CBOC Spotlight: Waterloo VA Clinic
The Waterloo Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) provides a range of services to Veterans, including audiology, optometry, radiology, physical therapy, primary care, and mental health.
Tom, a Veteran sitting in the waiting room, says he appreciates the convenience of not having to travel to Iowa City for his appointments. Other Veterans have shared their appreciation for the staff saying, “My experiences while utilizing the services of the Waterloo VA Clinic have been very positive. I would go so far as to say, that it was always outstanding, and I would highly recommend them to any veteran and all veterans residing locally needing care. Everyone I encountered while visiting the clinic was always very personable and professional while being knowledgeable and willing to help.”
When reading through the positive comments patients have left regarding their experience at the Waterloo VA Clinic it is understandable how the CBOC has earned a V-Signal Trust score of 95.6, outperforming the National score by 4.1%. “My doctor is very thorough, knowledgeable, and is always very attentive to my needs,” said one Veteran. “I was very impressed with all the staff and particularly the great facility. As a veteran of 32 years, I was given the best care.”
A new service the clinic now offers is their Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC). The van will be used as a production area to modify Veteran prostheses or orthoses. This initiative aims to provide better care to Veterans in the areas of Waterloo, Dubuque, and Ottumwa Clinics. When a provider determines their patient needs this service, they will request a consult at one of the clinics and schedule the Veteran for an evaluation. Because of this initiative, the Certified Prosthetists Orthotist (CPO) will be able to see any patient with prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic needs, including artificial limbs, bracing, and footwear.
The clinic also offers remote visits with healthcare providers to make getting top-notch healthcare even easier for those who have a hard time moving around. These telehealth visits cover various specialties including mental health, retinal care, general surgery follow-up, dermatology, rehabilitation, primary care, audiology, speech, neurology, sleep medicine, prosthetics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, kinesiotherapy, and transplant follow-up. The clinic has also introduced Technology-Based Eye Care Services (TECS) to address the increased likelihood of eye disorders in Veterans of the Vietnam, Korean, or early wars. Additionally, the presence of Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff on-site allows the clinic to provide direct support to Veterans in signing up for benefits.