On Friday, VA Secretary Bob McDonald will meet with hundreds of health care journalists to discuss the progress VA is making to improve service to Veterans.

McDonald will participate in a newsmaker briefing at Health Journalism 2015, a conference hosted by the Association of Health Care Journalists, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues.

VA is making progress to ensure Veterans receive the care they need, when they need it and where they want to be seen. McDonald is expected to discuss the work that remains, as well as what VA has done to expand access to care for Veterans across the country.

On Thursday, conference attendees will have the opportunity to visit the VA Palo Alto Health Care System to see some of the innovative work employees at the facility are doing for Veterans. Featured are a demonstration of VA’s exoskeleton, which helps paralyzed Veterans walk, and Palo Alto’s Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, one of five specialized centers in the country designed to provide intensive rehabilitative care to Veterans and Servicemembers who experienced severe injuries.

Last fall, Sec. McDonald showed the exoskeleton to CBS News anchor Scott Pelley. Watch that video below.

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2 Comments

  1. DannyG April 24, 2015 at 12:27

    I think that Secretary McDonald is trying to focus the gamut of attention on the needs of the most seriously injured veterans. My back pains, PTSD, etc., in my opinion, can take a back seat to the needs of the those that have lost limbs, TBIs, & been paparalyzed. Overall, for a 60-yr-old man, I’m in pretty good shape. Take care of those who’s lives & physical abilities have been totally shattered first, while making sure that the rest of us are treated fairly, respectfully, & in a timely manner, please.

  2. Patrick jahnke April 23, 2015 at 17:30

    Put on ur combat boot get a shovel. Dump trucks it just PR , what about 1.4 billion cut 2016 for the va veterans congress and senators trying to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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