'I’m glad they moved it out here': VA Medical Center expands footprint into Lake Country with new Oconomowoc clinic
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- This summer, a welcome sight for thousands of Wisconsin veterans who live in Lake Country and have struggled to keep up with their health care needs. The Milwaukee VA added another outpatient clinic to serve Eastern Wisconsin. The newest location is in Oconomowoc.
Welcoming a new day for veterans west of Milwaukee. This 85-hundred square foot facility just off Summit Avenue is offering new hope to an aging population.
"The VA identified this area as a focus area or did identify a large veteran population who did not have care within 30 minutes of them," said Maria Mousourakis, Supervisory MSA for Oconomowoc and Union Grove VA Clinics.
Jerome Mehling's among them. The Vietnam Veteran with a proud history in the U.S. Marines is here now getting his blood pressure machine checked out to be sure it's working right; glad he didn't have to drive an hour to Milwaukee to do so.
"I brought my machine and all my numbers. I record every morning and every night. Sometimes I record two, three times in a day," said Mehling.
"And it just seems like right now it's fluctuating, and I don't like that because you know to me my health is very important, I want to stay healthy," said Mehling.
For Mehling, transferring his primary care was a no-brainer. Oconomowoc's outpatient clinic's just seven minutes from his home.
"I think it's beautiful and I’m glad they moved it out here and it's gonna help a lot of veterans in this area," said Mehling.
Ten thousand veterans live in the Lake Country region west of Milwaukee along with Dodge, Washington and Jefferson counties. A little over half are eligible for VA care.
"Patients that are currently enrolled with the Milwaukee VA Center, if they are interested in transferring to the Oconomowoc Clinic, they can contact their current primary. Let them know and there is a system in place so we can get those patients transferred over. Patients that are not enrolled in VA services, if they could contact our admissions department at the Milwaukee VA, they'll get those consults in place and then we'll get them scheduled here in Oconomowoc," said Mousourakis.
These are the numbers to call to get started. Oconomowoc VA Outpatient Clinic's main number is 262-628-6969. Dial Extension 44255 for General Questions and Extension 42041 for Admissions. Oconomowoc offers the basics. Anyone needing specialty care will still get those services in Milwaukee. Maria Mousourakis explains.
"This clinic focuses on primary care, mental health, women's health and telehealth services. Beyond that specialty care, patients can be referred to the Milwaukee VA, but they can start their journey here in Oconomowoc and that way they don't have to travel to Milwaukee for every appointment," said Mousourakis.
We got a good look around. The clinic's got that new car smell with six general exam rooms plus two for women's health. It's now the fifth clinic serving under the Milwaukee VA. The others are Union Grove, Green Bay, Appleton and Cleveland, Wisconsin.
Oconomowoc's touch free doors officially opened here in June. They see up to 40 patients a day. This is Randall Walters' first time in.
"I think it's wonderful and I hope the word gets out for a lot of people out this way because it's so convenient," said Walters, Vietnam War Veteran.
Walters lives in Waukesha. Veterans Affairs saved his life in 1969 when the U.S. Marine was medevacked out of Vietnam.
"They shipped me off to Yokohama, Japan, Naval hospital there. I was there a long time. Back to the States, I went to the Naval hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois, yea, long journey," said Walters.
Diagnosed with Agent Orange, Walters is 74 now, falls frequently, and has no feeling from the knees down. He's found great doctors in Milwaukee, specialists he won't give up, but for his primary care needs, Oconomowoc's a convenient option. His longtime partner Joanne Brayton is right there alongside him.
"There's been some scary times and some very good times," said Brayton.
Brayton says Milwaukee offers valet service, but just navigating the large campus can be difficult for Walters in his walker, and when he's in a wheelchair, that can be difficult on her too.
"Sometimes you feel like you need a traffic cop in the hallways. It's so busy. So this is kind of refreshing," said Brayton.
"You know everybody downgrades the VA. They say oh I'm not going to the VA. I could, but I'm not and this and that, whatever. Them are the old days you know what you see on TV. It's absolutely wonderful especially for people that don't have insurance. Okay, I'm gonna tell you this and I'm speaking for a lot of other veterans too. Thank God for the VA," said Walters.