New management at the top levels of veteran’s healthcare is inspiring hope among veterans and their VA doctors.
“It’s just a matter of getting veterans to sign up.”
Dr. David Walker is the chief of the medical facility at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery VA in Jackson.
“A lot of the time I’ll have veterans tell me ‘Oh, I don’t want prevent someone who’s more needy than me.’ I tell ’em ‘We’re here. You’ve earned the care. That’s why we’re here.'”
Dr. Walker, a veteran himself, tells News Mississippi that the new Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs has a new goal in mind. VA Sec. David Shulkin wants to dramatically increase the number of veterans receiving treatment while dramatically reducing the number of veteran suicides in America.
“Secretary Shulkin has even allowed for other than Honorable Veterans who have accute or emergent mental healthcare needs to allow them to get care in emergency” said Dr. Walker.
According to Dr. Walker, an estimated 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Over half that do are not enrolled in the VA system.
On this Memorial Day weekend, everyone at News Mississippi would like to salute our brave men and women who have fought so hard for things we so often take for granted. Thank you, may God bless you, and may God bless America.
