New veteran’s clinic will be based in Mount Vernon

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray announced today that Mount Vernon has been chosen as the permanent site for a new Northwest Washington Veterans’ Clinic. Larsen, a 2nd District Democrat, and Murray, D-Wash., have been pressing for a new outpatient clinic for veterans for nearly six years. Many veterans on Whidbey Island have relied on the VA hospital in Seattle for care.

By Brian Kelly • July 2, 2008 4:45 pm

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray announced today that Mount Vernon has been chosen as the permanent site for a new Northwest Washington Veterans’ Clinic.

Larsen, a 2nd District Democrat, and Murray, D-Wash., have been pressing for a new outpatient clinic for veterans for nearly six years. Many veterans on Whidbey Island have relied on the VA hospital in Seattle for care.

For a number of years, Murray and Larsen have pressed the VA to open a community-based outpatient clinic in Northwest Washington, advocating on behalf of many local veterans who spend hours in traffic to get medical care at the VA hospital in Seattle.

“This clinic will — at long last — bring veterans health care closer to veterans in Northwest Washington,” Larsen said.

“Local veterans have led the way in bringing this clinic to Northwest Washington, and Sen. Murray and I have been proud to be your advocates in Congress to help make this clinic a reality,” he added. “Together, we will keep working until the doors of this clinic are open for business and veterans can get the care they need closer to home.”

The clinic, located near Skagit Valley Hospital at 307 South 13th St. in Mount Vernon, will bring healthcare closer to home for veterans in Island, Skagit, north Snohomish, Whatcom and San Juan counties.

The new clinic is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2009. It will offer primary care and mental health services, as well as a pharmacy and eye, ear, X-ray and dental care.

The clinic may serve as many as 6,500 veterans.

“Northwest Washington veterans have fought for our freedoms, they have fought for this facility, and they are on the verge of finally having access to the quality care they deserve,” Sen. Murray said. “Rep. Larsen and I have been proud to partner with veterans on this clinic and we will stand with them until the doors to this facility open.”

Murray and Larsen also praised the VA’s recent announcement to open the community-based outpatient clinic. The VA opened a temporary mobile clinic at Skagit Valley Hospital in February; the clinic moved into a larger facility in May on the campus of United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.