Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today the upcoming Grand Opening Ceremony of the Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Emporia, Virginia on Wednesday, September 8^th, 2010.  The Emporia veterans outpatient clinic, which Congressman Forbes has worked to establish since 2003, will significantly reduce travel distance to the nearest VA hospital and increase access to healthcare for veterans across the Fourth Congressional District. Forbes will serve as the keynote speaker, and will be joined by Charles Sepich, Director of the Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center in Richmond, at the ceremony.

WHO: Rep. J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Charles Sepich, Director of the Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center (Richmond)

WHAT: The grand opening ceremony of the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Emporia will mark the arrival of localized, high-quality VA healthcare services to the Fourth District.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 8^th at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Emporia CBOC, 1746 East Atlantic Street, Emporia, VA 23847

The state-of-the-art clinic will focus not only on providing primary treatment but also prevention of disease, early detection, and health promotion. Among the services offered by the Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be acute and chronic disease management, mental health services, pharmacy consultations, and social services.  The clinics also feature a health records system that allows the clinic to review patient records that may be stored at other VA facilities across the country.

Since 2003, Forbes has pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs on establishing a veteran’s outpatient clinic in the Fourth Congressional District. As of the 2000 census, the Fourth District has a 17% veteran population, yet has no veteran’s center, outpatient clinic, or medical center. Currently, the nearest community based outpatient clinic for Fourth District veterans is located in Virginia Beach. The McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond serves veterans in the Tri-cities region.

Congressman Forbes is Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee. He has established a Fourth District veteran’s advisory group that focuses on issues of key concern to local veterans and their families, including the issue of access to veterans outpatient clinics. For more information on Congressman Forbes’ work on veterans issues, visit http://forbes.house.gov/issues/veterans.htm.