From the desk of Kathy Benson, Towner County Veterans Service Officer
September 12, 2014 a group of Towner County Veterans traveled to Devils Lake to tour the new US Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) located on 3rd floor of Mercy hospital
Heather, one of the VA CBOC nurses, provided the 11 Veterans and 3 spouses a firsthand look at the clinic rooms and demonstrated how telehealth works through audio-visual technology by speaking with personnel at the Bismarck CBOC and seeing each other on screen. She also explained the process of accessing medical records digitally so that records from any of the other VA clinics can be reviewed by the doctors and staff at the Devils Lake CBOC location. Veterans will be able to access primary care, mental health and specialty services via telehealth. Currently some specialty exams will still require traveling to the Fargo VA Medical Center. At the end of the tour, Heather assisted several Veterans to make appointments for future exams. Family members and caregivers are welcome to accompany their Veteran to appointments, and with permission, participate in their healthcare.
The Devils Lake VA clinic is on 3rd floor of Devils Lake Mercy Hospital, 1031 7th St NE, Devils Lake, North Dakota and is open five days/20 hours a week, 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon, with qualified nursing staff on site. Dr. Erik Holton, MD licensed independent VA physician also will be on site periodically each month. To schedule an appointment, please call the Devils Lake CBOC directly at 662-5081.
Any Towner County Veterans needing transportation to the Devils Lake location, arrangements can be made with the Towner County bus.
For more information on Veterans benefits and healthcare, please call Kathy at the Towner County Veterans Service Office 968-4363. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 9 – noon or by scheduled appointment.