Published: July 03, 2008 11:20 am      

Veterans clinic to open in fall

Local veterans will now be able to receive care at a new Veterans Administration primary care clinic in Goshen, announced Wednesday by Reps. Mark Souder, R-3rd District, and Joe Donnelly, D-2nd District.

Ambulatory Care Solutions has been awarded the contract to run the clinic.

“It’s a good thing we don’t have to go to Fort Wayne, South Bend or Indianapolis anymore,” Mark Uptgraft, member of the men’s auxiliary at VFW Post 985 and the DAV, said. “I’m glad to see that happen.”

Uptgraft retired from the military only a few years ago after serving for 25 years in the National Guard.

“I think it’s great having a clinic nearby,” DAV 15 Auxiliary Commander Tana Penland said. “Since we changed the way we’re doing van transportation, it makes it easier for guys in Elkhart, LaGrange and Kosciusko counties to go for care.”

Penland’s father, the former hospital coordinator, drove 40 to 50 local veterans to the three clinics every day.

“We expect to serve approximately 2,500 veterans in the first full year, gradually increasing after that,” Tim Twiss of the VA said.

The current expected opening of the clinic, located at 2014 Lincolnway East, is around Oct. 1.

“Veterans in Elkhart and Kosciusko counties, as well as western Noble and LaGrange counties, desperately need this clinic, which will open in just a few months,” Souder said. “John Earnest and Ambulatory Care Solutions have a proven track record running veterans’ outpatient clinics, and I congratulate them on winning the award.”

Earnest is the owner of Ambulatory Care Solutions, which is based in Marion.

Rep. Donnelly received the Department of Indiana Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2007-2008 Legislator of the Year award in June for his work on behalf of veterans in his district and the state.

“The commitment of our men and women in uniform must be matched and repaid by our commitment to them, and by our never forgetting those who have fallen,” Donnelly said after receiving the award.

He pointed to cooperation between himself, the VA and Rep. Souder for the success of the new clinic.

“In my very first meeting with the VA, I highlighted the importance of this clinic, and I have consistently advocated for it since that time. During this process, I have enjoyed a partnership with Congressman Souder to achieve our common goal to help our veterans,” he said.

According to their Web site, “Ambulatory Care Solutions is a small, veteran-owned business providing primary medical care to veterans in VA’s Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Indiana and surrounding states.”

The CBOCs they run “function like a private medical practice with board certified physicians and nurse practitioners.”

Ambulatory Care Solutions was established in 2004, and provides outpatient care at VA clinics in South Bend, Terre Haute and Bloomington, according to Reps. Souder and Donnelly.

The clinic was approved after Souder and former 2nd District Rep. Chris Chocola pressured the VA to open one in Elkhart County. A VA study recommended a clinic be opened here but it was not in the VA’s final plan for outpatient clinics in 2004. The contract for the clinic had been bid out last year, but due to a lack of specifications in the contract, it had to be pulled and bids resolicited in February. The cost of the contract has not yet been released.