Potter County VA Clinic To Expand Hours Starting Sept. 1

An update on the Potter County Veterans Clinic was presented during today’s meeting of the Potter County Commissioners. Brandon Gardner, a representative from the Bath (N.Y.) VA Medical Center, which operates the local clinic, announced that effective Sept. 1 the clinic will offer expanded operating hours. It will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Gardner said the VA also plans to periodically bring medical specialists to Potter County facility through the use of a mobile clinic, complete with examination/treatment rooms.

Potter County Veterans’ Primary Care Office and Outreach Center opened last July at the county’s Maple View property (24 Buffalo Street), just off Rt. 872, south of the Rt. 6 intersection in east Coudersport.  The center is staffed by personnel trained to process new enrollments, update patient information, conduct screenings and deliver primary care and/or referrals, depending on each individual veteran’s needs. More information is available at (814) 260-9342. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling that number. Anyone with general inquiries about VA services can call 1-877-845-3247.

Gardner said the VA was very pleased with the clinic’s first year of operation. More than 300 military veterans from Potter County have enrolled for care and more are being added to the rolls each week, he noted. The VA has launched a concerted effort to reach out to veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Potter County’s total veteran population is about 1,700, Gardner said, adding that approximately 800 of them are eligible for the most VA services based on income and other criteria. He expressed his appreciation to the commissioners and Veterans Affairs Director Lenny Kalkbrenner for partnering with the VA to expand local veterans’ services and establish the clinic.