In June 2020, ground was broken on construction of the Soldotna Community Based Outpatient Clinic, located on West Rockwell Avenue near Central Peninsula Hospital. On Wednesday, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held signaling the grand opening by the Alaska VA Healthcare System.
A catastrophic failure nearly three years ago in the Kenai facility signaled the need to find a new place for a clinic, according to Tom Steinbrunner, FACHE, Director of the Alaska VA Healthcare System:
“Over the last three years, we’ve had a split operation. Mental health services provided in Kenai. Primary care services provided in temporary facilities in Soldotna. It’s made for challenges coordinating integrated care for our veterans and by bringing them together, it creates an opportunity to provide that holistic approach to healthcare, integrating both mental health professionals and primary care professionals into the care for our veterans. It also enables us the ability to expand services for our veterans.”
On top of audiology services, Steinbrunner speaks on the services this new clinic provides:
“In addition to audiology, it will be rotating podiatry down through Anchorage. We’ll also have the ability to expand our telehealth capability with other specialists supporting residents down here, veterans down here. One of the first areas that we’re looking at is the opportunity for ENT consults. So if you have a need for something in otolaryngology, we have a fantastic specialist up in Anchorage that she’ll be able to provide that either via tele-support or on periodic rotations down here.”
Steinbrunner says it’s important that veterans enroll with the VA. If you’re not enrolled in VA health care, staff online or in person at the Soldotna Community Based Outpatient Clinic can help you apply. In addition, whether you moved or need to change your medical center or need a primary care provider in the area, the Alaska VA Healthcare System can help get you registered.