U.S. Army Veteran Brett Baker didn’t have to take any time off from his job to meet with his new primary care provider at Dallas VA Medical Center on an unseasonably cold Tuesday. Baker also secured a prime parking spot and enjoyed a line-free clinic check-in process within mere minutes, thanks to an innovative evening and night primary care option: Bravo Clinic.
Bravo Clinic came about as the result of feedback from some of VA North Texas’ 133,000 patient population that seeing their primary care provider during normal business hours required using hours of sick leave, vacation time, missing college classes, or even unpaid work periods. Bravo Clinic’s operational hours spanning 3:30 to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, created a preferred option for Veterans to get the health care they earned when it most convenient for them and their schedules.
“As a Veteran and VA employee, I know first-hand the process of having to use sick leave to see my VA health care provider during a normal work day,” said Gwendella Robinson, VA’s associate director for Patient Care Services at the facility and a retired Navy officer. “Bravo Clinic gives our Veterans who work during the day, attend school, or have family obligations, greater access and choice to see the VA provider who best knows their needs and any complexities with their care.”
Bravo Clinic has a capacity of 1,200 patients for 12 appointments per day and is seeking to transfer in, or enroll, at least 10 Veterans per day. In addition to offering a full panel of clinical services, Bravo Clinic is fully certified as a VA Woman Veteran Health Care option.
“VHA has challenged facilities to plan and develop unique health care delivery systems that address Veteran’s personal preferences and needs,” said Lori Ellis, a nurse practitioner and Bravo Clinic team leader. “Bravo Clinic exactly meets the needs of our female Veterans, our fastest growing segment of care.”
Veteran’s like Brett Baker made the move to Bravo Clinic for work reasons, but stay at VA North Texas because of the quality of care.
“The Dallas VA is right up there with the best of the best in my opinion for the quality of care I get,” said Baker. “This Clinic is great because I can now come after my work tour and not have to use my scarce sick leave.”
Jeffrey Clapper is the VA North Texas Health Care System Public Affairs Officer. He is a decorated Combat Veteran, award winning photojournalist and documentary film maker.
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Well done. This is what veterans deserve.
Vast Aholes stick again
When did this “evening hours” program start in Dallas?
Wish they had something like this in California, many of us veterans need these services.
I wish they would do that in Fort Worth Also. There are alot of vets over here too
I have never seen a hospital as dysfunctional as the Ft Worth VA hospital. They should be shut down for the way the Veterans are treated it or maybe I should say not treated in this facility if you dared to question their lack of care, I would stay specific cases but not on an open area such as this because I have witnessed the repercussions from how a Vet is treated if you dare to question their. Over staffed and vets are underserved. Sad how they are treated with such disrespect.
Judy B. – you are so right about these “back lashes” to Veterans that voice the truth. I have been victimized, stigmatized, and black listed for taking issues to these public forums. I received an e mail that someone would contact me about an issue, never happened. Now, I’m being ignored and told go get an HMO. At 100% SC this is the treatment for 9 years of truly dedicated Service, and yes, I have the Medals to prove it. Even Congressmen don’t care or can change the VA System. This evening clinic will be another waste of tax payers money. The day folks don’t want to work, who will be accountable to make sure there is no Secret Wait list for night appointments……power corrupts, and absolute power-absolutely corrupts!
With this new system they have in Dallas of able to see your primary doctor are they going to extend that as East Tennessee really needs it the nearest out patient clinic is forty miles away an they keep saying that there going to put a V.A. hospital in Knoxville TN but it’s all talk we really need one there.
“Bravo Clinic has a capacity of 1,200 patients for 12 appointments per day and is seeking to transfer in, or enroll, at least 10 Veterans per day.”
Does this mean they are open right hours a day but can only see 12 patients in an eight hour time frame (twelve appointments per day)? Or does this need a clearer explanation?