NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Christina Unrein, Nurse Manager with the Hutchinson VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic said they want to serve more veterans, all they have to do is walk in.
"We invite any veteran who is seeking health care to just walk on in any time," Unrein said. "We are open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All veterans who are looking for health care can come in, bring their DD-214, and we have front line staff there ready and available to help you get signed up to see if you're eligible for health care."
They serve over 2000 veterans at the clinic, providing primary care services, but they also will make sure you get connected with the specialists available at the Dole VA Center in Wichita, if you need them, or with other resources that are available to veterans.
"If you have a specialty care need, too, we will help collaborate those services for the veteran," Unrein said. "We take care of all their needs. We have homeless services available if you walk in. We have veterans that come in that haven't eaten in a few days that are living on the streets. If they walk in, we are absolutely going to take you by the hand and take you in and welcome you, get you some food. A lot of times we are buying meals for these guys and bring them in and we will set you up with the homeless care services program immediately to get them the services they need to get them off the streets."
The VA believes there are a lot more veterans entitled to benefits that live here that are not using them.
"We've got about 2000 right here in Reno County, but there's another 2300 in Reno County who are probably eligible for VA health care and have not registered with us," said spokesman Jeff Herndon. "We encourage you to get on the website va.gov. You can register for health care there. You can call, there's an 800 number on that website as well. If you entered active duty after October 16, 1981 and you served 24 months amd you were discharged honorably or under general conditions, then you are eligible for VA health care. If you are reserve or National Guard, you were called up on federal orders and served the full period for which you were called up, you too are eligible for VA health care. Not if it was just training, but if you were called up on to active duty and deployed, than you are, absolutely as a reservist or National Guardsman, eligible for VA health care."
The best way to find out is to come by with your forms or call 1 (888) 878-6881, extension 41100 to connect with the Hutchinson VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.