Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hickory Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) on May 29.

“The opening of this healthcare facility brings us one step closer to providing Western North Carolina veterans the quality, local healthcare they deserve, and I’m thrilled it will be up and running ahead of schedule.”

Located at 1170 Fairgrove Church Road in Hickory, the 10,000 square foot CBOC will provide primary care, mental health, and optometry services from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday for Veterans in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Wilkes Counties.  Veterans in neighboring counties wishing to receive care at this facility are encouraged to make arrangements with the Veterans Administration.

The Hickory Clinic will eventually serve roughly 5,500 local veterans, and will be staffed by 39 full-time VA healthcare personnel, including five primary care physicians, under the supervision of the Salisbury VA Medical Center.

VA officials caution that the exact date of the Clinic’s opening has not yet been determined, noting that it could occur slightly before or after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.  When the lease for the Hickory CBOC was signed in November of 2007, officials estimated it would open around August 2008.  

Congressman McHenry has pressed the VA repeatedly to expedite the facility’s construction.  As part of this effort, he and Senators Dole and Burr (R-NC) sent a letter to then VA Secretary Nicholson in May 2007 requesting detailed information about plans for the clinic.

Then, in June, Congressman McHenry gained a strong ally in his fight for the Hickory CBOC when he went to the House floor to engage in a lengthy colloquy about the Clinic with Chet Edwards (D-TX) who is Chairman of the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Administration Subcommittee.

Chairman Edwards lauded Congressman McHenry’s efforts on behalf of Western North Carolina Veterans, and said, “I believe the gentleman has a right to get a response from the Department and I would encourage the gentleman to continue working with the Senators from North Carolina in asking the Administration to provide a response to your inquiry.”

Following his discussion with Rep. Edwards, Congressman McHenry brought then-VA Secretary Nicholson into his Washington office to demand an explanation for the delay and strongly encourage him to take immediate action to expedite the CBOC’s construction.

Shortly thereafter, the VA announced that it would pursue a two-phased approach to construct the Hickory Clinic in order to more quickly begin the provision of quality services to local Veterans.

In phase one, for which the ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on May 29, a 10,000 square foot interim clinic will be established while a permanent site is located and constructed.

Many veterans in the CBOC’s service area have been pre-screened and either have been or will be sent a letter from the VA with advice regarding enrollment.  Veterans may call (704) 638-9000, ext. 2533 for more information.

Director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network Daniel F. Hoffmann noted, “We are excited about the opportunity to improve access to outpatient care for veterans in this area of western North Carolina.”  

Salisbury VA Medical Center Director, Carolyn L. Adams, added, “The Hickory facility will allow us to expand our clinical services to those veterans who otherwise might have to travel to Salisbury or Asheville for their primary care.  We look forward to providing excellent service at this clinic since our veterans deserve nothing less in thanks for their service to our Nation.”  

In phase two, which is scheduled to be completed by May of 2010, a facility larger than 20,000 square feet will be built to provide a range of healthcare services to more than 10,000 local veterans.  This facility will also be located in the Hickory area, and there will be no lapse in service during the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2.

Veterans currently enrolled at the Salisbury VA Clinic who live in the Hickory area will be given priority for enrollment at the interim CBOC.  Salisbury VA Clinic personnel will review its list of veterans currently enrolled, and will then inform those veterans of that option.  The VA Medical Center in Asheville will take a similar approach in working with veterans enrolled there.

Other veterans who wish to receive care at the Hickory Clinic must register with the Salisbury or Asheville VAMCs.  This may be accomplished by phone, letter, e-mail, or on-line at www.va.gov, www.salisbury.va.gov, or www.asheville.va.gov.  

For registration information, veterans may call the Health Administration Service Office in Salisbury at (704) 638-9000 or toll-free at 1-800-469-8262, extension 2500 or the Enrollment Office in Asheville at (828) 298-7911, extension 5030.    

Veterans and their families who have further questions about the CBOC or issues with the Veterans Administration may also contact Joanna Rowe in Congressman McHenry’s Hickory office toll-free at 1-800-477-2576.