Telehealth brings VA care to Demopolis

With veterans and supporters looking on, the Veterans Administration Medical Center of Tuscaloosa officially opened the telehealth unit inside Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Tuesday with a ribbon cutting.

“I think this is great for our veterans as well as the community,” said John Merkle, director of the VA Center.

He credited Demopolis Mayor John Laney for spearheading the drive to bring the service inside. Until last month, veterans were seen in the Medical Mobile Unit that set up in the hospital parking lot.

Merkle said the VA Office of Rural Health has contacted him to ask how the Tuscaloosa facility got the unit going so it can use the Demopolis success as a model at other VA hospitals.

In addition to Demopolis, the VA now is located in the hospital in Hamilton. The mobile unit will be used in other rural areas to reach more veterans, said Merkle.