Robert Van Bommell’s phone has been ringing constantly since the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center announced it will reopen an around-the-clock emergency department.

Veterans, ranging from World War II to Iraq, have been calling the chief of health care administration to say, “Thank you very much. You do such a great job.” Van Bommell says he’s gotten goose bumps listening to the warmth of their overwhelming response.

Indeed, the V.A.’s recent announcement was certainly good news.

It’s been a year since Clinton “Foxx” Fuller, a Spokane veteran, died after arriving at the hospital with shortness of breath. The emergency department had closed for the day only five minutes before he arrived.

Earlier that summer, veterans were dismayed to learn the emergency department would no longer serve their needs 24 hours a day. And confusion reigned about exactly what services the V.A. emergency department offered.

Now, as the department returns to a 24-hour schedule, Van Bommell’s taking the opportunity to explain just what level of care veterans should expect.

The Spokane V.A. provides a Level 4 Emergency Department, which handles minor trauma, uncomplicated fractures, medical and psychiatric illness, lacerations and other urgent conditions.

Regular viewers of the television show “E.R.” may be justifiably confused. Just because the name of the V.A. department contains the word “emergency,” that doesn’t mean they should turn to it when they need life-saving treatment.

Van Bommell recommends people use their best judgment in deciding where to seek help. If they feel their lives are in danger – with symptoms such as chest pain, unconsciousness, severe bleeding or protruding broken bones – they should call an ambulance to head for one of the community’s trauma-level emergency rooms.

If they’re dealing with a brief illness that seems to be taking a turn for the worse, and they simply feel it’s time to see a doctor, the V.A. emergency department would likely be the right spot.

The V.A. also covers emergency room visits to other hospitals for certain qualified veterans.

We can best honor the service of our veterans by providing the health care they need. A 24-hour emergency department won’t treat their every ailment, but it’s a reassuring signal of this country’s respect for our region’s vets.