VA press release about mobile health care

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VA Mobile Health Care Clinics Reach Rural Veterans Service Coming to 24 Counties in Six States
WASHINGTON (Aug. 27, 2008) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) isrolling out four new mobile health clinics outfitted to bring primarycare and mental health services closer to veterans in 24 predominatelyrural counties, where patients must travel long distances to visit theirnearest VA medical center or outpatient clinic."VA is committed to providing primary care and mental health care forveterans in rural areas," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. JamesB. Peake.
"Health care should be based upon the needs of patients, nottheir ability to travel to a clinic or medical center."The pilot project is called Rural Mobile Health Care Clinics. It features a recreational-type vehicle equipped to be a rolling primarycare and mental health clinic.
VA is currently in the process of procuring and outfitting the vehicles,and officials expect the mobile clinics to be operational by early 2009.
Rural areas in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming will share a single mobilevan, while Maine, Washington state and West Virginia will each have a VAmobile van.
The clinics are planned to serve:
* Colorado: Larimer, Jackson, Logan, and Weld counties;
* Maine: Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis counties;
* Nebraska: Cheyenne, Kimball, and Scottsbluff counties;
* Washington state: Greys Harbor, Mason, and Lewis;
* West Virginia: Preston, Randolph, Upshur, Wetzel, Roane, andTaylor counties; and,
* Wyoming: Albany, Carbon, Goshen, and Platte counties.
Factors considered in the selection of the participating sites includeda need for improved access in the area, the degree to which clinics willexpand services and collaborations with communities the clinics serve.