The Union County Veterans Affairs office will be receiving a van from VA Central Iowa Healthcare System’s Hospital to help transport local veterans to and from doctor appointments.
For years, local veterans have been transported from Union County to Des Moines by five volunteers, who are veterans, and Kevin Provost, Union County Veterans Affairs director. Not only does the service add wear and tear to their personal vehicles, they front the money to cover gas expenses and spend their entire day to ensure their fellow service men and women can get the care they need.
Provost, a veteran himself, dedicates his own time to drive other veterans to their doctor appointments.
“The only bad things is, that if I drive, then I have to close the office,” said Provost.
Currently, the Union County VA office has a hold on receiving the van due to the extensive process for the volunteers.
“It’s an extensive process, but it will be well worth it in the long run,” said Provost
Drivers must go through a physical exam, background check, get fingerprinted, and have an ID card in order to drive the van.
The VA office transports seven to 15 veterans every month to Des Moines. Once the VA office receives the volunteers’ ID cards, the Union County VA office will receive the van and continue to transport veterans.
Provost had the opportunity to speak to state senator Joni Ernst about local veterans’ lack of access to health services in February. In that conversation, he told her about the need for a community-based outreach clinic, or CBOC, in south central Iowa.
These clinics provide common services like health visits without having to go to a larger medical facility. The nearest CBOC clinic to Creston is in Shenandoah.
“It would be ideal to have one here in town, but even to have one in Osceola would be a lot easier,” said Provost. “We’ll see. That’s still a long ways along.”