ST.
MARYS - A new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic opens today in St. Marys, saving thousands of area veterans
long drives for medical treatment and advice about benefits.
The 7,000-square-foot
building includes primary medical and mental health care, as well as state Department of Veterans Service counseling on a
variety of benefits including education and home loans.
The clinic will be fully staffed by December with 20 doctors,
nurses, lab technicians and a pharmacist, said Dale Brown, the facility's chief medical officer.
"A veteran
can come here from anywhere," Brown said. "There are no geographic restrictions."
Clinic officials estimate
they will treat 5,000 patients from the region during the next year.
One of the advantages of the St. Marys location
is its close proximity to the Southeast Regional Health System's hospital. Brown said the clinic is designed for outpatient
treatment, but if patients need immediate hospitalization, they will be sent across the street to the hospital.
Howard
Sepp, administrator of the Camden facility, said the hospital will provide lab work for patients with health problems that
need immediate attention. Patients referred to the hospital by clinic doctors will be treated and stabilized until they can
be moved to a VA hospital.
"We're going to work closely with them," Sepp said. "We're getting
lots of positive response."
Ed Buczek, a spokesman at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, said the clinic will make
it much easier for retired veterans from all branches of the military to get medical assistance.
"Now they won't
have to go to Valdosta, Savannah, Lake City or Gainesville," he said. "It will save them lots of time and money."
Terry
Smith, manager of the Department of Veterans Service's Brunswick office, said he will have a representative in the clinic
one day a week beginning in October to help veterans fill out paperwork for benefits. The goal is to eventually staff the
office five days a week.
"It's one stop if veterans need work on their claims," Smith said. "We've
got over 6,000 people [retired veterans] in this area, and it's growing. We've been looking for this a long time."
Chris
Daniel, director of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, said the new clinic is a significant step in helping the thousands
of retired veterans living in the region.
"We get calls all the time from people who have moved here with questions
about facilities and services available to military retirees," she said. "It's another selling point for the
county."
Veterans may make appointments by calling (912) 510-3420.
gordon.jackson@jacksonville.com,
(912) 729-3672
