Merril Lundman VA Clinic's new location sees low-key opening

The new location of the Merril Lundman Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic officially opened Wednesday and was paid a visit by Montana VA Medical Center Director Dr. Judy Hayman, who said she was excited for the opening of the new facility.

Due to the ongoing pandemic the opening was not as climactic as it may otherwise have been, but Hayman said the VA is happy regardless to have the facility up and running.

The new location is three times the size of its previous location on 13th street, which was barely larger than the new location’s waiting area, Hayman said.

She said this added space has allowed the location to include numerous improvements including a women’s health exam room, a lab, a designated room for telehealth, and space for an on-site social worker.

She said having a social worker in the building will allow for more group activities, which is especially advantageous for veterans, who tend to have similar lived experience and can empathize with each other far more easily.

“One of the things about going into a VA facility is the veteran knows immediately that somebody there has a shared experience with them and you don’t get that in the private sector no matter how veteran-centric they are,” she said.

Hayman said the staff of the new facility is still the same, so local veterans will still be interacting with the same people, but the recent addition of a primary care provider in Dr. Lary Stieglitz will be a significant positive change.

“We’re thrilled to have him with us,” she said.

Hayman said the expanded waiting room will also be a comfortable place for veterans who, at the previous location, may have needed to wait outside if it was a busy day.

She said the new facility was designed around the Patient-Aligned Care Team — PACT — Model which is designed to allow veterans to have all their needs treated without needing to leave the exam room.

She said the fact that veterans rarely have to leave the room is very advantageous because many have mobility issues, which was taken into consideration when they designed the facility to have spacious hallways and wide doors.

Due to the low-key opening of the facility, Hayman said, she hasn’t been able to meet with many patients, but the reviews she got were good.

“I’ve only had the chance to talk to a few veterans, but they were very pleased,” she said.

Vaccine events to come

Today, the clinic will be holding its first vaccination clinic for local veterans.

While this event cannot be attended by anyone who hasn’t already signed up, Hayman said, she highly encourages people to sign up for the next one if they didn’t for this one.

She said the VA clinic called everyone they serve and just over half signed up, but many declined and she hopes they will change their minds when the next one comes around.

“I would encourage everybody to get the vaccine,” she said. “… if you are a veteran who elected not to come I would urge you to re consider.”

Hayman said until 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, herd immunity will be out of reach and wearing masks and social distancing will be the norm well into the foreseeable future.

She said more than 900 medical staff and 600 veterans have been vaccinated with very few side effects, the worst of which was a slight fever that resolved very quickly.

“These vaccines have undergone large scale clinical trials and long-term data continues to support the efficacy of the vaccine,” she said.

Hayman encouraged people to call their health care provider if they have questions.

Encouragement to enroll

Hayman said she’s confident that the transition from one location to the next will be fairly seamless and if there was ever a time for local veterans to be thinking about signing up with the VA’s health care system it would be now, with this new facility up and running.

She said VA staff have specialized training for addressing issues like post traumatic stress disorder, Agent Orange and other issues veterans commonly struggle with.

Hayman said she suspects that veterans who live further away from the new clinic may feel a need to hold off until spring, but she encouraged them to them to come and make use of the new facility in person if they feel they can do so safely.

If not, she said, telehealth services are available.

While the pandemic prevents the clinic from having a traditional opening, the VA is planning to hold an open house of sorts after the pandemic is over.

Hayman said people will be able to visit and tour the facility, and congressional stake holders will be in attendance.