SHINNSTON, W.Va. — Members of the American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force will hold a town hall meeting on Monday regarding veterans which are receiving care at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg and other VA facilities.
An audit conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs in June claims the average delay in Clarksburg was 54 days for new patients seeking a primary care doctor, 86 days for a specialist and 96 days for mental health services. Director Beth Brown has previously stated these numbers do not align with the hospital’s records.
The American Legion is playing host to the meeting to learn about the quality of care from those directly affected by the matter.
“The town hall meeting is to allow veterans to come in and share their experiences about the health care they are currently receiving at the VA hospital,” Roscoe Butler, Deputy Director of Healthcare with the American Legion said. “That will give our leaders insight and develop questions so when they meet with the director of the medical center, they’ll be able to pose some questions.”
Afterwards, the group is establishing a Veterans Crisis Command Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, getting veterans connected with the Legion’s national staff, along with local Legionnaires, staff from VA facilities and volunteers from other organizations to assist them and their families with getting services such as assistance in filing for VA appointment scheduling, grief counseling, benefits claims, and help with enrollment in VA health care.
Monday’s meeting is open to the public and local veterans, especially those affected by delays, are encouraged to attend.
It will be held at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 31 on 76 Bridge Street in Shinnston.