Ottumwa CBOC Highlight
“The staff at the Ottumwa VA Clinic are the most professional, efficient, competent, and caring staff that I have ever come across,” said one Veteran about their experience at the Ottumwa CBOC.
“As a healthcare executive, I have received care in many settings and places, but the caliber of care delivered at the Ottumwa VA Clinic was impressive and has no comparison anywhere! Just excellence. So proud to be the recipient of their services,” they continued.
The Ottumwa CBOC prides itself on being proactive in efforts to help meet their Veterans where they are, and their efforts do not go unnoticed by patients and loved ones. The staff is described as “very professional”, “courteous”, and “always willing to go above and beyond”. Many Veteran patients say the Ottumwa BOC is the best medical clinic they have ever had to deal with. With all the compliments, it is understood how the staff has received a V-Signal Trust Score of 100% for April, May, and June.
Because of the small community, the staff can make deeper connections with their patients which allows them to get a better understanding of the needs they have outside of an exam room. One initiative the staff decided to start is their resource center located in the waiting room of their CBOC. Staff noticed longer lines were forming at the front desk and most people online were looking for information on a program or service. The staff took it upon themselves to create a quiet space in the corner of the waiting room to leave materials out for Veterans and their loved ones to read in their own time. Resources include information on upcoming events like Veteran coffee socials, crisis line information, and numbers, travel claims information, details on various services offered, and more. The staff says the corner has been well received by Veterans and cleared up their front lobby, so they can get to patients and their needs quicker. “I enjoy going there and how and how they explain things to me in a matter I can understand,” said one Veteran.
To help maintain the positive atmosphere felt as soon as you walk in, the staff makes sure to check in on each other. Mental health is an open topic amongst the staff, and leadership has started offering a large coloring page set up in the front conference room for staff to use as they need. The quiet space equipped with colored pencils and fun cartoons to color in that reflect the area aims to help reduce stress, promote mindfulness, and improve motor skills and vision.