Mt. Vernon VA clinic opens
By KRISTI PIHL Staff Reporter
Service just got closer.
The Northwest Washington Community-based Outpatient Clinic in Mount Vernon is open and delivering primary care services to area veterans.
The Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic, located on the second and third floor of the Mount Vernon Medical Building, has been in the works for multiple years.
Currently, the clinic is providing primary care, mental health and social services, said Ken LeBlond, VA public affairs specialist. The hearing, dental, and lab services will be phased in.
When the clinic is fully functioning, it will serve 6,500 veterans a year, LeBlond said.
The new facility is up to date, with new equipment, said Cal Mithuen, services officer for American Legion Post 92 in Stanwood. The services have thus far been great.
It's quiet, easy to get to, and appointments have been on time, he said.
The opening of the clinic will greatly improve the services available to local veterans, Mithuen said.
It means veterans will no longer need to go to Seattle and make an appointment into a fullday trip, he said. Pretty much everything can be done at the Mount Vernon clinic.
Still, inpatient services will require a trip to the Seattle VA clinic, LeBlond said. However, most of the services the VA provides are outpatient ones.
The local Disabled American Veterans vans will eventually provide transportation to the new clinic. Mithuen said the date of the first trip has not yet been set.
The staff and patients from the temporary Sedro-Woolley clinic have already transferred to the new site. The Mount Vernon clinic was first open to patients on May 18.
The official dedication and celebration of the Northwest Washington Community-based Outpatient Clinic will be Thurs., July 2 at 10:30 a.m. Speakers will include Stan Johnson, VA Puget Sound director. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will attend.
Both Larsen and Murray have worked hard to get a permanent outpatient clinic in the area, LeBlond said.
The Northwest Washington Community-based Outpatient Clinic is located at 307 S. 13th St. in Mount Vernon.
Veterans who are already in the VA system should call 206-764- 2547 to transfer their care to the Mount Vernon clinic. Veterans who have not signed up for VA benefits and would like to enroll should call 206-762-1010 ext. 62170.
