Veterans Administration officials say services at the troubled central Alabama VA health care facilities are improving, with more staff and shorter waits for new patients to get an appointment.
The VA's Southeast director, Charles Sepich, said the goal is to rebuild veterans' trust.
A VA report in June said the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System had an average wait time for new patients of 75 days. That was the seventh-worst nationally. Acting Director Robin Jackson says that was down to 48 days by Sept. 1. That was accomplished, in part, by expanding clinic hours in Montgomery, Tuskegee and Columbus, Georgia.
Jackson and Sepich say 20 employees were added to the 1,500-member staff this month and 33 will join in October.