Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic celebrates one-year anniversary
VMH Waukon Medical Clinic providers ... This team of providers has served over 7,000 patient appointments during the first year of the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic. Pictured above, left to right, Dr. Dave Schwartz, the medical physician provider in the clinic, has been serving area patients out of this location since 1995. Sue McMillan and Halie Ruff, both Nurse Practitioners, are also full-time providers in the clinic who accept patients of all ages. Jon Hawes, who is a Physician Assistant, sees patients in the clinic two to three days a week. Michelle Crary, Nurse Practitioner, just recently joined this medical team and Marti Hall, Nurse Practitioner, fills in at the clinic when she is available for any providers who are taking time off. Katy Grangaard, Nurse Practitioner, and Alicia Strong, Nurse Practitioner, will soon both be available to fill-in where needed as well. Submitted photo.
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic. The new clinic opened May 3, 2021, joining the Gundersen Waukon Clinic in providing accessible family health care so residents of northeast Iowa have the care they need when they need it. The statistics show, after just 11 months, the incredible need and impact of this new clinic.
As of March 31, 2022, over 7,211 patient visits to the clinic had been made. Scheduled adult preventative exams, such as annual physicals, Medicare annual wellness exams and new patient appointments to establish care with a provider totaled 780; well-child visits totaled 476, and 460 OB visits were made.
Those that needed to see a provider for an acute visit, for items such as sore throats, ear aches, pain, strains, stiches, etc., totaled 3,083 visits. In addition, 460 people were referred to a specialist and 118 referred to Veterans Memorial Hospital surgeons.
“Without the accessibility of this new clinic and our wonderful providers, I don’t know where those over 7,000 patients would have gone to get the care they needed,” states Laura Baxter, Clinic Director. “We are happy to be here for people when they need us. Many days our providers are full and it is difficult to get an appointment, but we are continuing to expand to allow for even greater access to a provider when needed.”
The medical providers, including Dr. Dave Schwartz, Nurse Practitioners Sue McMillan and Halie Ruff, and Physician Assistant Jon Hawes have served most all of the over 7,000 patient appointments during the first year of the new VMH Medical Clinic. Michelle Crary, Nurse Practitioner, just recently joined this medical team and Marti Hall, Nurse Practitioner, fills in at the clinic when she is available for any providers who are taking time off. Nurse Practitioners Katy Grangaard and Alicia Strong will soon both be available to fill-in where needed as well.
“It has truly been an eventful year for both the hospital and clinic. We continue to grow and evolve to better meet the needs for everyone we serve,” states Dr. Dave Schwartz. “All of the providers and staff I have the great fortune to work with have made our first year a delight! As our staff grows and we continue to look for the right family physicians to join us, our future just keeps getting brighter and more exciting! We owe our success to the tremendous support of our community and our administration. Thank you all for a great year!”
The hospital thanks the donors that raised over $500,000 for the renovations and technology of this clinic prior to opening day. The building meets the privacy and technology needs required by rural health care clinics.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours are available Monday mornings and Thursday evenings for the convenience of those working during the day. To make an appointment to see a provider at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic, call 563-568-5530.
