Women vets’ clinic addresses all health issues

Women vets’ clinic addresses all health issues


By Keith Purtell
Phoenix Staff Writer


With more female veterans returning home from military duties, the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center is putting greater emphasis on their outpatient women’s clinic.


U.S. Army veteran Aleatha Franco, 39, said she was a patient there for six years before she recently moved to McAlester.

“It’s a really good facility, especially for women with post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said. “For women who aren’t comfortable seeing men, it’s a good option.”

Franco said she had a friend who didn’t get treatment for combat-related stress.

“My friend committed suicide related to PTSD,” she said. “I hope that if family members see signs that there is a problem, I hope they will be more proactive. People should not be afraid to come in. We can join together and help each other.”

Franco said the clinic responds to all health issues, both physical and emotional, and treats all patients with respect.

“The VA in Muskogee really tries hard to be their best with all of that,” she said.

Susie Hartsell, manager for the Women Veterans Program said female veterans often have special needs.

“We want to reassure them that they’re safe in a protected environment,” she said. “A lot of them suffer from sexual abuse and mental issues that affects them if they have to go see a doctor and sit in a waiting room and be around a lot of men.”

Hartsell said 898 women are enrolled in the program and that the all-female staff sees 10 to 12 patients a day in the clinic.
go here for more
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/local/local_story_140013058.html