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MARQUETTE COUNTY - With assistance from the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22 and a Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency veteran service officer, veterans and their loved ones with limited access to reliable technology can now attend Veterans Benefits Administration-contracted compensation and pension exams via telehealth services in fully equipped telehealth rooms at Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti and Escanaba Vet Center.
"Every veteran deserves access to the care and services they have earned," said MVAA director Terry J. Sabo. "By providing accessible, private spaces and the necessary technology for telehealth appointments, we continue to reinforce our commitment that no veteran is left behind."
The collaboration was initiated by a MVAA VSO who recognized a recurring barrier many veterans living in the Upper Peninsula face when trying to receive their earned U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Due to the limited number of VBA contracted examiners, veterans living in the U.P. are experiencing longer wait times for compensation and pension exams compared with other parts of the state.
"I spoke with a Vietnam War-era veteran who has waited over three months for an in-person appointment," MVAA VSO Eric Martin said. "This idea came to me when I asked the veteran if he was open to a telehealth visit and he said he would be willing to if he had his own computer or smartphone."
After connecting with the director of the Escanaba Vet Center and the administrator for MVH D.J. Jacobetti, Martin was able to secure private rooms at their facilities. The Escanaba Vet Center was able to provide their own computer for veterans to use, and Martin began working to secure technological necessities for the MVH D.J. Jacobetti space. With a generous donation from DAV Chapter 22, he was able to purchase laptop computers, headsets and cases.
The initiative addresses the growing need among veterans who face barriers to virtual health care, ensuring they can access proper medical consultations, mental health services and other essential care in a timely manner.
"This is an example of identifying a problem that may not affect a lot of people, but for those that it does, it can be significant," Martin said. "By collaborating with community partners, I was able to quickly and efficiently render a solution for veterans in the U.P."
The telehealth rooms are currently available for veterans and their dependents to access.
To schedule an appointment at the Escanaba Vet Center, call 906-233-0244. To schedule an appointment at MVH D.J. Jacobetti, contact Eric Martin at 906-458-7133 or email MartinE19@Michigan.gov.
Find a VSO near you by going to Michigan.gov/VSO.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, the MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about the MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading the FY25 Annual Report.