Letter from Tom Zampieri
Hello Clyde,
GREAT WEB SITE, and appreciate the work of setting this up! I will try to send out more legislative items, so you can get them posted on this site. One thing that is going on currently that should make members very happy is that VHA has released the locations of new outpatient low vision and blind rehabilitative programs, for the country. The implementation of the Full continuum of care is going to be over a three year period, but eventually about 54 VA medical centers that currently have no specialized blind outpatient services or staff other than a VIST will have full funding from Washington to establish these new programs.
The important thing is that Richmond VAMC will get a full VISOR outpatient advanced blind training program with extra staffing, Baltimore VAMC will get a VICTORS Intermediate Low Vision Optometry program, to enhance services for veterans needing low vision care and magnification devices. Hampton should be approved for a new BROS full time position, and Washington DC VAMC will get a VISOR program, although there are some issues about space and staffing so I suspect it might take a while before that is decided.
Because VHA is trying to get the VISN network directors, medical center directors, and all the various blind centers to work cooperatively on the implementation of this thing, the locations approved are in the process of finding space, equipment, and then hiring staffing so some of these new programs might be started in FY 2009 or even FY 2010. While not perfect, the additional $45 million being spent over three years is a huge investment towards improving the outpatient access for thousands of blind and low vision veterans who currently have limited options of either going long distances to a blind inpatient center, or having no care. Blinded Veterans Association has worked for the past three years to secure the funding for these programs, and to get VHA to approve them. The current Under Secretary of Health, Dr. Kussman is fully committed to implementation of 11 new VIST full time positions, and 11 new BROS full time positions during FY 2008 plus a variety of these other new VICTORS and VISOR programs in each network.
Great web site, and if you have any questions on things going on up here let me know.
Tom Zampieri
Blinded Veterans Association
Washington DC
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