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Paramount to the Mission and purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs is the provision of health care to every Veteran, as voiced in the VA motto, borrowed from the text Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, alluding to care "for him who has borne the battle and his widow and his orphan." The speech, aimed toward mending the nation's civil war divisions, included the words in the final paragraph:
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
VA is dedicated to making every effort to providing quality, effective health care to Veterans wherever they are. In doing so, it is also critical that when Veterans require care, it is available to them at the time of need and as close to them as possible.
Several initiatives have been implemented to ensure Veterans receive the care they need, unencumbered by distance and at a level of effectiveness equal to or better than they might receive elsewhere in their community. From the establishment of sites of care to curtail the time it takes for Veterans to reach health care assistance and utilizing network capability to rely on matching patients with capable specialists anywhere in the VISN for necessary procedures and consults, to leveraging cutting edge technology that brings access to care closer to home than ever. In fact, in many cases it means that Veterans actually receive care without leaving the confines of their homes for services that once called for visits to VA facilities.
Access / Drive Time
Areas outside the white highlighted sections are outside 30 minutes' drive from a VA facility. VISN 6 has initiated several programs that enhance access to care for Veterans, with special concentration on provision of care to individuals living in those remote portions of the network.
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