By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
After nearly a decade empty, the former home of Carlos O’Kelly’s, 4107 Vine, is set to become the new home of the Hays’ Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
Currently, the clinic in the Hadley Center, 207B E. Seventh, operates under the direction of the Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center in Wichita.
The center also oversees Dodge City, Hutchinson, Parsons, Salina and Wichita clinics. According to the Veterans’ Affairs website, they serve veterans in 59 counties in Kansas and treated more than 30,000 veterans in 2020, along with more than 350,000 outpatient visits.
“The new location is a larger facility than the one we currently occupy and provides us with the opportunity to expand the health care services we offer our veterans in northwestern Kansas,” said Jeff Herndon, Public Affairs Officer Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, via email. “It also allows Dole VA to meet current VA patient-centric design guidelines and expands parking spaces.”
He said work would need to be done to the building to turn the former restaurant into a clinic.
“Some demolition and construction is required to meet VA needs and specifications,” Herndon said.
He said that the work would take under a year to complete.
“Assuming no delays or issues with that process, we anticipate relocating to the new space in the May-June 2023 timeframe,” Herndon said.
The new location, along with providing additional space, gives convenient access to patients from outside of Hays as it is near the intersection of Interstate 70 and U.S. 183.
The clinic has occupied its current location since opening in July 2001 and offers laboratory and pathology services, mental health care, primary care, a pharmacy and access to a HeltheVet coordinator.
“Relocation has become necessary to ensure we are providing the best possible services and health care experience to our veterans, who have earned and deserve it,” Herndon said.
The announcement of the new clinic location comes only months after the results of a years-long effort to evaluate the VA health care system were released.
However, the effort to implement the complete list of recommendations stalled after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators announced on June 27 that they would block the proposal. The group cited concerns the recommendations negatively impact services in some areas as it would close clinics and realign services across their footprint.
“The U.S. senators’ move all but ends five years of efforts to cut back the VA footprint across the country,” according to the Kansas Reflector in June. “Those in on the deal to block the commission could still change their mind, but for now, the recommendations will not move forward in the process.”
But efforts to improve the system continue, including a new website launched last month.
“An improved Access to Care website that now offers a simplified, user-friendly experience to make it easier for veterans to make informed decisions as they plan their health care appointments,” according to the VA website.
“VA is listening to veterans, incorporating their feedback and reviewing access to care across the organization,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Health Steven Lieberman, “As a national leader in health care access and transparency, this change in the presentation of Veteran-facing information ensures veterans receive the world-class care they have earned and deserve.”
“The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity, serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year,” according to the Veterans Affairs website.
CORRECTION: The story was updated to reflect the correct highway and the length of time the restaurant was closed. Hays Post apologizes for the error.