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VA clinic may be ready by 2011

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 12:40 AM Saturday, July 4, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Negotiations are continuing for the purchase of land for the construction of a new $2.3 million Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Middletown.

Donna Simmons of the Dayton VA Medical Center said a contract should be awarded in September.

Simmons said the VA expects to occupy the new clinic 18 months after that, or in early 2011. She did not know where the new clinic would be located.

City officials, who deferred most questions to VA officials, said some zoning inquiries have been made about properties on both sides of Interstate 75 and east of Dixie Highway.

Simmons said the expansion has been planned for about five years, when local VA officials saw a need for larger quarters to provide outpatient medical services for veterans in Butler and Warren counties.

An average of 2,500 veterans a year used the clinic from 2006 to 2008, Simmons said. She said from October 2008 to April 2009, more than 2,000 veterans had been seen.

The current 7,000-square-foot clinic at 675 N. University Blvd. opened July 6, 1998. There are 29 full- and part-time employees assigned there, ranging from physicians and nurses to office staff, Simmons said.

The new 18,510-square foot facility will allow the VA to provide additional services such as radiology as well as occupational and physical therapy, she said.

The Middletown clinic is one of four in the Dayton VA Medical Center network. The others are in Springfield and Lima, and Richmond, Ind. Among the services provided at the Middletown clinic are primary care, optometry, podiatry, a full-service laboratory and a pharmacy.

In addition, it provides outpatient mental health services, according to the VA’s Web site.

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Why didnt the V.A. just take over the old Hospital? Dont get me wrong a V.A. Hospital will be nice(since Im a Vet).

Keith
12:46 PM, 7/7/2009

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I hope they getg some people there who are a little more considerate to the older Vets. I saw some rude comments made to several older gentlemen up there . I also had a Dr that was totally impossible to understand what she was saying. I now go to Dayton for everything at least I have people that I can understand and they know whjat they are doing. All in all the Daytonm Va hospital is top notch in my books. I 'll not go back to Middletown unless they imnprove dramatacly

howard
9:53 AM, 7/5/2009

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