The Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Lewisburg is Officially “Open for Business”

Lewisburg, WV – The Beckley Veterans Hospital is proud to announce the official Grand Opening of the Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic at the Rahall Business and Technology Center just north of Lewisburg. Although in operation since January, the official ribbon cutting ceremony was on Friday the 8th of April. Pocahontas County resident and Veteran Joel Callison offers his take on new clinic.

“It’s going to be great for all of up in Pocahontas County” says Callison. “It’s much closer than driving to Beckley. So I feel real lucky, I don’t have any other insurance and this works really good for me.”

Because of ongoing budget negotiations, Congressman Rahall, and Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin were unable to attend the grand opening. However, letters from all three legislators were read during the ceremony.

Kelly Dykes, representing Congressman Nick Rahall, read a letter from the Congressman. In the letter, Rahall encourages Veterans to sign up for services at the new clinic.

“The VA has indentified some 8,000 plus local Veterans in this Clinic’s service area” Dykes reads. “We can accommodate 2,400 Veterans general health needs. If we want to grow the services offered, even if we want to maintain what we have, Veterans must sign up, the sooner the better.”

Karen McGraw, Director of the VA Medical Center in Beckley reads in part of a letter from West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.

“I salute the soldiers of yesterday and today” McGraw reads. “Our Veterans and active members of the Armed Forces have played a tremendous role in keeping the freedoms that we possess. We need to sincerely thank them for their commitment and dedication toward protecting our great nation.”

Meg Cianfrocca, West Virginia Veterans Affairs Coordinator, reads from a letter from West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller.

“With this clinic, Veterans will now be able to receive primary care from caring professionals much closer to home” Cianfrocca reads. “It will also be a great opportunity to welcome those who may not have turned to the VA for their health care in the past. I’ve always said that working on behalf of our states Veterans is one of the most important and rewarding things I do.”

Dan Hoffman is the Network Director for Vision VI, The VA Region that includes the Beckley VAMC and the Greenbrier County Clinic. Hoffman talks about the West Virginia tradition of service.

“In a State that ranks 37th in population, West Virginia lost more of her native born in Viet Nam than any other state in the nation” says Hoffman. “It also ranks in the top three states for percent of its population that are Veterans. At one point, when I looked at this, they we second only to native Alaskan Americans. It’s truly incredible and we’re proud to be part of this state for the provision of health care in Greenbrier.”

The new clinic serves Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers Counties in West Virginia, and Allegheny County in Virginia. Hoffman says Veterans from Bath and Highland Counties are also welcome.

“All of them are welcome; no restrictions” says Hoffman. “If a Veteran feels this location is more convenient than where they’re currently being serviced, or if they’re not being serviced at all, I would encourage them to come down and sign up and receive services here. We have capacity and we’re ready to go.”

Among the services offered at the clinic are primary health care, such as initial assessment of health problems; basic diagnostic lab work, immunizations, cancer screening, and treatment of chronic health problems. Mental health services will include psychiatry, psychology, and social work services.

Veterans need to register at the clinic before they can be seen; to register or for more information, please call the clinic at 304-497-3900.