In the Spring of 2008, I noticed that Several Military Veterans, would have complaints, about "having to travel a long distance to a VA Medical Facility...to be provided Medical Care, etc...so, in time, I had the Opportunity to Talk with U.S. Congressman, Senator James Inhofe & Congressman Dan Boren, about this Issue of Health...thus,

The Rural Veterans, Access to Care Act, 2008, came about...which provides a Veteran, a "Closer to Home" Medical Care Plan...

In the Past Couple of Years, it seems that I've become an Advocate, on Behalf of U.S. Military Soldiers / Veterans / Widows of Veterans & Their Family Members...thus I have Taken A Great Interest, in getting Better & More ...Extended Medical Services...Improvements, Made...on Behalf of the Quality of Care...for Our Veterans...

THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS...THAN THE BEST THERE IS TO OFFER...A SOLDIER..WHO HAS FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT...TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS, HERE IN AMERICA.!!

I have seen another Need, for Which I Have Just Presented An Idea, to the Same two Congress Persons...Who Are Our Voice in Congress.

There is a Veteran I know, who has a Pacemaker, & through this acquaintance with this Veteran...I see a Need for some Updated Services, for Our Veterans who have Pacemakers.

It seems, that a Pacemaker, has to be "calibrated, monthly" by Telephone...the Type of Phone, that has a Cradle Receiver.

I've sent a Request to the Above Mentioned U.S. Congressmen...that ANY MILITARY SOLDIER, WOUNDED / DISABLED, BE PROVIDED WITH A "MOBILE (CRADLE-TYPE) PHONE" EQUIPMENT, that has an adapter, for a vehicle or for use by electric...landline phone service...

so that "the Pacemaker, & equipment" can "travel wherever the Veteran goes"...so that the Calibration to the Pacemaker...can be done at any location, where the Veteran may be.

A Calibration to a Pacemaker, is usually done, by a Company, which is located, several States Away.

The Veterans in this part of Oklahoma, get their Pacemakers, Calibrated by an Agency in California...& it's all done by / with the "cradle-type phone service".

The Pacemakers, are usually established, to Alert the VA or another Medical Facility...Hospital, if the Pacemaker, Does Not "kick in" properly, to pick up the heart beats...to keep the person alive.

One Veteran who does have a Pacemaker, stays busy as a Mechanic, repairing vehicles, tractors, trucks, etc....& if he "bends over a hood of the vehicle, with the motor in operation, the Pacemaker, might alert the VA or the other location...that the pacemaker, has just Kicked Off"...& it can be Restarted Automatically...

Sometimes the Veteran, will need to travel to the nearest Medical Facility, to be examined, for any Malfunction of the Pacemaker...when the Alert has made contact with the Medical Center, where the Pacemaker is Registered.

Just because the Pacemaker, beeps the Medical Facility...to Alert Them, of a Malfunction, Does Not Always Mean, that the Life of the Veteran is endangered.

With the Use of a Mobile Phone Unit, the Veteran can Be Assured, that the Medical Facility, can "talk Directly with the Veteran" & Not Have to Go Thru a Neighbor or Friend...or a Relative...by with the Veteran !!

A Veteran, Should Have Every Opportunity, to Address His / Her Own Medical Health Issues, for as Long as They Have the Capacity to Do So.

Just this week, I counseled with a Veteran who has a Pacemaker, & stated to him, that "the first person to call, when that Veteran, has a Need for Medical Care, is the Homehealth Nurse, who is a Professional at Nursing Skills, & can determine whether there is a Need to Travel 30 / 50 / 100 Miles, to the Nearest VA Medical Center...& the Veteran be "worn out, physically" before they can travel to & from the Medical Facility, when there is a Medical Facility & a Local Physician..."CLOSER TO HOME"...

& this is exactly what that Veteran did, the next time, he "felt ill"...& he felt much more comfortable, being examined in his home...by a person, he is familiar with, rather than be confronted with a person...who is a total stranger.

There must be other parts of life, & other items of Medical Equipment, that is Needed by Our Veterans, so that Their Life, Can Be More Comfortable & Serene, as Possible...& I hope others, will take an interest in Advocating on Behalf of Veterans, so that They Can Be Assured that "Their Best Interest" is Taken into Consideration.

This Message has been brought to you, by Hazel Davis, the Founder of The San Bois Mountain-Valley Veterans Association of Oklahoma, Inc., a Non-Profit Organization...established to Provide Guidance, Counseling, Assistance to Military Soldiers / Veterans & Their Family Members, no matter where they are located.                               (Hazel Davis, bojacks1@yahoo.com)