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Published Thursday, November 05, 2009 in Local

Photo by Alex McRae

Officials of the Veterans Administration and local veterans groups prepare for Friday’s grand opening of the Newnan VA clinic. From left are Jeff Carroll, senior vice-commander of the Newnan Veterans of Foreign Wars post; Don Holmes, a VA volunteer and Vietnam veteran; Ken Mills, manager of Newnan Veterans Service office; and Dick Stender, past commander of Newnan American Legion post.

VA Clinic grand opening Friday

By Alex McRae

The Times-Herald

Newnan's newest health care facility will celebrate its opening 1 p.m. Friday when grand opening ceremonies are held for the new Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.

The facility, located at 39-A Oak Hill Court near Highway 34 East and Sullivan Road, actually opened its doors to serve area veterans on Sept. 28. The Friday ceremonies are open to the public, and all are invited to attend the ribbon cutting, tour the facility and enjoy refreshments.

The 10,000-square-ft. facility currently provides primary care health services, nutrition counseling and social services. Mental health services will be provided in the near future. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"We've been working on this for a while, and we're very excited that better care is coming soon to all veterans in Coweta County and surrounding areas," Tom Badger, coordinator of the VA's Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) program for northwest Georgia, said earlier this year. "We know some of our veterans are having to travel great distances to receive care, and we are glad to offer the services they need closer to home."

Construction on the new clinic began last spring at the Oak Hill Professional Park.

Veterans will be diagnosed and treated for many illnesses at the Newnan clinic. Those requiring further services will be referred to larger VA hospitals.

The Newnan clinic is the latest in an expansion of veterans' health care facilities in Georgia and will help the Atlanta VA Medical Center fulfill the three promises made to veterans: to provide care second to none, to maintain and expand services, and to work until every veteran is personally satisfied, said Greg Kendall, public information officer at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

Veterans who are already enrolled in the VA medical system will receive a letter telling them that care is available at the Newnan clinic and advising them of any paperwork processing that needs to be done, Kendall said.

Veterans who are not yet enrolled for VA care may get the proper forms at the Newnan office once it opens, according to Kendall.

On the Web: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5899

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