Operating status

Friday, Dec 2, 4:35 p.m. EST

Manchester Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center’s main building is partially closed after experiencing a pipe leak on Saturday, November 26th resulting in water damage. Staff at Manchester VA have been working tirelessly to evaluate the extent of the damage as well as looking ahead into alternative areas to provide the same great care. Unfortunately, the water damage has caused floors 2, 3 and 4 to be closed until further notice, but staff is expeditiously moving forward with repairs. Other areas may have limited access also, but will be clearly labelled.

VA Medical Center staff are contacting Veterans whose appointments are directly affected by the damage.

Medical appointments may be delayed or canceled due to the damage, please call the Clinical Contact Center at 1-833-933-1106 before arriving so we may verify your appointment status. We want to ensure we reschedule all missed appointments during that call.
The Urgent Care area did not sustain damage, but the blood testing lab located in the main building, was affected and is closed. Staff is working as quickly as possible to open an emergency lab, but at the present time all blood tests that are drawn in Urgent Care need to be transported off site for processing.

Although limited lab services will be available, this may impact Urgent Care visits. If lab tests are needed during a patient’s evaluation, the wait could be as long as 3-4 hours. If you need an imaging study that requires a blood test first, such as a CT scan or MRI with contrast, this would also result in a similar increased wait time. Based on this limitation, Manchester VA’s Urgent Care staff may request some patients to seek treatment at another Urgent Care facility, or an Emergency Department, if time sensitivity is crucial to their care.
Likewise, if blood tests are needed, and the patient cannot wait the extended time frame, they may choose another local Urgent Care or Emergency Department. The Manchester VA Urgent Care Staff can help you with identifying those alternative locations.

These operational updates are intended to assist in a redesign for improved lab processing capabilities while also maintaining our Urgent Care, Infusion and Radiology Clinics operational status.
If a Veteran is experiencing a medical emergency, calling 911 is recommended.

Clinical services currently unable to see patients are the following:
• Acupuncture
• Allergy
• Chiropractic
• CPAP
• Endocrinology
• Infectious Disease
• Laboratory Services (excluding Phlebotomy/blood draw)
• Lung Nodule
• Operating Room
• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Pain
• Podiatry
• Podiatry Nail clinic
• Pulmonary Function Test
• Rheumatology
• Sleep
• Transplant Coordinator

Monday (12/5) and Tuesday (12/6)
Routine patient lab draws are cancelled with the exception of Urgent Care, Infusion Clinic and Radiology.
All Community Based Clinics (CBOC) lab draws will also be cancelled for Monday and Tuesday.

Monday, Nov 28, 11:00 a.m. EST

Manchester VA Medical Center’s main building is partially closed after experiencing a pipe leak and flood. Phone calls to Veterans whose appointments are affected are being made to reschedule.

Areas NOT affected and running according to schedule are:

• Urgent Care
• Primary Care
• Mental Health
• Pharmacy
• Radiology
• Rehabilitation
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Women’s Clinic
• 6th floor Surgical Clinic
• Community Living Center
• Infusion and Oncology

Floors 2, 3 and 4 will be closed to Veteran care due to water damage assessment and needed repairs until further notice.

If a Veteran has any questions about their appointment, they should call 1-833-933-1106.  

Wednesday, Nov 30, 10:40 a.m. EST

Appointments scheduled for the 2nd floor specialty medicine clinic are still occurring.  Elevator access is restricted, so only patients who can safely navigate two flights of stairs will be seen.   

Thursday, Dec 1, 8:15 a.m. EST

In person appointments occurring within the 2nd floor clinics are being cancelled.  If possible, appointments may occur by video and/or phone.  A VA staff member will be contacting you if this applies to you.  If you have any questions, please contact 1-833-933-1106