GOWANDA — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda recently added a Accesing Telehealth through Local Areas Station (ATLAS) through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The ATLAS site will host an open house event at the VFW location on 20 Sand Hill Road in Gowanda on Tuesday, July 13, at 11 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend the event.

This new ATLAS site gives those who receive care from the VA WNY Healthcare System the option to receive care closer to home, in a setting that feels more like a doctor’s office. The new ATLAS site in Gowanda will also offer both the necessary technology and privacy for veterans to meet with their VA care team through VA Video Connect, which is the VA’s secure video-conferencing app.

An additional benefit of ATLAS is that it enables the VA to provide services that don’t require hands-on exams, like mental health appointments, nutrition counseling, social work assistance, and select primary care visits. Having these methods of care closer to the homes of veterans is a priority, as it reduces obstacles and increases the access veterans have to these kinds of care.

“ATLAS brings VA care to Veterans by providing them with convenient access to telehealth in their communities,” said Dr. Neil Evans, chief officer for VA’s Office of Connected Care. “For Veterans who live in rural areas or with limited access to the internet, ATLAS sites can eliminate hours of travel time to the nearest VA facility — and provide Veterans with the high-quality care they deserve.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA has established protocols at ATLAS sites based on guidelines from the CDC and EPA. Following COVID-19 protocols and state guidelines will be the norm for the facility in Gowanda too.

“By availing our VFW posts to create ATLAS sites, we provide a familiar trusted resource for Veterans trying to navigate today’s health care system,” said Harold “Hal” Roesch II, VFW’s national commander. “Additionally, we have the opportunity to provide communities with the help they need during one of the most challenging health crises in our lifetime.”

The VA’s collaboration with Philips North America, the American Legion, VFW, and Walmart to establish ATLAS sites is greatly assisted by the Center for Strategic Partnerships.

ATLAS is part of VA’s Anywhere to Anywhere initiative, which works to better serve the more than 9 million Veterans who receive care through VA — no matter where they live. In addition to the Gowanda site, there are eleven other operational ATLAS sites across the country to include Asheboro, North Carolina; Athens, Texas; Boone, North Carolina; Eureka, Montana; Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Howell, Michigan; Keokuk, Iowa; Linesville, Pennsylvania; Los Banos, California; Springfield, Virginia; and Wickenburg, Arizona.