Three-year anniversary for Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic-Waukon; Serving thousands while continuing to expand
Medical staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic-Waukon celebrating its three-year anniversary ... The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic-Waukon opened just three years ago. The team of medical providers has had a total of 33,500 patient visits serving 6,692 patients, more than doubling since last year. Pictured above, from left to right, are Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner; Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; Dr. Dave Schwartz, Family Practice Physician; Halie Ruff, Nurse Practitioner; Minji Na, Nurse Practitioner; Sue McMillan, Nurse Practitioner; Alex Berns, Nurse Practitioner; Michelle Crary, Nurse Practitioner; and Dr. Thomas McMullan, Family Practice Physician. Submitted photo.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic-Waukon opened just three years ago, May 3, joining the Gundersen Waukon Clinic in providing accessible family health care to the area communities. Not only have thousands been cared for, but the services available have grown rapidly.
Since opening the Waukon Clinic, services have expanded into Postville with a full-time clinic there as well, with the addition of behavioral health services. The clinic staff has also begun serving three long-term care facilities in the area. Together, these staff members have completed over 33,500 medical visits, serving 6,692 individuals.
“The statistics continue to show the incredible need and impact of these new clinics. We have doubled our numbers since last year at the time of our second anniversary. We are so happy to be helping so many,” states Laura Baxter, Clinic Director. “We have added even more providers since last year, to allow for greater access to local healthcare to help meet the growing needs of our area communities.”
Not only have these clinics been serving northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota, but patients from 28 states have been cared for in the last three years. This includes 196 different cities and communicating with patients speaking 13 different languages.
The Waukon and Postville Clinics welcomed Nurse Practitioner Minji Na in January. Na had been practicing as a family nurse practitioner for Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Albert Lea and Austin, MN, in family medicine and urgent care the last two years.
“I am excited to be a part of the VMH family here in Waukon and Postville and I am enjoying meeting patients and building a comfortable patient/provider relationship,” she said. “Taking the time to listen and understand your concerns helps us work together as a team to make meaningful changes to improve your health and overall well-being.”
“The best part about being a medical provider is going through life with my patients,” adds Na. “Being there for sad times due to a medical illness, but also the joyous times by conquering those illnesses and watching them bounce back to good health.”
Na is available two days a week at the Waukon Clinic and two days a week at the Postville Clinic.
“Without the accessibility of this new clinic and our wonderful providers, I don’t know where those over 33,500 patients would have gone to get the care they needed,” adds Baxter. “We are happy to be here for people when they need us and I am so proud of our staff members for their incredible care and dedication. It will be exciting to see what the next year brings!”
To make an appointment to see any of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic providers in Waukon call 563-568-5530, or in Postville call 563-864-7221.
