Veterans Administration outpatient clinic

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Alternative site prepared for vets

The Associated Press May 21, 2001

EAST LIVERPOOL - With the Veterans Administration outpatient clinic closed

to fix odor and mold problems, a mobile examination van will serve displaced

patients. The VA also is talking with City Hospital about getting temporary

space to

maintain patient care in East Liverpool.

" We wanted to make a statement to the community that we are serious about

staying, " said Ed Maurer, clinic director of the Youngstown and East

Liverpool VA facilities.

The Vets in Partnership Care Van was brought to the clinic parking lot

Wednesday from a VA facility in Saginaw, Mich., Maurer said. It is scheduled

to open Monday, staffed by a doctor, nurse and administrative staff.

The van will be used primarily to see patients for initial visits and to

make arrangements for further care, Maurer said.

When the clinic was closed last week, patients were referred to the

Youngstown clinic, about 30 miles away.

Maurer said providing care in East Liverpool and reopening the clinic is the

VA's first priority.

" We intend to try and fix the current location, " he said.

The outpatient clinic was closed indefinitely May 9 because of mold and

odors that intermittently caused problems for over the past year. The source

has not been identified.

The VA Outpatient Clinic opened last summer and serves an average of 1,500

patients a month, Maurer said.

About 13,000 veterans live in Columbiana County. Vets from West Virginia and

Pennsylvania also use the clinic.

©Morning Journal News 200