Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) -- A $1 million mobile medical clinic in use by the Dorn V.A. Medical Center could be a game changer for some of South Carolina's veterans.
It offers heart tests and exams for those who may have a tough time making it to the hospital in Columbia.
"This reminds me of an old time circus," said William Terry, 91, a veteran of World War II who served with the Marines and is now limited to a wheelchair.
Terry entered the mobile unit with help from a wheelchair lift on the side of the large, RV-sized mobile medical unit. The lift down was actually a lift up, because at 91, traveling can be tough.
"Less time on the road; we go to Dorn, it takes at least a day, and maybe two days to get it done," Terry said,
Terry has been confined to a wheelchair for the past two years, which is a far cry from the 3-and-a-half years he spent moving around as a Marine in the 40's.
But these days, it's his congestive heart failure that keeps him looking over his shoulder.
"You know to live to be 100: you get a good chronic disease like that, and take care of it," Terry joked.
But taking care of the disease is why time is now so much more important for him and his caretaker, Susan Rickenbaker.
"It cuts off almost an hour-and-a-half," Rickenbaker said. "We're in Denmark. That's really far."
"I'd rather come here and spend an hour then go to Dorn and spend a half a day," Terry added.
The mobile medical unit is on the road four days each week, and is serviced on Friday, a spokesman for the Dorn VA said. It's already logged more than 5,000 miles and seen 154 veterans since officially hitting the road last month.
For many of the veterans, it's not only about the time saved, it's the money, too.
"I use the transportation service to get here, and it's not as expensive as getting to Columbia," said Army veteran Eddie Chatman who served during the 1960's.
Chatman was at the unit getting an exam before a surgery and is reliant on services that provide transportation for the disabled.
"There are veterans all over the country and there needs to be adequate service for them," he said.
The mobile medial clinic travels to VA clinics in locations around the state. To make an appointment, you can call the Dorn VA and ask for their cardiology department or by clicking here or here.
