and Fort Wayne Veterans Hospital.
Souder met with approximately 10 veterans with the American Legion Post 253 in North Webster and Veteran Affairs Northern Indiana Healthcare System officials.He said an outpatient clinic for veterans will be constructed in Goshen. The clinic will serve Elkhart, Kosciusko and western Whitley, Noble and LaGrange counties.
The project was bid Nov. 7, and a contractor is scheduled to be selected by the end of this year with plans to have the clinic open in May.
An exact location for the clinic has not been determined, but the clinic will most likely be located in the southern part of Goshen.
"We are seeing traumatic brain injuries and mental health problems of soldiers coming out of the war, and we are trying to figure out how to help these soldiers and how it will impact our health system," Souder said.
Cathi Spivey-Paul, VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System director, also spoke about the outpatient clinic.
"We know a lot of our veteran population is in Kosciusko County, and we are reaching out to provide better access to services for our veterans," Paul said.
The clinic will initially serve 2,500 veterans and could grow to serve as many as 4,000 veterans in its first four to five years.
The clinic will provide mental and primary care for veterans.
Souder spoke about the Fort Wayne Veterans Hospital.
A national commission two years ago recommended closing the 26-bed inpatient unit at the hospital after a study was completed.
Another study was conducted in September and the VA in Washington is reviewing the study.
Souder said there has been discussion on whether the clinic at the hospital should be contracted by hospitals or a new wing be created at the existing hospital to treat veterans.
"I am not convinced that the delay in a decision to close the inpatient unit is necessarily harmful," Souder said.
"We don't want to push the administration into a decision that might later need to be overturned."
