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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 7, 2004 VA decides domiciliary will remain open Staff and wire reports WHITE CITY — The Bush administration has decided to keep the Veterans Affairs domiciliary in White City open. Renamed the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, the center provides general medicine and mental health care to about 9,000 veterans in the Southern Oregon and Northern California region. About 400 people work at the dom. "They have to keep it open," said Vietnam veteran Jim Prevatt, a 23-year outpatient. "It’s an absolute must." But the 63-year-old Medford resident discounts President Bush’s role in the decision. "I wouldn’t say it was the Bush administration," he said. "As far as he’s concerned, he’d rather have it closed." Prevatt was one of many vets urging the administration to keep the center open over the past few months. "We just barely made it by the skin of its teeth," he said. Advertisement Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, was expected to make a formal announcement at the dom at 11 a.m. today. The Bush administration decision follows a VA advisory commission recommendation earlier this year that called for the agency to retain both inpatient and outpatient services at the center. As part of a restructuring of veterans services, the dom had been considered for possible closure or a reduction in services. The dom houses slightly more than 500 inpatients while serving more than 8,000 outpatients. "We, as a nation, have a social contract with our veterans, in recognition of their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country," said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a prepared statement. "Maintaining these health- care facilities means we’re keeping that promise." The administration also confirmed it will look at reducing the Vancouver, Wash., Veterans Affairs campus rather than abandoning it, and will explore ways to relocate some services there from the Portland veterans hospital. The administration withdrew a proposal to shut down the Walla Walla, Wash., veterans hospital, despite a commission’s recommendation that it close, The Associated Press learned. As part of a national restructuring review, Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi ordered a comprehensive study of the Walla Walla campus to determine how to improve care while maximizing use of federal resources. Principi planned to announce full details at a news conference today, but members of Congress and some veterans groups were briefed on the administration’s plan Thursday. Lawmakers in Washington state and Oregon had urged the administration to reject the proposal to close the hospital in the southeastern Washington city. "I am so relieved, for all the veterans and the whole community who worked so hard to make their voices heard," said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "It made a difference." Murray met with Principi on Thursday in a last-minute appeal to save the hospital and sent Bush a handwritten note last week. Nationally, the VA will close three hospitals and build two new ones and will add or remove services at dozens of other facilities, the AP has learned. On the Net: Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities