Last week, we broke down how VA’s surge in mental health staffers would help cut down on wait times and provide better care for our Veterans. The hiring will take place across the country, but one type of location was singled out: rural areas, where it has historically been difficult to recruit and retain health professionals.
One of the first facilities to announce a staffing increase is a rural area is the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. From the Lincoln Journal Star:
The VA’s Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System has been authorized to increase the size of its mental-health staff in Lincoln, Omaha and other locations by about 10 percent from the 106 positions it now has.
To meet the demand for mental health services, hiring for the open positions has been fast-tracked.
The national hiring boost will see 1,600 mental health clinicians and 300 support staff added to VA’s workforce, and most hires are anticipated to be complete within six months.
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I, too, am a veteran. For five years, I experienced the debilitating symptoms of fear, anxiety, and depression. Often these symptoms are diagnosed by physicians as panic attack disorder or anxiety disorder. In a constant state of anxiety and panic, I searched desperately for a way out of my forest of despair. Following what seemed to be an almost insurmountable degree of frustration and disappointment, I found the way to permanent recovery from my severe anxiety symptoms. I have created a website to help others, including fellow veterans. Please visit my website @ http://www.frompanictopeace.com for more information.
The hiring will be complete within 6 months? This, I have to see. I will mark it on my calendar and see what has happened by the end of the year. I am giving 100 to 1 odds that it won’t happen. Any takers?
Will a new VA care facility be built in Lebanon, Oregon 2014?
I am now useing the mental health, clinic @ the VA in Cleveland, they are just great. They help me through a siver depression. They are under staffed, but do a GREAT job.