Decorah CBOC Spotlight
When stepping inside the Decorah VA Clinic, you are greeted with a smile as if they have known you for years.
“We have staff that make Veterans feel like they are part of the family,” said Dana Helton. The Decorah staff pride themselves on how they treat their Veterans like they would their own family saying it is a welcoming environment from the moment you walk in the front door. “My appointment included intake by the staff nurse, my doctor, and the social worker,” said one Veteran, “In each of these meetings I was treated with compassion and concern for my situation.” It’s the welcoming atmosphere and professional staff that can contribute to the CBOC’s 90% Trust Score.
A new clinic is set to open in the Spring of 2025, expanding from 9,000 square feet of space to 17,000 square feet. This will allow the Decorah staff to expand their services with features such as, a state-of-the-art physical therapy room and added space for optometry. Currently, the clinic offers their Veterans primary care, mental health, optometry, audiology, physical therapy, radiology, and social work, along with access to dietitians, battlefield acupuncture, labs, pharmacy, and immunizations.
Decorah has two primary care providers onsite. Physician Assistant, Marcy Fadness, has been with the Decorah clinic for nine years. The clinic recently welcomed a new provider, Jenny Stegen, Physician Assistant. “I love getting to know people, learning more about them and their families and what they are doing in their lives,” said Stegen. “I am always going to give my patients 100% and I think they know that about me.” The Decorah team and patients are excited to have Dr. Stegen join the team, and she reciprocates the feeling. “It is gratifying to be able to care for people in a small community where I was raised,” said Stegen.
The new clinic will provide additional space for local Veterans to come in and have a telehealth visit with Iowa City specialists. Veterans can save themselves a long drive to the Iowa City hospital to speak with specialists at the Decorah telehealth location. The area is set up for staff to be nearby to easily assist the Veteran when needed. “Excellent timely service; knowledgeable, professional, and friendly staff providing top quality health care at a convenient location,” said a Veteran. With the new clinic set to open, the future looks promising for the continued provision of high-quality healthcare and support for Veterans in Decorah.