Since last June, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been operating a clinic in Dubuque's Mercy Hospital for eligible beneficiaries to receive primary and preventive care. This week, the VA received final clearance to run the facility on a permanent basis.
Grassley said, "This clinic is delivering VA services closer to home. Nationwide, these outpatient clinics have proven their ability to provide valuable health care services to veterans. With this location, the 5,700 veterans who live in this part of northeast Iowa no longer have to drive to Waterloo or Iowa City to receive important services."
The site in Dubuque is designed to serve Dubuque, Jackson, Jones, Delaware, Clayton and Allamakee counties in Iowa, as well as five counties in Wisconsin and Illinois. In addition to ambulatory care, the Dubuque clinic when it's fully operation will provide:
annual comprehensive physical exams
cancer and diabetic screening
annual preventive health follow-up, including flu vaccinations
women's health exams, including mammograms
electro-cardiograms as indicated
nutrition counseling and social services by telephone
pharmacy services
routine laboratory and radiology services
patient education related to diet, medication and physical exercise
benefit counseling.
The VA said that all other medical, surgical and psychiatric specialty care, prosthetic supplies and inpatient care will continue to be provided by the Iowa City VA medical center.
In recent years, VA-operated outpatient clinics have been opened in Waterloo, Iowa, and Quincy, Illinois. In addition to the location in Dubuque, there are seven small outreach clinics located in the VA network which includes Iowa.
Funding for the Dubuque clinic comes from the VA's existing budget.