The Natchitoches Community Based Outpatient Clinic was filled to capacity Nov. 15, as area Veterans and their families attended a Town Hall meeting with VA officials from the Alexandria VA Facility. The officials, led by Mr. Peter Dancy, Director of the Alexandria VA Hospital, answered Veteran’s questions on a variety of topics from communication and pain management issues to the lack of a pharmacist and full time physician at the clinic. The director assured the audience that the clinic would have a physician on duty 3 days a week until a full-time replacement can be hired. Veteran’s prescriptions will be mailed to them.

The clinic falls under the management of the Alexandria VA Hospital and serves approximately 1,000 Veterans in the Natchitoches area, giving them a local option for medical services. The Town Hall Meetings are held every three months at different location throughout the Alexandria Hospital’s service area.

If you are a Veteran, or the widow of a Veteran, please contact Mr. Grant Bowden, our parish’s Veteran’s Affairs Officer at 318-357-3106. His office is located in the Natchitoches Council on Aging building. He is a state employee who works for the Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs. It is his job to help Veterans navigate the VA system and receive all of the benefits they are entitled to. All of his services are at no cost.