VA starts treating veterans in Mount Vernon
Published 11:14 pm Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Veterans, especially those who live in north Snohomish County, are expecting easier access to outpatient health care now that they may not have to battle Seattle traffic.
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday started seeing patients for the first time in a northwest Washington location, two members of the state’s congressional delegation announced.
The VA is treating veterans at Skagit Valley Hospital, 1415 E. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon, a temporary site.
The clinic has opened an interim mobile clinic located in the parking lot of the hospital. The VA is looking for another location so more patients can be seen. Officials also are searching for a permanent site in the Mount Vernon area.
That’s good news for Dean Knight of Everett, a Korean War Navy veteran with emphysema. His wife doesn’t like to drive in Seattle traffic.
“If you talk about getting her to drive in the Seattle area, no way,” Knight said.
Until now, he’s had to depend on his son-in-law to drive him, drop him off at the front door and park. Knight doesn’t like to walk from the parking lot, usually some distance away, to the front door of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle.
Now his wife is prepared to drive him to Skagit County, he said.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, both D-Wash., announced this week that a long-promised facility for veterans in the northwest part of the state has opened its doors, at least on a limited basis.
The VA said the interim site is open for mental health services from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Primary case services are available Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“We continue to urge the VA to open a permanent community-based outpatient clinic as soon as possible,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
Both Murray and Larsen have long sought a clinic to serve veterans in the northern counties. The aim is to prevent long and tiresome drives to Seattle, and to cut down on time getting services, they said.
“Northwest Washington’s veterans have traveled too far, for too long, to get the health care they need and deserve,” said Larsen, of Everett. “This temporary facility is a positive step.”
Murray said that veterans who have fought for the nation’s freedoms shouldn’t have to fight for access to the health care they deserve at home.
“The opening of this temporary clinic is a move in the right direction, but Rep. Larsen and I will continue to work to ensure that the VA fulfills its commitment to open a permanent facility here,” Murray said.
Knight is keen on easier access, but he praised the service he’s received in the Seattle facility.
“The service in Seattle, you can’t beat it,” said Knight. He hopes the same level of service will be found in Mount Vernon. He knows the trip will be easier.
“Trafficwise, it’s just 10 times better,” Knight said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
About the clinic
The interim site is located in the parking lot of Skagit Valley Hospital, 1415 E. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon.
Mental health services are available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
Primary care services are available Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Agreements have been made for local pharmaceutical and lab work to be done.
Currently enrolled patients who want to use the interim facility can call 206-764-2547 for more information.
Veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system can call 800-329-8387, ext. 76542, or go to www.va.gov on the Web.
