MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Changes are coming as to where Mid-South veterans can get their medical care.
A new facility is set to open in the Nonconnah Commercial Park on Nonconnah Boulevard near the airport.
An empty building will be renovated into a primary care facility.
“They say I got diabetes now. They checking up on me,” said Sam Taylor Jr., a Marine who served in Vietnam.
Taylor is one of the thousands who visit the Veterans Affairs main campus on Jefferson, and he said changes make him uneasy.
“It will be a long way for me cause I stay up here on Hollywood then I gotta catch the bus and go down there. Then it takes the bus all day long just to get there,” said Taylor.
The VA is releasing few details about the proposed primary care facility.
An estimated $2.5 million is expected to be poured into the empty building.
“I mean veterans they need the VA, gotta have it,” said Justin Cummings who was visiting the VA Monday.
While nationally the VA has faced scrutiny, it’s no secret the Memphis chapter has been under fire too.
In January 2015, a report from the Office of Inspector General was released citing the Memphis VA Center for 27 issues including expired medications on crash carts, and for having missing dates and signatures on the daily inspection logs from 2014.
In late February of this year William Mills was appointed as the new director because of under performance at the center.
While veterans WREG talked to Monday had plenty of frustrations to express, they’re hoping for some good news.
“You know there obviously needs to be come big changes. I know they just got a new director and hopefully that’s a step in the right direction,” said Cummings.
The VA said they hope to be completed with renovations by late Summer or early fall but no official word yet on when it will open.
