Veterans Affairs breaks ground on new, larger Indian River outpatient clinic

INDIAN RIVER — Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs partnered with local staff, veterans and project engineers for a groundbreaking ceremony on a new, expanded clinic for veterans Thursday, June 30.

The new Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be located at 5739 M-68 Highway — just east of Indian River and I-75. The original clinic in Mackinaw City was first opened in 2012.

"A few years ago, a market assessment was conducted to determine what services we provide to our veterans," said Chris Cauley, a VA medical center director from Saginaw.

In that assessment, the VA noticed changes, including veterans moving around the area.

"Also legislation, the Mission Act and the Choice Act, (meant) we need to really get within 30 minutes for primary care, 60 minutes for specialty care for veterans," Cauley said. "Being up really at the last exit before you cross the bridge really doesn't make any sense anymore."

A strategic planning group began looking at alternate locations, and Indian River stood out.

"The new clinic will have double the square foot of what we have right now," Cauley said. "We'll also be providing some additional specialty services, (like) physical therapy."

The building will be similar to other newly constructed clinics across the region, including Traverse City and Gaylord, with a covered carport, heated sidewalks and dedicated ambulance access.

"Basically what this does is it allows veterans to go to one place," Cauley said.

Doctors and nurses will treat veterans in a single room, rather than requiring veterans to travel all over the complex. Staff hopes to increase access and decrease wait time.

Brandon Kargol, congressional staffer for Congressman Jack Bergman, said their office fields thousands of calls from veterans each year, all asking for more accessibility to services. He feels this new clinic will help address some of those issues.

"It's vital that we have the opportunity to place the CBOC here in Indian River," Kargol said.

Construction crews will begin moving dirt Tuesday, July 5, with completion slated for 2023. Until the new facility in Indian River is complete, veterans can continue to receive services at the CBOC in Mackinaw City.

Several attendees of the groundbreaking were surprised to learn a resolution had been passed, calling for the VA to name the facility after Justin Paton, a soldier from Indian River who was killed in Iraq in 2007. Members of Paton's family were present at the ceremony.

"We'd be honored to see that through," Cauley said.

Contact Reporter Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.