New Armstrong VA clinic met with approval
Armstrong County's expanded and relocated VA community-based outpatient clinic received a warm welcome Thursday.
“This is nice,” said 89-year-old William Sheasley as he stood outside the new facility. “They've got more room for us now.”
The Navy veteran from Manor Township was one of many to tour the 8,000-square-foot facility. The clinic was packed elbow to elbow from about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with veterans and members of the public who turned out for an open house.
A ceremony at the site Thursday kicked off the open house at 11 a.m. Speakers included local VFW commanders and VA administrators.
The relocated clinic opened Sept. 17.
For about five years, it was housed in the second story of the Klingensmith's Drug Store on Ford Street in Ford City, according to Tim Florian, manager of the Butler-based VA's regional clinics.
“From a sheer facility perspective, I can't imagine what a change this is for the veterans,” he said.
As Jim Ramage took a respite from the crowd in a reception area, the 79-year-old Air Force veteran chuckled about how the free lunch was behind the event's large turnout. Joking aside, he said the new clinic's size and location make it easier for veterans to receive services.
“It's very convenient access,” he said. “Ford City was convenient, too. But it was crowded.”
Ramage praised the center's expanded services, too.
“It makes things available that weren't available before,” he said.
Among its new offerings are a part-time podiatrist, a pharmacist to perform in-depth consultations with patients and, down the road, acupuncture and chiropractic practitioners for pain management.
The new clinic includes 13 staff — compared to four, at the most, at the old center, Florian said.
Its expanded offerings will likely cut down on long trips to Butler or Pittsburgh.
It is run by Kentucky-based Valor Health Care.
“The whole point is for veterans to receive care in their community,” said Dr. Scott Wise, the chief operations officer at Valor.
“This shows veterans the VA is willing to step up to the plate,” Wise said. “We want veterans to walk into a clinic like this and say, ‘woah — this is for us.'”
Valor was awarded a contract to provide services to three VA outpatient clinics, including Armstrong's. The others include locations in Clarion and Cranberry.
Officials could not provide details on the bid amount or how much it cost to build the clinic.
ACMH Hospital in East Franklin contracted with the VA to run the clinic until this year. The hospital did not bid on the contract.
VA still works with ACMH. The hospital is available to provide some services, like critical care, Florian said.
Julie E. Martin is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1315 or jmartin@tribweb.com.
