Five-Year Anniversary for VMH Waukon Medical Clinic; Record number of appointments tripling original goal
Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Clinic providers exceed goal orignally set for number of patients ... The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic-Waukon opened five years ago and has tripled its original goal, providing care to three times more patients per month than originally projected. Pictured above, from left to right, is the team that makes the Waukon Clinic providers including Angela Taylor, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner; Hannah Kelly, Nurse Practitioner; Dr. Dave Schwartz; Minji Ransom, Nurse Practitioner; Dr. John Swords; Sue McMillan, Nurse Practitioner; Alex Berns, Nurse Practitioner; Mason Kerian, Nurse Practitioner; Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; and Janet Hunter; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Maker, Kelly, Ransom, Berns, Kerian, Fink and Taylor all provide services at the Postville Clinic as well. Submitted photo.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic-Waukon opened five years ago, May 3, 2021, joining the Emplify Gundersen Waukon Clinic in providing accessible family health care to the area communities. Not only have thousands been cared for, but the numbers of patients served continues to increase nearly every month. The Waukon Clinic just hit a new record number of appointments in March, totaling 1,544 provider visits which is three times what the goal was when the clinic initially opened.
Following the opening of the Waukon Clinic, one year later, Veterans Memorial Hospital opened the Postville Medical Clinic, offering behavioral health services in that clinic as well. Construction is going on now building the new Postville Medical Clinic which is scheduled to open fall of 2026.
“The size of our primary care and behavioral health team has more than tripled over the past five years. We began with just three providers, and by July we will have a total of 12 providers proudly serving the Waukon and Postville communities,” explains Laura Baxter, Chief Clinical Officer. “When we first opened five years ago, I remember wondering what we would do with all of the space. Now, we’re already running out of room - an incredible challenge to face in such a short time, and a true testament to the growing needs of our community and the trust placed in us.”
The Waukon Clinic opened with just one physician and two nurse practitioners and has now grown to two physicians and six nurse practitioners, as well as three full-time psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. Dr. Dave Schwartz and Dr. John Swords, the two physicians, provide care in the Waukon Clinic along with Nurse Practitioner Sue McMillan.
Nurse Practitioners Minji Ransom, Alex Berns, Hannah Kelly, Mason Kerian and Katy Maker, who is also a nurse midwife, all travel between Waukon and Postville caring for patients in both clinics.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Angela Taylor and Janet Hunter both joined the clinics last fall, teaming up with Tara Fink in filling the great need for mental health care in northeast Iowa. Both Tara and Angela also travel to Postville to provide this care.
“Postville has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years, and the community has welcomed us with open arms,” adds Baxter. “We are incredibly excited for the opportunity to renovate our new space, which will allow us to expand and provide even more care. We feel truly blessed to have the wonderful support of both the Waukon and Postville communities.”
To make an appointment to see any of the providers at the Waukon Clinic, call 563-568-5530, or at the Postville Clinic, call 563-864-7221.
