The ribbon-cutting for the new Fort Dodge VA Clinic at 530 S. 25th St. was Wednesday afternoon.

“This new clinic brings two previous separate facilities into one larger, more convenient full-service clinic,” said Darwin Goodspeed, Central Iowa VA director. “This new facility allows veterans to go to one location to get any care issues addressed they need.”

The previous outpatient clinic was 6,593 square feet, and the separate mental health clinic was 1,926 square feet. The new clinic, at more than 16,000 square feet, allows the VA to offer more services under one roof, including mental health, radiology, physical therapy, optometry, audiology and women’s health.

“The VA has recently brought cardiology services to Fort Dodge and we are blessed to have a cardiologist who sees veterans virtually, and an experienced cardiac nurse practitioner who sees veterans on site for their health needs,” said Dr. Lisa Jensen, medical director of Central Iowa VA.

-Submitted photo
Representatives from Central Iowa VA hold a ribbon cutting at the new VA Clinic at 530 S. 25th St.

The single location also allows specialists, like physical therapists and chiropractors, to collaborate with primary care staff to provide better care and treatment plans for the veterans, she added.

The VA clinic will also be adding a social worker to its staff, Jensen said.

“They will be instrumental in connecting veterans with the resources that are available to them,” she said.

The Fort Dodge VA Clinic serves nearly 2,700 area veterans and Goodspeed said they’re hoping to grow the number of veterans the clinic serves.

“We built this clinic with growth in mind and we hope we can build a healthcare resource for all veterans in this part of the state,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Several members of the community attended a ribbon-cutting and open house for the new VA Health Clinic in Fort Dodge on Wednesday.

The new facility also has group rooms available for educational classes, support groups and other group activities for veterans.

“We’re always looking for ways to expand our services for veterans,” Jensen said.

Though the address of the VA Clinic has changed, what matters most hasn’t, Jensen said.

“What a contrast this facility is in comparison to the old one — it is just beautiful,” she said. “But what truly makes this place beautiful hasn’t changed, no location or building can change this. What’s most beautiful about this is the beautiful people, the veterans who walk through these doors seeking care services and compassion and the staff who serve them.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Dr. Lisa Jensen, medical officer, talks about the services the new VA Health Clinic will offer in Fort Dodge.