New Imperial Valley Veterans Clinic Opens in El Centro
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Imperial Valley veterans now have a new location for accessing health care following the relocation of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Imperial Valley Clinic.
The VA San Diego Healthcare System held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 10 at the clinic’s new location at 1501 W. Main St. in El Centro. The clinic began operating at the new location Aug. 3. The ceremony drew a standing-room-only crowd of Imperial Valley veterans, their spouses, and community members for the occasion.
The clinic occupies about three-fourths of the former Rite Aid building, providing additional space to expand health care services and staff. The clinic’s telephone numbers remain unchanged.
The ceremony included a tour of the facility for veterans, guests and community representatives.
Dr. Frank Pearson, director of the VA San Diego Healthcare System, said the new location offers a larger space in a safe and accessible area.
“We wanted to be in an area that was well traveled, very safe, and also beautiful,” Pearson said. “Our veterans deserve nothing else.”
Primary care is the clinic’s primary service, with additional offerings including tele-mental health, tele-eye services and women’s health. The clinic serves an area with slightly more than 10,000 veterans, Pearson said.
Walt Dannenberg, representing Veterans Integrated Services Network 5, Health Service Area 5.3, said the relocation is part of an effort to bring VA care closer to veterans.
The clinic provides primary care, telehealth services including mental health, dermatology and eye care, as well as social services, health benefits and laboratory services, Dannenberg said.
El Centro Mayor Michael Crankshaw welcomed the clinic and said it will provide veterans with greater access to care close to home.
“The clinic represents an important investment to our veterans,” Crankshaw said. “It will provide expanded access to care closer to home for the veterans throughout this Imperial County.”
Crankshaw, whose father and uncle were veterans, said his family experienced challenges associated with accessing and providing care.
“Having something this close and having something this direct is going to have that positive impact,” he said.
Crankshaw also said the city plans to hold a major Veterans Day event and hopes to work with the VA and local veterans organizations.
Augustine Saldana, quartermaster of VFW Post 9305, said the new facility provides a more centralized location and better space for veterans.
Saldana said the previous clinic faced structural and rain-related problems, making a new facility necessary.
“This is perfect, and it’s more centralized,” he said.
Saldana recalled the early efforts of local veterans organizations and volunteers in helping establish VA services in the Imperial Valley.
