New Atlanta VA Clinic Expected To Help Reduce Wait Times
On Friday, the Atlanta VA Medical Center celebrated the grand opening of a new specialty and primary care clinic in Decatur. Center officials say the clinic is supposed to help cut down on primary care and specialty wait times for veterans.
Last year, the Atlanta VA was among the facilities nationwide criticized for lengthy veteran wait times. Center director Leslie Wiggins said the new clinic will help the Atlanta VA with a growing number of veterans.
”The facility will be able to serve 20,000 veterans,” Wiggins said. “It really takes a lot of the extra traffic and wait we have for specialty care at the main facility over here.”
The new satellite facility has been seeing patients for a few months. Wiggins said primary care wait times have improved but remain above the national average. She hopes this clinic and six more satellite facilities that are planned for the future will help.
“Give us time. It’s getting better,” Wiggins said.
Vietnam veteran Clifford Flanagan has already noticed a difference since seeking care at the clinic.
“Even if I don’t have an appointment here, I walk in, and I’m probably seen within 30 minutes after I’m here.”
He said in the past he waited up to three months for an appointment.
In addition to the new clinic, Wiggins said she believes a program passed last year by Congress will help the Atlanta VA Medical Center reduce primary care wait times. The program allows veterans who wait more than 30 days for an appointment or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility to seek care outside the VA system.
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