T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM The Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic in Marshalltown opens today for patients. The 11,000-square-foot facility is located between Walmart and the McFarland Clinic on East Merle Hibbs Boulevard.

After a little more than a year of waiting, the new Marshalltown Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic at 201 E. Merle Hibbs Blvd. opens today for patients.

Jessica Cink, administrative officer and facility planner for the VA Central Iowa Healthcare System, said they take walk-ins and staff have already scheduled appointments for the first day, which began at 7:30 a.m.

“I think [the number of appointments] has been typical with what we have had in the past,” she said. “We will get some new interest with the new building and new site and location. Hopefully we will get some more people interested in coming up and visiting us.”

The clinic has two primary care providers and will offer specialty care, such as podiatry, mental health, audiology and physical therapy (PT), to Central Iowa veterans.

“We have the same specialties available, and we do offer a lot of virtual care for other specialties that are starting to grow for this clinic,” Cink said. “That’s more of a program. Our programs are really looking at opening those up to allow more flexibility for the staff and also for the veterans coming in.”

She said the VA Clinic hosted a cardiology virtual mobile clinic for the Marshalltown veterans yesterday.

“There’s a lot of expansion with our telehealth services,” Cink said.

The construction of the clinic began in June 2023 to replace the old location on Iowa Avenue. Cink said the new clinic is slightly bigger than the previous, adding 2,000 square feet.

“It’s a little bigger footprint, but not much more than what we had. It’s just a better arrangement of space,” she said.

Cink is excited to give the veterans a brighter space in which to receive their care. There are also some features which are in better proximity.

“Our group room is in the front of the building and there is easy access from the lobby,” she said. “Our PT and lab are also in the front of the building, which allows for easy in and outs. We tried to plan the site to be more conducive to those services which are more frequently utilized.”

The primary care and mental health groups are located in the back, which Cink described as a nice space for the veterans.

“It’s a secure space for them,” she said. “We also have a nice middle area for our staff. It allows our staff collaboration because they are in a central hub.”

There will be a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. Cink said after the ceremony, attendees can receive tours of the new clinic.

“Hopefully the veterans like it, and we believe they will,” she said. “If there are any veterans out there who are interested in VA, I highly suggest they check us out.”

CLINIC INFO:

Name: Marshalltown VA Clinic

Address: 201 E. Merle Hibbs Blvd.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday

Phone: 641-754-6700

Website: va.gov/central-iowa-health-care/locations/marshalltown-va-clinic/

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.