SENATORS JOHN ENSIGN and Harry Reid today [June 19, 2007] announced the opening of an outreach clinic for Elko veterans. The clinic will treat veterans' primary and mental healthcare needs through face-to-face visits, two days a week, at the current telehealth clinic location. Elko veterans must currently travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, for many services not provided at the telehealth clinic in Elko.

"This new outreach facility will provide Elko and nearby veterans with better, more convenient access to medical services," said Ensign, a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. "This is the next step toward getting Elko a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, and I encourage all veterans to enroll in this system to demonstrate the demand for veterans' care in the community. Veterans in Elko County, and across the country, deserve the best health care possible. This benefit was earned as a result of their selfless sacrifice to our nation."

"This is great step forward to ensure veterans both in and out of Elko County have the care they deserve," said Reid. "If the current outreach clinic doesn't meet veterans needs, I will continue working with the VA to make sure they fully understand what services are required for those who have defended our freedom. Senator Ensign and I will revisit the issue again in the future to determine if our veterans have the sufficient care they so desperately need. "

Currently, only a small number of the thousands of veterans in Elko County are utilizing the limited veterans healthcare services because of the travel distance required to access these benefits. As local veterans increase the use of local services, greater demand will bring more resources. The outreach clinic is scheduled to be open two days a week, but hours of operation and services provided can be expanded if demand increases.