SPOKANE — Some military veterans are concerned that reduced hours at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s emergency room could delay access to health care and lead to higher medical bills.
About 20 veterans expressed concerns Monday during a town hall meeting in the wake of the VA’s elimination this month of full-time emergency care. The medical center’s emergency care is now available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for walk-ins and referrals.
The Spokesman-Review reported Tuesday that the VA is also no longer accepting patients who need to be delivered by ambulance. Those cases are sent to other hospitals.
Chief of Medicine Dr. Kimberly Morris says the VA lost four of five ER doctors in the past 10 months. She says the goal is to restore full ER care by spring.
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