The Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network and the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury will open an outpatient clinic at 1170 Fairgrove Church Road in Hickory, the VA announced in a press release.
A pre-opening ribbon-cutting will be conducted at the clinic site at 10 a.m. Thursday. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry will speak. The keynote presentation will be made by Daniel F. Hoffmann, director of the VA’s Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network.
Parking will be available at the GE plant lot off Fairgrove Church Road S.E. Shuttle service will be provided free of charge to and from the clinic location. Directions are available at www.salisbury.va.gov/visitors/hickory.asp.
The 10,000-square-foot clinic will begin serving veterans on June 4, providing outpatient primary care, mental health and optometry services, according to the press release. The service area for the clinic includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and Lincoln counties.
Veterans who have been screened and may benefit from care closer to where they live will be sent a letter from the VA with advice regarding enrollment. Veterans may call 704-638-9000, extension 2533 or 800-469-8262, extension 2533 for more information.
The outpatient clinic will be staffed by VA health care teams managed by the Salisbury VA Medical Center. The facility will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Veterans in need of emergency care should use 911 services and seek immediate help at the nearest Emergency Room.
“We look forward to the ribbon-cutting as we improve access to outpatient care for veterans in this area of western North Carolina,” Hoffman said in the press release.
Salisbury VA Medical Center Director Carolyn L. Adams added, “At the Hickory clinic, excellent service will be our only standard. Our veterans have earned great care and we are pledged to deliver it in thanks to those who have served our nation in uniform.”
Questions about the clinic may be referred to Carol Waters, public affairs officer, at 704-638-3343.