Grassley: Decorah VA Outpatient Clinics Cleared for Opening

Press Release

Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved an outpatient clinic to be opened in Decorah. The process of establishing the Decorah Community Based Outpatient Clinic will begin immediately and it is expected to open its doors in about a year. It will be located in leased space and will be staffed by VA medical personnel. The new Decorah outpatient clinic will be a satellite facility of the Iowa City VA medical center.

"The VA's decision comes as welcome news to many Iowa veterans who have been travelling long distances to receive basic medical care. The outpatient clinic will provide vital access to top-notch local health care for veterans in Decorah and the surrounding communities," Grassley said. "The practice of medicine is much different than it was when the VA system was set up, which makes outpatient clinics like this even more important for veterans in the area."

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 80 percent of the health care provided by the VA hospitals is outpatient care.

Northeast Iowa had been identified as an underserved area by the VA and many residents of northeast Iowa have advocated the creation of an outpatient clinic in Decorah to the VA and the Iowa Congressional delegation.

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