July 2, 2014

PALO ALTO, Calif.—Congresswomen Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) and Jackie Speier (CA-14) will host a Town Hall Meeting on access to care at the Palo Alto VA Hospital on Monday, July 7th to provide veterans with the opportunity to ask questions and get answers about the VA’s health care appointment process. Eshoo and Speier will be joined by the Director of the Palo Alto VA, Lisa Freeman.

“Amid deeply disturbing revelations about delayed care of veterans throughout the nation and the scandal of information being manipulated, it is critically important to not only review wait times for care but also have veterans ask their own questions and have them addressed,” Eshoo said. “This Town Hall Meeting will provide a forum for veterans in our region to share their experiences with access to care at the Palo Alto VA, and, moving forward, help to develop even better systems to improve the VA hospital for our veterans.”

Speier stated, “The scandalous issue of VA employees in other states manipulating patient appointment lists to cover up long waiting times has damaged the credibility of the VA health care system. It doesn’t appear that this despicable behavior exists in Northern and Central California. But I want veterans who use VA hospitals and clinics in our area to have a chance to comment on the quality of the access to care they receive. I thank the VA Director for not only providing my staff with their insights on the challenges they face in caring for over 130,000 veterans, but also in agreeing to host a Town Hall Meeting at the hospital. “

Who:    
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18)
Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14)
Lisa Freeman, Director, VA Palo Alto Health Care System

What:    
Town Hall Meeting on access to care at the Palo Alto VA

When:    
Monday, July 7th
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Where:    
Building 101 in the Auditorium
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, Calif.

Note:    
Veterans seeking guidance on their personal circumstances with access to care will have VA staff available to them for consult. Comments will be limited to the difficulty or ease with which it takes to see VA health care personnel.

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