It would be helpful if Veterans Affairs officials in Washington, D.C,. worked a little closer with Waco officials trying to save their hospital.

It’s hard to imagine that any community would do more to support its VA hospital than we have here in Greater Waco.

From the moment nearly three years ago when Washington VA officials announced plans to shut down the Waco VA Hospital, veterans, residents and business, civic and government leaders in Waco have rallied to save their hospital.

On the good news side, the lengthy review process has allowed time for light to shine on the demand for the primary mental health service provided by the Waco hospital as wars are waged in Afghanistan and Iraq.

From the time when the Waco VA Hospital first opened its doors in 1932, it has specialized in helping veterans with mental health problems that have been referred to as “shell shock,” “battle fatigue” or post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s also good news that the review process has allowed time for the Texas Legislature to pass a resolution supporting the Waco VA Hospital and for Congress to name the Waco hospital as a “center of excellence” for mental health care, which has resulted in the authorization of additional funding to study post-traumatic stress disorder at the Waco hospital and at Fort Hood.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, was able to add $3 million to an appropriations bill to fund the PTSD study last year and add another $3.5 million to continue the same study this year.

Also, in the nearly three years since the VA first announced plans to shutter the Waco hospital, VA officials have shown a willingness to change their minds.

The Waco hospital and 17 other VA hospitals nationwide were put on the chopping block in the summer of 2003. VA officials announced earlier this year that they are removing the Big Spring VA hospital from further consideration for closure.

That decision offers hope for Waco.

On the bad news side, the longer it takes VA officials to make a decision, the more difficult it becomes for supporters of the local hospital to put together proposals to occupy the empty buildings on the Waco campus.

The Waco VA Task Force has found and lost prospective tenants for some of the empty buildings on the campus during the lengthy time that the hospital’s future has been up in the air.

The drawn-out process makes it difficult to hold the community together.

Edwards has urged local hospital supporters to continue to look for ways to partner with the hospital. That’s good advice. It also would be good if the VA officials would offer specific guidance and keep the review process on track.

No community is willing to work harder or do more to support its VA hospital and veterans than Greater Waco.