VA Clinic making finishing touches to open doors

The VA Clinic in Pike County boasts state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities and will open in several weeks as soon as all the final items are unpacked and installed. The massive 60,000 square foot building welcomes veterans with a giant, floor-to-ceiling glass lobby and waiting area with 16 check-in desks to ensure efficient services. The exact opening date will be announced soon by the Pike County Journal Reporter. 

Windy Proffitt is the center’s primary care nurse manager and Jim Totten is the assistant nurse manager. 

“We are excited and everything is coming together well,” said Proffitt. “Some veterans have started receiving letters with information about services and those who don’t can come in when we open in the next few weeks to find out how to receive services. If they are assigned to another center, they can come in and request a provider change and if they are new, we will have people here to sign them up for VA care. Go to VA.gov to find out what documentation will be needed.” 

Proffitt has worked for Veteran’s Affairs for eight years and before that she worked in the Emergency Room at Grady. She said many nurses and staff have been hired and providers such as MDs and NPs (Nurse Practitioners) are in the process of transitioning to the clinic. 

The VA Clinic offers a wide variety of services for veterans, including primary care, mental care, specialty care (including cardiology and pulmonology), whole health (including acupuncture and chiropractic care), audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, mental health (including group therapy and private therapy), women’s health, a tele-optometry program, a laboratory, prosthetics (including issuing orthotic splints, crutches, walkers, blood pressure cuffs, heating pads, etc.) and x-ray and CT scan services. Some services will be offered through tele-health consultations, including dermatology and optometry. 

The primary care services will have a total of six Patient Aligned Care Teams consisting of a provider, an RN, a LPN and a medical support assistant in each PACT. For many of the exam rooms, members of the PACT team will be able to enter from a separate hallway to reduce crowding in patient hallways. 

Each of the other specialty services offered will have providers and/or teams of their own. 

Some of the equipment already installed includes the CT scan and X-ray equipment as well as sound-proof audiology testing rooms, primary care examination rooms and nurse and doctor stations. The furniture for the lobby still needs to be delivered and assembled as does some of the equipment for the physical and occupational therapy rooms. 

“It’s all coming together and we’re excited to start offering services to veterans,” said Proffitt.