Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic Fundraiser underway

Two weeks ago, a direct mailing was sent out to the entire Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) service area outlining the current renovation project for the new Medical Clinic the hospital will be opening in May. The former Mayo Clinic building, which is adjoined to and is now owned by Veterans Memorial Hospital, is the site for this clinic.  With the loss of the Mayo Health System Waukon Clinic a year ago, accessibility to local family practice providers has been dangerously limited.

“The Gundersen Waukon Clinic has done an amazing job trying to pick up as many patients as they possibly can following the closing of the Mayo Clinic last fall, but the truth is, there is just such a great demand for local primary care, they just can’t do it all,” states Michael Coyle, Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Memorial Hospital. “We see so many patients every day in our Urgent Care who just need to see a primary care provider for non-emergent care that could have been handled in a clinic setting.  But because there is no other option, they come to urgent care, which does not make for good continuity of care.”

The hospital conducted a feasibility study prior to making the determination to open this clinic that showed an overwhelming need for five to seven more providers in the area. Two full-time and one part-time family practice provider have already been recruited and will join Dr. Dave Schwartz in this clinic building, with room for further provider expansion.

Needed renovations are currently underway and mostly include new flooring, ceiling, lights, countertops and removal of the wall covering, as well as refiguring of the registration desk to make it HIPAA compliant. A new Telehealth consulting room, Clinic Director office, and private triage room is being added.  In addition, new technology must be purchased and installed that will run smoothly with the hospital’s electronic medical record system, making this a seamless approach to the primary health care this community needs.

In addition to family medicine, VMH Medical Clinic has plans to add Behavioral Health as well as other specialty services such as Gynecology, Pediatrics and Urology, making specialty health care services accessible in northeast Iowa.

Donations are currently being accepted by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation for these clinic building renovations and new technology. The Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that supports the hospital and other health care related needs in northeast Iowa. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible.

Anyone with any questions about the campaign or Foundation is invited to call the hospital at 563-568-3411.