Veterans will soon be seeing a much easier healthcare experience in the Tulsa area. In April, the VA will break ground on a new health care center, combining all three centers it currently uses.
At the current VA outpatient clinic, the number of rooms, size, and parking is limited. But the new VA Health Care Center will triple the building in size, offering brand-new women’s services, G-I services, and mental health services.
"This facility is 18 years old," said C.O.O. Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System Jonathan Plasencia of the outpatient clinic. "We’ve outgrown it two to three times fold, so it will be just a much better healing environment for them."
The center will also allow for expanded services - cutting down wait times and adding more staff to see more patients.
"I think the wait time is going to go down, parking is going to be 100% better, and it’s just going to be a lot better all the way around," patient Dennis Hoch said.
Once the building is built, the VA will move in for a 20-year, nearly $100 million lease. The facility is set to be open by June 2021.