Staff Writer
HOULTON — A Veterans Affairs administrator pledged support for a Houlton veterans’ clinic last week, but refused to offer any concrete dates on its arrival.
“What I’m saying is I’m going to stand up the Houlton clinic, but what I’m not saying is how soon,” said Brian Stiller, medical center director at Togus. “We have to look at what’s the best way to configure this and how we’re going to pull it off.”
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
TALKING ABOUT THE VETERAN’S CLINIC — Jim Burton, right, service officer for American Legion Post 47 in Houlton, talks with Jim Doherty, a representative from the Veterans Administration, about the possibilities of a one-day-a-week veterans’ clinic in Houlton. Burton, other members of the Bangor Road post and several local officials met with VA health care system administrators at Houlton Regional Hospital last week to discuss a proposed out-patient clinic for veterans.
Administrators with Veterans Affairs (VA) converged at Houlton Regional Hospital on Oct. 4 with local officials, representatives from the Maine’s congressional delegation, hospital officials and members of area veterans’ groups to talk about the need and what it would take to make the clinic a reality.
Members of American Legion Post 47 have long been campaigning for the local clinic, saying that veterans need care closer to home than Caribou or Togus. The post has generated support among area veterans, circulated surveys to gather data and most recently, garnered support from Houlton Regional Hospital when the hospital pledged to make space available for the proposed clinic.
But, according to Stiller, funding seems to be one of the major issues. Stiller, who visited Houlton in conjunction with a visit to the Caribou clinic the day before, said his staff appreciates the need for a closer-to-home clinic.
“But the reality is we only have so much money,” he said. “And we have to do as much as we can with that money.”
He also added that there’s minimal wait time for veterans seeking care in Caribou, but some veterans at the meeting expressed differences about that that fact. They also felt strongly about the numbers of veterans who would use a local clinic.
“We have numbers that say there’s more than enough for a one-day a week clinic in Houlton,” said John Wallace of Limestone, president of the Maine State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Jim Burton, service officer for the Bangor Street Legion post, said they’ve worked with the VA to help support the clinic.
“First of all, when we approached the VA, they said they had no building. So, we went out and bought a building,” explained Burton. “Meanwhile, the hospital got involved and offered a suite of office space.”
Burton said the VA then asked for numbers; that prompted the Post to issue surveys seeking input from area veterans.
“Within six weeks, we had over 800 [respond],” Burton added. “You asked for information and we bent over backward.”
Burton went on to say that there are also “4,500 veterans in New Brunswick — Canadian citizens — who joined our military and they deserve the same care.”
In the end, Stiller said he’d do what he could, but also asked for more local help in “educating veterans about all the services available.”
“I need help in getting the word out,” he added.
