NJ Lawmakers push for veterans' hospital in South Jersey

From the Star-Ledger, June 17, 2009.

TRENTON: Expressing the belief that we have to do better on behalf of the military veterans that have served our country, Senators Jeff Van Drew and Christopher Connors Tuesday announced bipartisan efforts to push for a South Jersey health care facility to meet the health care needs of the region's military veterans.

The lawmakers are asking that the federal Veterans' Administration (VA) look into establishing a health care facility at the former Kessler Hospital site - which is currently being used as an emergency care clinic by AtlantiCare - in order to create a regional health care center to address the medical needs of the region's large veteran population.

"This effort isn't about political ideologies or personal beliefs about the ongoing conflict in Iraq, but rather about giving something back to those people who've given so much for our nation.," said Van Drew (D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic). "With South Jersey's large number of military veterans, including a large number who've recently completed their military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's time we had our own VA health care center in the region."

Military veterans living in southern New Jersey are many times forced to travel to veterans' hospitals in Wilmington, Philadelphia or North Jersey to get the sort of medical treatment they need. While the VA has established small clinics in Ventnor, Cape May and Vineland, these facilities are only equipped to perform certain types of outpatient medical services, and are often overwhelmed by the large number of veterans seeking care.

"Being forced to travel long distances in order to receive health care services continues to have a negative impact on the quality-of-life for veterans living in this part of the state, especially for those individuals who require extensive medical treatment," said Connors (R-Ocean, Burlington and Atlantic). "Our Delegation will continue to work closely with officials at our levels of government to address this very serious issue that affects a great portion of the veterans living in our state."