New clinic is great for veterans – and the VA

The Carl Vinson VA Medical Center last week announced the opening of its new $16 million outpatient and women’s health clinic building on its Dublin campus. 

The 30,000 square-foot building will include new and enhanced space for existing primary care clinics, as well as provide a new home for the medical center’s rapidly expanding women’s health clinic, officials said. The new building relocates the medical center’s primary care “Blue and Green care teams” under one roof to improve access for veterans and their families. 

The long-awaited and much anticipated new clinic will free up space for renovation of existing services locations, allowing for consolidation of some services which will enable the Medical Center to better serve outpatient veterans. The new construction also provides 100 new parking spaces.

The new clinic is not just great for veterans  but for the Dublin VA, as well.

The Carl Vinson VA Medical Center provides care for approximately 40,000 veterans in 49 counties in Middle and South Georgia. The clinic will allow the VA to provide better care.

Nationwide, women make up the fastest-growing group in the veteran population, at about 2 million. That’s up to 9.4 percent from 4 percent in 2000. Yet, only 44 percent use VA health care. Hopefully, the new clinic will encourage more to sign on for VA services.

Just a couple of years ago, a report surfaced about a long-range assessment that suggested closing down the Carl Vinson VA hospital and building a new one in Macon. Officials rallied around the hospital then, stressing the vital role it plays in serving those who served. The new clinic only strengthens the Dublin VA’s case that the veterans hospital belongs here.