Clarksville VA Clinic expands offerings with new respiratory services for Veterans

The newly established respiratory services are designed to provide more timely and accessible care to Veterans residing in Montgomery County and the neighboring communities. These services include: 

• Home Oxygen Clinic - This clinic specializes in conducting home oxygen evaluations and facilitates the renewal of prescriptions for home oxygen therapy.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Education Clinic - This clinic provides comprehensive education and training regarding the use of medications and effective strategies to mitigate exacerbations of COPD, with the primary objective of enhancing the quality of life for Veterans.
• Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Clinic - This clinic administers pulmonary function tests to diagnose respiratory diseases, evaluate the severity of lung impairment, and monitor the progression of such diseases.

“Providing these services locally minimizes the driving distance for Veterans, opening appointment slots in Nashville, and reducing wait times for appointments … Clarksville area patients will no longer have to go to Nashville for these services,” said Shawn Sells, TVHS Chief of Respiratory Care.

This is the second series of respiratory services opened by TVHS at one of its outpatient facilities. The Chattanooga VA Clinic was the first to receive a home oxygen clinic, COPD education clinic, and PFT clinic. 

According to Sells, in 2020, Veterans receiving respiratory care in Chattanooga had to travel to the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center or Nashville VA Medical Center for certain VA respiratory services or requested community care to receive services locally. Due to the travel constraints, many Veterans cancelled their appointments or sought non-VA care for their respiratory health needs.

By expanding services at the Chattanooga VA Clinic, Veterans were able to enjoy more timely and accessible specialized care with their local VA health care provider.

Following the success in Chattanooga, Sells worked with TVHS leadership to identify and expand respiratory services to serve the largest number of Veterans. He discovered that Clarksville was in a situation similar to Chattanooga. 

In March 2024, according to VA data more than 46,000 Veterans in the area were PACT Act eligible, but only 45.7% of those eligible were enrolled with VA, said Sells.

The PACT Act, or the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other potential toxic substances. The law also increased resources to VA medical centers to improve care for enrolled Veterans and support the influx of newly eligible Veterans. 

Veterans exposed to potentially toxic substances are at a higher risk of respiratory issues. Providing respiratory services, such as in Chattanooga and Clarksville, are ways TVHS is delivering needed care to Veterans eligible under the PACT Act..

So far, the Clarksville VA Clinic has treated 47 patients at its new respiratory care clinics since its opening in mid-December. 

“Pulmonary function testing can be an important diagnostic component in supporting appropriate treatments of Veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards such as burn pits,” said Calvin Carter, Clarksville VA Clinic Manager.

For Sells, who spearheaded the launch of respiratory services at both locations, providing these local resources can help Veterans breathe more easily.

“My whole purpose for the expansions has always been to make our services more readily available to Veterans. I have seen our coverage area for TVHS and have strategically planned to provide respiratory services within a reasonable distance for Veterans,” said Sells.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care should talk to their primary care provider to determine if a respiratory care consult is right for them. For Veterans not enrolled, visit the Clarksville VA Clinic to register for VA health care today.