Aug 22, 2003 4 min read

I have heard and read various pros and cons concerning Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a program called Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES). CARES is a process designed to enable the VA to more effectively use its resources to deliver health care to more veterans where veterans need it most.

This program is designed to do three things: assess veterans needs for healthcare in any given region, identify the best options to provide that care and, most importantly, realign the infrastructure.

Most veterans have labeled this a hospital-closing process, but that is not what CARES is designed to do. It is designed to take a look at VA’s vast infrastructure and make some sense out of how they can improve the level of care.

However, individuals have taken phrases, studies and written reports out of context and are often misleadingly edited. Yes, the VA does need to shorten the time it takes a veteran to get an appointment at the VA Medical Center. Hopefully, by having more community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC), this would provide access to quality healthcare to a large number of qualified veterans who need it. That is what the CARES commission is trying to do, find the best solution to these problems.

If expanding healthcare means consolidating hospitals or converting them to an extended-care or assisted-living complex, or closing hospitals down and using the resources to build a bigger and better medical center with more programs, and more CBOC, then I say let the CARES commission do its job. These decisions will be made with the input from the various veterans organizations and Congress.

Correspondence received from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission, Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (VISN-4), and federal levels have all expressed support for a CBOC in Fayette County. CARE is underway with a scheduled completion date of December 2003.

Because of the various veteran workshops held throughout Fayette County, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) agrees that the veterans in Fayette County would benefit from the CBOC in our area. This initiative was included in the VISN-4 draft western plan submitted to VA Central Office. A final decision regarding the establishment of a Fayette County CBOC is pending.

You can follow the CARES process by visiting the Web site at www.va.gov/CARES

. Also, there is a CARES commission meeting, which is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 27, in the auditorium (Building 8) of the VAPHS Highland Drive division.

Veterans, you should attend this meeting, which will provide you additional information on the status of the CARES process in our area.

James R. Smith

Fleet Reserve Association

Hopwood

Mayor neglects to clean the city?

When Mayor Jim Sileo was campaigning, he promised to get the citizens of Uniontown to clean up their property. Politicians. All talk – no action.

Has he ever driven down West Coffey Street? Probably not – otherwise he’d notice a health and fire hazard. The residents of this street have called, but it’s all apparently falling on deaf ears. The city’s biggest excuse is not being able to find the owner. Ever think of tracking him down by his Social Security number at the courthouse? I invite either the mayor or code enforcement officer Myron Nypaver to sit on my porch to relax after a hard day at work. See if you can stand the stench that comes from this house, especially when it’s humid.

On top of this, homeless people are seen at night walking around with candles. To me, that’s a good ingredient for a fire hazard. Inside and out, roaches and all sorts of trash. More ingredients for a health hazard.

With winter approaching, I’m sure it will necessitate bonfires by the homeless to keep warm. Again, more worrying about a possible major fire hazard.

Of course, you two don’t have to worry about these sorts of things. I’m sure if this house were on either one of your streets it would have been torn down in a second.

Believe it or not, there are some tax-paying citizens on this street. Who can afford to move? It’s time to get off your butts, and start doing what you were elected to do.

Elizabeth Bator

Uniontown