Battle Creek VA opens new clinic in Muskegon
A ribbon cutting ceremony took place in Muskegon, Michigan, June 21, celebrating Battle Creek VA Medical Center’s newest clinic, improving and expanding services to Veterans who receive VA healthcare in the local community.
Over 300 Veterans, staff, and guests attended the event, which was followed by an open tour of the new facility to those in attendance.
“We’ve been in Muskegon for 25 years, but as many of you know, the Veteran population here has continued to grow and we changed the way we deliver care within the VA through a teams’ process with our PACT Teams,” said Michelle Martin, Executive Director, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, during her opening remarks. “We are very proud to move into this very new and modern facility that was designed just for you, Veterans and our staff, to have such a modern facility.”
The new facility is an upgrade from its previous structure nearly doubling in size from 14,000 square feet to 27,300 square feet. Construction began in August, 2022, and the physical structure was completed in December, 2023. The new clinic will also have 50-55 staff onsite, including one physician, two nurse practitioners (and two more starting soon), a mental health physician’s assistant, a mental health nurse, a peer support specialist, social workers, lab technicians, telehealth technicians and administrative staff.
“With the expanded space over the next year we’ll be looking to see what other services we can provide here in Muskegon saving you from trips most likely at our Wyoming clinic or even down into Battle Creek,” added Martin during her address to attendees.
This expanded space allows the clinic to enhance mental health, laboratory, and primary care services to better accommodate the needs of the growing population. The new clinic will also support the introduction of an eye care program and chiropractic services within this year, further broadening its range of healthcare offerings now, and leaves room for considerations of other services to be provided.
“There’s many different specialty services that we are looking into, which is good as the Veteran population continues to grow quickly here in the area, so we need to be able to continue to grow as well,” said Zachary Hodge, Muskegon VA Clinic Manager and Program Specialist.
The Muskegon clinic served 5,200 patients in 2021 with 31,000 outpatient visits. That’s grown significantly since 2010, when there was a total of 11,150 visits by 3,040 veterans.
The ribbon cutting ceremony ended with Martin thanking Muskegon staff who assisted in the transition into the new clinic from the previous location, to better serve those who receive VA healthcare. “We really want to make this a healing and Whole Health environment for our Veterans.”