WORCESTER – Federal, state and local officials gathered at UMass Chan Medical School on Monday, November 8, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new 48,000 square-foot veterans outpatient clinic on the campus.
The new clinic is a collaboration between the local branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [VA], the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, and the Chan Medical School. The 16,800 VA enrolled veterans in Worcester County receive access to primary care, mental health care providers, and specialists in one location.
VA services occupy the first two floors of the building that include 65 exam, consultation and procedure rooms. Veterans will have access to a pharmacy and specialty care, including radiology, echocardiology, and physical and occupational therapy.
The new facility replaces the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] clinic at 605 Lincoln Street, and existing VA services provided at the Lake Avenue VA clinic. The VA facility opened in 2016 at 377 Plantation Street will continue operation. That facility provides podiatry, audiology and optometry services.
U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who traveled from Washington, D.C. to attend Monday’s event, said the clinic is intended to provide 90 percent of veterans’ day-to-day health care needs.
Senator Elizabeth Warren said Monday’s ceremony was to “say we’re going to open this beautiful space to provide care for our veterans is a way that as a people, as a nation, we honor those who have served us so long and so well.”
Congressman Jim McGovern added that “this clinic is specifically designed to provide personalized care by pairing veterans with patient-aligned care teams, which focus on wellness and disease prevention, and are proven to improve health care outcomes and increase veterans’ satisfaction. This is a big deal.”
Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus, Massachusetts VA Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe, UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Michael Collins, regional VA Healthcare leaders Ryan Lilly and Duane Gill, and Kristin Mattocks, PhD, MPH, and other local and state leaders also attended the ceremony.
