New VA clinic to be built near Atrium

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 3:31 PM Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Another medical facility will soon be constructed near the Atrium Medical Center campus on North Union Road.

The new $2.3 million Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic in Middletown will be located at 4300 N. Union Road adjacent to the Atrium campus, according to Donna Simmons, spokeswoman for the Dayton VA Medical Center.

Simmons said the VA expects to occupy the new clinic in 18 months, or in early 2011.

“We are very excited about awarding a contract to construct a new VA Outpatient Clinic in the community of Middletown, Ohio. One that will be almost three times as larger than the existing clinic,” said Guy B. Richardson, director of the Dayton VA Medical Center. “We will continue to collaborate with community stakeholders and veteran service organizations in an effort to meet the health care needs of our nation’s veterans.”

Said Simmons, “As a facility, the Dayton VA Medical Center staff including the Middletown CBOC is honored to provide high quality health care and services to veterans.”

The 18,520-square foot facility will allow the VA to provide additional services such as radiology as well as occupational and physical therapy, she said.

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

Al.Neyer Inc. will be designing and constructing the clinic, Simmons 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, mental health services and a pharmacy.

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.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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I do care about vets and thank them for their service. Most who are healthy and employed should and do carry insurance just like the rest of us. Those vets who have injuries that will affect them all thru their lives absolutely should get lifelong care for free. It's a small price to pay for a great sacrifice on their part to defend us.

And there are lots of advantages of being in West Chester. :-)

Cynde
4:28 PM, 10/28/2009

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I have been to the VA outpatient clinic and to the Atrium,both gave me great service and when I had to wait for services at the atrium they gave me a free meal. And I am a vet, but I believe we should all have free health care.

Peace

freeyourmind
3:51 PM, 10/28/2009

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mdizzie:
I agree about vets getting free care. As far as this side of the highway looking like west chester...isn't that the point. Sure, it would be nice to revitalize the historic downtown district, but at the same time it is nice to build. Downtown Middletown was built there because of the river being the main source of transportation. Middletown Renaisance is being built because of I-75, the main source of transportation.

Jammin
1:14 PM, 10/28/2009

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Serving in the military should allow you free medical care for the rest of your life. This way, we wouldn't need specific VA hospitals. The other side of the high way towards Franklin is going to look like a mini West Chester in less than 20 years, mark my words. No one listens to me though. Why can't Vets receive their health care for free, they only served and fought for a country that doesn't care about them. Of anyone, Vets should have free health care.

mdizzie
12:21 PM, 10/28/2009

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blah blah

Your post reminds me of your name...I'm not even sure what you are trying to say.

speak clearly
11:16 AM, 10/28/2009

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