Cranberry Twp. vets clinic opens
CRANBERRY TWP — The new veterans clinic here will offer expanded services to its 1,900 patients.
The relocated Cranberry Township Community-Based Outpatient Clinic at 900 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 900, celebrated is grand opening Friday.
Tim Florian, clinic manager of VA Butler, said the clinic is a partnership between VA Butler Healthcare and Valor Healthcare. It operates three clinics for VA Butler Healthcare in Cranberry, and in Clarion and Armstrong counties. It runs more than 30 contracted VA sites nationwide.
Florian said the clinic offers primary care and all ancillary service that go with that. It has expanded its telehealth services, where care is provided via specialist over TV or computer so a veteran does not have to go to the Butler site for treatment.
There is a conference room where groups can meet with staff on such issues as post traumatic stress counseling, diabetes and ways to quit smoking.
Starting in January, a podiatrist will be at the clinic two days a month, which is important for patients with diabetes who have problems with their toes and feet, Florian said.
This would be a service veterans otherwise would have to drive to Butler for.
There also will be a social worker who can help veterans with their wills and powers of attorney, and help with job searches, transportation issues and welfare issues, he said.
A pharmacist will be at the clinic to talk with veterans to make sure their medications are not being dangerously mixed together, Florian said.
The clinic has added more nurses and support staff to improve access, decrease wait times and allow for the medical staff to see more patients, Florian said.
Rebecca Hubscher, acting director of VA Butler, said, “I would like to begin by conveying my deep gratitude to everyone here today for their contribution to this new clinic.”
“I want to especially thank all of the veterans we have with us today. This new clinic is for you.”
Hubscher said it was fitting the clinic opening is less than a week before Veterans Day.
She said, “It is our duty not just on Veterans Day, but every day to remember the sacrifices they’ve made and to make certain that our commitments to them and to their families are honored.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler talked about remembering all that veterans have done.
“It is days like these that allow us to remember, and it is days like these that allow us to say thank you for your service and thank you for putting yourself on the line for every single American,” he said.
“Thank you for everything you have done and the fire that still burns within your heart.”
