FINDLAY, Ohio — A new veterans affairs clinic opening in Findlay on Tuesday aims to serve those who previously had to drive as far as Ann Arbor for appointments.
Chris Arbino, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System spokesperson, says the nearly 7,000-square-foot facility at 1720 E. Melrose Ave. will fill a need for northwest Ohio by serving veterans in Hancock County and surrounding counties.
"Most of the veterans down there were traveling up to 45 minutes from Findlay to the Toledo area to our Toledo CBOC over on Detroit Avenue. And then they had to travel back," Arbino said. "You think about what that takes away from a person in their day, it's an hour of travel. The appointment is about an hour and then it's an hour back."
The VA found about 3,000 veterans live in a half-hour radius around Findlay, so the need for a closer clinic was clear.
"We find that a lot of veterans that utilize VA care have better outcomes, especially when it comes to mental health and primary care," Arbino said. "We have very high marks at our Toledo clinic, our VA Ann Arbor Hospital. And so we know that VA care is of the highest quality care that a veteran can receive."
The new facility will provide primary care, mental health, vaccinations and more.
"To be able to put this into the Findlay area, Findlay is such a patriotic city. They take Flag City very seriously and the veterans down there, there's an immense amount of pride with that veteran community in Hancock County," Arbino said. "For us to be able to join that community as part of VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, that means a lot to everybody."
The clinic will hold and information and enrollment fair on Friday so veterans can learn more about the new facility and its services.
Veterans interested in signing up for VA health care or transferring to the Findlay clinic are asked to call 734-769-7100.