Millions of dollars are going into better understanding and treating health care issues of U.S. veterans living in remote areas.

Now, Plans are underway for a new V.A. clinic in one rural community.

Ed Sheffield from Taylor County was captured just a few days after the Korean War broke out, and was held captive for 37 months.

Sheffield said, "I got shot in the leg and I got stabbed in the back with a bayonet. Then they tied our hands behind us and beat us over the head with a butt of a rifle."

As you could imagine, he still needs medical and mental treatment.

Currently, Sheffield goes to the nearest V.A. clinics, which is about 50 miles to Tallahassee, or about 88 miles to Lake City.

But, that should change. The Department of Veterans Affairs says it is negotiating opening an extention V.A. clinic in Perry.

Taylor County resident Joe Collins is a Korean War Veteran. He said, "That would be wonderful because I can't say enough for V.A. medicine. My own personal experience is that the treatment is superb."

The clinic and other expansions will come from the $250 million that the V.A. department is providing to improve services specifically designed for veterans in rural and highly rural areas.

Local V.A. physicians, nurses, and research investigators have formed teams to develop and implement innovations such as tele-health technology and home based comprehensive care.

Collins said, "It's extremely important that they get taken care of for the sacrifices that they've done for our country."

Officials say the Perry Rural Health Outreach Clinic will serve about 900 veterans in Taylor County,

The V.A. will enter into a contract with a medical services organization to provide Primary Care and basic Mental Health Services.

The clinic will operate the equivalent of 3 days per week.

V.A. officials say the contract will be awarded by the end of the year. At this time they do not know where the clinic will be in the city.

The recent funding will also improve the department's transportation services to the Lake City and Gainesville clinics.