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VA hears from veterans about facility needs in Omaha

A decision about Omaha’s VA Medical Center is expected in late September or early October.

VA Chief of Staff Rob Nabors and Congressman Brad Ashford visited with a group of veterans Friday in Omaha. Last month, a report identified five possible options for the Omaha VA medical system. Those include renovations and additions at the current site in midtown, a new hospital, or purchasing and renovating the current Creighton University Medical Center.

Ashford says input from veterans is important to the process. He says a primary care clinic is a possibility.

"There are a lot of good reasons to do a clinic here. There are a lot of good reasons to do a clinic on this land. There’s land to do it. Veterans like coming here, and they have great health care."

The veterans who attended Friday’s meeting didn’t like the Creighton University Medical Center option. Crime in the neighborhood, available space, and parking were all cited as concerns.

Veterans who spoke at Friday’s meeting also urged officials to take womens’ health care, transportation, and families in to account when considering the options for a clinic or hospital.