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New VA clinic already serving more veterans

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

The new VA Primary Care Clinic opened in March at 2419 Morse Street in Janesville.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Veteran Jim Joiner gets blood drawn by Robin Mortimer, a health technician in the lab area of the new VA clinic on Morse Street in Janesville. Joiner previously had to drive to Madison for his veterans health services.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

An exam room at the new VA health clinic on Morse Street in Janesville. The facility opened in March and should make it easier for military veterans to get health care close to home.

JANESVILLE — Jim Joiner used to drive monthly to Madison for blood draws.

That no longer is necessary.

The Army veteran recently became aware that he is eligible for services at the new Janesville VA Primary Care Clinic, 2419 Morse St.

"I'm glad the clinic opened. It saves me a lot of time and trouble," said the 52-year-old Janesville man.

He's even more glad young veterans returning from active duty will have access to the community-based outpatient clinic. It specializes in integrated primary care and mental health services. That includes TeleMental Health, a video computer that allows the patient and doctor to see and hear each other from their different locations.

"The (VA) hospital in Madison is very busy. So it's terrific the VA is able to reach out into the community and serve veterans. It's more convenient and a big savings in time and fuel," he said.

The clinic opened March 1 and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house March 20.

Its staff includes two general medicine doctors, two nurse case managers, two clinic nurses, two clerks and one medical technician. A mental-health social worker also comes into the clinic two days a week to provide group and individual therapy. A substance-abuse counselor is on site one day a week for individual and group therapy. Another physician will join the staff in July, said Cheryl Mani, nurse case manager.

The clinic is seeing 2,500 patients, which is 300 more than the previous downtown clinic served. And when the third doctor is added to the staff, the clinic will be able to see close to 3,750 patients, she said.

Since the grand opening, the clinic has been averaging between 10 and 15 consultations a day. Those include new patients and current VA patients transferring their care to Janesville from Rockford, Milwaukee and Madison—other VA facilities—because it's closer to their homes, Mani said.

"We get a lot of people from Beloit," she said.

Access to the new clinic is much easier, and it's close to highways 14 and 26 in addition to Interstate 90/39 with ample parking, Mani said.

"A lot of people don't like to drive the Interstate and other busy traveled roads to get to Madison, Milwaukee and Rockford," she said.

Previously, the VA had space in a building at 111 N. Main St. and contracted with medical providers to come in and provide care to veterans in the Janesville area. That contract was not renewed.

With the ending of the Janesville General Motors' SUV line and other economic woes, VA administration realized there would be more vets seeking help so decided to open a VA-employed facility, Mani said.

"It offers a lot of advantages, and we'll be able to give more services," she said.

That includes nurses who serve as patient advocates, patient education groups, the VA's newly initiated Motivating Obese Vets to lose weight and an interdisciplinary approach to care, Mani said.

More services, including specialty care for cardiology and neurology, will be added in the future. Patients also will have access to follow-ups after surgery.

The clinic has six patient exam rooms, one nursing exam room and two rooms devoted to mental health services, she said.

If the need arises, Mani said, the VA has room for expansion in the other side of the leased building.