Area military veterans now receive more medical care close to home. The expansion of services is being spearheaded by the Van Zandt VA Medical Center.

One of the biggest complaints from local veterans in recent years,  is that they have to travel to the Pittsburgh VA hospital for many medical procedures. But, starting last fall, some of those exams and treatments returned to our region, and more are headed our way.

Vietnam Veteran  James Dagastino is receiving chemotherapy at the Van Zandt VA Medical Center. The Bedford man  used to spend a week every month at the Pittsburgh VA Hospital for the treatment.
Now  he makes the short trip to Altoona,  just five days a month.

“I can now be with my family when, if I’m  staying out there I didn’t get to see them. I get some things done around the house that I like to do,” he said.

Chemotherapy is just the first service Director Sigrid Andrew has brought back to the Van Zandt VA Medical Center.

Dr. Sam Magee, Interim Chief of Staff at the medical center adds, ” I think that’s one of the best services we’ve started because the patients, just by definition are weak, their immune system is suppressed. We’re cutting down on exposure to travel, exposure to other people.”

The facility recently added colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal  scopes, and pain management treatments, including spinal cord nerve blocks.

“I and the staff will show this community that we are relevant to the veterans in this community,” Andrew pledges.

Future expansion at the VA Medical Center includes cataract surgery. Specialties such as ear, nose and throat, orthopedics, and podiatry are  on tap at VA clinics throughout our region.