Only on ABC-7: Changes coming to Borderland veteran care
New details have emerged about changes to the borderland’s Veterans’ Affairs health care system. Officials told ABC-7 that the changes will better serve and protect those who do the same for our country.
ABC-7 spent Veterans Day researching, gathering data and asking questions that former and current military members in the community want answered.
In a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, the acting director of the El Paso VA Health Care System gave ABC-7 a progress report on efforts to improve security at VA clinics, the status of new clinics in the area and how the VA is working to reduce how long it takes a veteran to see a doctor.
Gail Graham, who became the acting director in June, said the VA is in the process of creating its own police force so armed guards will be present at all clinics. Currently, security guards are hired through contracts with private and independent vendors, and do not carry firearms. Graham said a small number of certified VA officers are already on the job in El Paso. As the force gets larger, the contracted guards will be repositioned.
ABC-7 learned that the decision to create a VA police force was made before the deadly shooting at the VA clinic within the William Beaumont Army Medical Center complex last Jan. 8. Jerry Serrato, a VA patient, shot and killed Dr. Timothy Fjordbak before fatally shooting himself.
In Las Cruces, security also became a concern in January when a VA patient allegedly threatened to kill his doctor during a disagreement over medication. Graham confirmed that new panic alarms have since been installed in all receptionist areas in the Las Cruces clinic.
Federal investigators have said that the violence and threats come from frustrated veterans who sometimes wait months to see a doctor at a clinic or hospital. El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke released findings of a VA study earlier this year showing on average, an El Paso veteran waits up to 71 days to see a doctor, and that 77 percent of those in need of a mental health care appointment waited more than two weeks to see a doctor.
To help ease veterans’ frustration, Graham told ABC-7 the VA is building two new clinics. Two will be built in El Paso, bringing the total of clinics to four, and a second VA clinic will be built in Las Cruces. ABC-7 asked Graham when the clinics would be fully operational, and she said she will try to get that information as soon as possible.
Graham also told ABC-7 that Ft. Bliss soldiers and veterans with sleep issues will soon get specialized help through a new sleep center at Beaumont AMC.
