The Clermont Sun » Veterans medical clinic dedicated

Veterans medical clinic dedicated

November 12th, 2009 Author: Marsha Mundy Filed Under: News

Veterans in Clermont County have a new facility that can attend to most of their health care needs. The 15,600 square foot Veterans Administration Medical Center Clinic opened its doors on Sept. 1 this year and held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

A large group of staff members, local dignitaries and veterans were on hand for the event. The new facility located at 4600 Beechwood Road in the Eastgate area offers veterans primary care physicians. The clinic also offers specialty doctors for podiatry, optometry, mental health and will soon have an audiologist and physical therapy services.

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt presented a letter of recognition to the administrators of the facility and commented that veterans of Clermont County are blessed to have a clinic which offers so many services close to where they live.

The Clermont County VA Outpatient Clinic was officially opened on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Those on hand for the dedication of the facility are, front row from left, outpatient clinic director Joe Kohut, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, Brooke Hill liaison for Senator Sherrod Brown, clinic administrator Kim Schocky, Colonel Dean Smittle with 700 WLW radio, and chief primary care physician Dr. Jim Huey; back row, Gary Hunt, Dan Bare from the Clermont County Veterans Service Commission, Brian Neltner with Select Strategies Realty, Dave Ninneman associate director of the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati and Scott Wuest nurse manager for the VA in Cincinnati.

"I am a Vietnam veteran and pleased to stand before everyone today," said Clermont County Veterans Service Commission director Dan Bare. "I have received treatment through the VA and it's good to know that all the young men and women now serving our country can receive care here when they return home."

He stressed the importance of continuing to support the family members of veterans as well.

Doctors and staff members of the clinic invite the more than 6,000 veterans who live in Clermont County to get enrolled through at the clinic. According to Todd Sledge, public affairs officer, the VA can possibly reduce the medical costs of veterans by hundreds of dollars by seeing a primary care physician and getting their prescriptions filled at the clinic.

The chief primary care physician at the clinic, Dr. Jim Huey, said he appreciates the community support the clinic has received.

"We have had a steady expansion in our services," said Dr. Huey. "We thank the Veterans Service Commission for their help in letting veterans know about what we have to offer. We are glad that we can offer so many specialty services to our veterans. Our goal is to continue serving veterans here at this facility and to partner with the Veterans Administration to better serve their needs."

To find out more about the VA and the services they offer, visit their web site at www.cincinnati.va.gov or call the clinic at (513) 943-3680.