NORFOLK, Neb. — A new outpatient clinic is under construction to better serve the needs of veterans in the Norfolk area.
The Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System’s Norfolk clinic is expected to move into its new home before the end of the year.
Kevin Hynes, a public affairs officer at the VA, said the new clinic being built would accommodate the changing health care needs of those who have served their country.
The new, larger building will provide room for more health care services.
“We needed more space and accessibility, and the new space is going to have that,” Hynes said.
Construction began in March on the building, located in west Norfolk on Raasch Avenue, near Sugar Plum Oak and Flooring Solutions.
Plans for the new clinic were discussed at a town hall meeting Thursday at the Norfolk Senior Citizens Center.
Members of the executive board talked about the plans for the new clinic, as well as changes that will be implemented as part of the VA Mission Act, which took effect Thursday.
The VA Mission Act aims to provide more ways for veterans to access health care.
Katie Rasmussen, nurse manager at the Norfolk VA Outpatient Clinic, said the current location at 710 S. 13th St. has three primary care providers, as well as specialty care through VA Telehealth Services.
The new 9,105-square-foot clinic will be significantly larger.
The extra space will allow the Norfolk clinic to add physical therapy to the services and specialties now offered.
Rasmussen said that the Norfolk VA clinic serves more than 2,500 people and that the current clinic is not large enough to accommodate all of the needs of veterans in the region.
Parking and accessibility also have been a problem.
Serving the veterans and helping them get what they need “is what our big goal is,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said a new clinic for the Norfolk VA has been discussed for a long time.
Hynes said that with the lease on the current building drawing to a close this year, the timing was right to start construction on the new outpatient clinic.
“We’re hoping to have it done by the end of the calendar year,” he said.
