News
January 2010:
New VA facility
makes care more convenient for local
veterans
Since Rudy Cozad retired from the United
States Air Force in 1972, he has driven
more than 20 miles from his home in
Cranberry to receive medical care at
a Veterans Administration facility
in Butler.
However, since the opening
of a new VA outpatient clinic in Cranberry
Township in mid-December, Cozad only
has to travel around the corner for
his doctor visits
"It makes it a lot
easier, especially in the winter,"
said Cozad, who also volunteers at
the clinic to greet veterans and help
new patients get registered.
"Any of my friends
who are vets, I tell them, 'Hey, go
here.'"
With a staff of about
10, the Cranberry clinic, located in
Freedom Square, provides laboratory,
X-ray and women's health services in
addition to primary care.
Last week, a psychologist
and a social worker joined the team
to provide behavioral health services
to address conditions such as post-traumatic
stress disorder and veterans battling
substance abuse.
The clinic is run by
Valor Healthcare, a provider that contracts
with the VA to operate 22 outpatient
clinics in the United States, including
locations in Monaca and Greensburg.
Since the clinic opened
its doors Dec. 14, more than 300 patients
have enrolled.
VA Butler Healthcare
system has set an enrollment goal of
3,000 veterans as word continues to
spread about the clinic, said Ginny
Yelland, a VA Butler Healthcare health
systems specialist who coordinates
the community-based outpatient clinics.
Although many of the
Cranberry clinic's patients will be
veterans who previously traveled to
Butler for care, VA Butler Healthcare
anticipates that the convenience of
the location will draw more veterans
into the system for the first time.
"We're also hoping
that we'll attract the new veteran
who maybe hasn't come to the VA for
care in the past," she said.
The clinic has already
been pulling patients from Cranberry's
surrounding areas, including Beaver
County, Wexford and McCandless, said
Dr. Wayne Camper, the clinic's medical
director.
Many patients previously
traveled to Pittsburgh, Butler or Monaca
to access VA facilities.
"We're seeing a
lot of elderly, for who it's quite
the task to get to those locations,"
he said.
"I really hope that
we'll fill that void that's been there
for all veterans in this area."
by Meghan McNamara
Contributing Writer (yourcranberry.com)
January 14, 2010
