UMass Medical School is committed to improving veterans’ health services through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to reports in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Masslive.com and Charter TV3’s Worcester News Tonight.
“Our veterans shouldn’t have to drive by the front doors to our office (on their way) to go somewhere else for medical care,” Chancellor Michael F. Collins is quoted in the Jan. 15 Telegram story, speaking at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new veterans specialty clinic on the UMMS campus at 377 Plantation St. in Worcester.
The clinic, opening in March, will provide high demand services including podiatry, optometry and audiology. Audiology is a new service for Worcester area veterans, allowing them the opportunity to receive this important service locally, instead of traveling to other VA facilities in New England. UMMS also signed a contract with the VA to lease 15,000 square feet at the Ambulatory Care Center for veterans’ services. UMMS and the VA are actively pursuing other opportunities for greater collaboration and shared programs in the future.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald and U.S. Congressman James McGovern joined Chancellor Collins, Sen. Harriete Chandler, other local elected officials and representatives from the VA and UMMS at the ceremony. Secretary McDonald said the VA relies on partnerships with institutions such as UMass to deliver services to veterans.
