Hurricane Helene Causes Damage to Spartanburg VA Clinic: Temporary Medical Units

Despite these setbacks, the Columbia VA Health Care System remains committed to ensuring the continuity of care for Veterans, employing creative solutions like the deployment of mobile medical units known as C-Forts.

Roger Depra, Chief of Community-Based Outpatient Care, explained that the hurricane had made the Spartanburg clinic unsafe for patient care. However, the arrival of the mobile medical unit has allowed care to resume at a limited capacity.

“Having the mobile medical unit is going to allow us to resume patient care, although in a limited capacity,” Depra said. “We’ll still have a clinician on-site along with a nurse to do face-to-face visits, in addition to the video visits we’ve been doing to continue care for Spartanburg.”

While the mobile medical unit may not fully restore all the services that the Spartanburg clinic typically provides, they are equipped to handle many key functions, including routine follow-up care, joint injections, and battlefield acupuncture. Veterans no longer need to drive to Greenville for these treatments, which is a welcome relief to many.

“We’ve been able to do virtual care for mental health and primary care, but it’s great to be able to bring joint injections and acupuncture back to Spartanburg,” Depra added. “For acute walk-in visits, we’ll also be able to handle those here.”

Despite the limitations, the staff has adapted well to the new circumstances. Services like mental health care, which naturally lend themselves to virtual care, have continued uninterrupted, and face-to-face visits for new patients have been conducted at other locations like Greenville.

“Although we’re not able to offer all services, we’ve worked hard to minimize the inconvenience to Veterans,” Depra explained. “We’ve been coordinating lab work at other locations, including Greenville, Anderson, or even the Columbia VA Medical Center.”

In addition to medical care, the team has been providing essential support to Veterans affected by the storm. The Vet Service Van has been a consistent presence, offering Veterans a place to charge phones, cool off, and access important community information, such as which stores and gas stations are open.

“We’ve been here for the Veterans even when the clinic itself hasn’t been available. Whether it’s helping them charge their phones, giving them water, or simply letting them know how their care will proceed, we’ve made sure to provide information and support in any way we can,” said Jacqueline Davis, Nurse Manager for Spartanburg.

Despite the physical displacement and disruption caused by the hurricane, the staff at the Spartanburg clinic has maintained a positive attitude. Davis noted that the team has stayed upbeat, even in the face of significant challenges.

“It’s been tough being displaced, but we’ve had a great attitude. We’re making lemonade out of lemons,” Davis said. “We’re screening Veterans as they come through, coordinating paperwork, managing injections, and funneling people to where they need to go. The team has really come together.”

Aaron Gaetel, Emergency Management Specialist with the VHA Office of Emergency Management (OEM), described the mobile medical unit as highly versatile. These 20-foot sea container platforms are designed to provide critical care capabilities in emergency situations like this one.

“The units are equipped with three exam rooms, a nurse’s station, sinks with potable water, and generation capabilities, which can also be hooked up to shore power,” Gaetel explained. “Theoretically, they can remain operational indefinitely as long as there’s a power source and they’re maintained.”

These units can be set up in just a few hours, and although the Spartanburg clinic is expected to remain under repair for some time, the mobile medical unit will provide a temporary solution that can meet many of the Veterans' immediate needs.

The timeline for the Spartanburg VA Clinic’s repairs remains uncertain. Local contractors are handling the building repairs, and the building owner is still navigating insurance claims. “We expect to be using the medical unit through at least the end of November,” Depra speculated.

Despite the uncertainty, Depra and the rest of the Spartanburg team remain committed to providing care. “The staff has done an amazing job of being flexible and continuing to provide care for Veterans, whether in person, virtually, or by coordinating essential services like lab work,” Depra emphasized.

The community and Veterans can rest assured that the staff at the Spartanburg VA Clinic is doing everything possible to minimize the impact of the storm on patient care.

With the clinic's reopening still on the horizon, the team remains focused on keeping Veterans informed and ensuring that their health care needs are met. The Acting Medical Center Director, Oscar G. Rodriguez, expressed his appreciation for the staff's resilience and flexibility during this challenging time.

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s resilience and dedication in the face of the challenges caused by Hurricane Helene. Their ability to adapt quickly and continue providing exceptional care for our Veterans, even in temporary facilities, speaks volumes about their commitment. While the situation is far from ideal, our focus remains on ensuring that every Veteran continues to receive the care they deserve. We appreciate the patience of the Spartanburg community as we work through these repairs, and we are committed to keeping everyone informed as we move forward,” said Rodriguez. 

For more information about what’s going on at the Veterans medical center, clinic locations and other services available to Veterans in and around Columbia, visit the website https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, keyword: VAColumbiaSC.

About the Columbia VAHCS:

The Columbia VAHCS comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics located throughout South Carolina in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Sumter; serving more than 90,000 veterans annually in 36 of 46 counties in South Carolina. The Columbia VA is a level 1b teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology, education, and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine, and rehabilitation.