photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Van driver Adell Wallace right, shows WWII veteran John D. Tolbert the new van he is using to drive veterans to doctors appointments in Dallas.

1. VA makes little headway in fight to shorten waits for care
2. Lengthy wait times persist at Texas VA medical facilities

The task of getting East Texas veterans to doctors’ appointments in Dallas just got a little bit easier.

Until recently, veterans could secure transportation to and from Dallas only two days a week.

But with the addition of two vehicles — a 14-passenger bus and a 10-passenger van — and a driver, transportation is available five days a week.

“This is (going to) be terrific now because the bus runs Monday through Friday so this is (going to) be a big help,” said World War II Navy veteran Sidney Kahn, 89, of Tyler, who has used the service.

Although some health issues can be treated at the Veterans Affairs Primary Care Clinic in Tyler, many of the treatments must be conducted in Dallas. Getting there can sometimes be a challenge for older residents, whose family members may live far away or work full-time.

“Without that van, I would have to get somebody to take me and then if you miss your appointment (it’s) liable to be two months” before you can get in for another one, said World War II Army veteran John D. Tolbert, 90, who has used the transportation system.

Debra Christian, the commander of the Disabled American Veteran Auxiliary Texas District 2, said the bus, which the VA North Texas Health Care System purchased, seats 14 passengers.

It has a wheelchair lift, space for two wheelchairs, and, if needed, stretchers. It has outlets at each seat so passengers can plug in electronic devices if needed on the trip.

A driver hired by the VA North Texas Health Care System makes the round trips between Tyler and Dallas.

The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation, which began in Tyler, and Monte Hall, general manager of Hall Buick GMC, donated the 10-passenger van to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 6 in Tyler.

That van will be used to transport veterans from rural East Texas communities to the outpatient clinic in Tyler where they will board the bus for Dallas.

The bus will be leave for Dallas at 6 a.m. five days a week. But volunteers are needed to drive earlier than that to pick up people in the rural areas and get them to the Tyler VA clinic.

Penny Kerby, public affairs specialist with the VA North Texas Health Care System, said improving access to care for rural veterans has long been a priority for the VA.

Some of the ways the agency has addressed this include providing community-based outpatient clinics to ensure veterans are within 30 miles of VA services and offering telehealth technologies that monitor certain health conditions remotely, Ms. Kerby said through email.

Now, by providing daily transportation to and from Dallas for Tyler area veterans, the VA has gone one step further in this process.

“Knowing a free ride is available every day will help veterans keep their appointments and have more access to VA care,” Ms. Kerby wrote.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities transporting rural East Texas veterans to and from the Tyler VA clinic, contact Ms. Christian with the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary at 903-372-2652 or Bobbie Kay Scoggins with the VA North Texas Health Care System at 214-857-0428.

The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 6 of Tyler meets at 6 p.m. March 6 at 134 N. Glenwood Blvd.