Lake Charles to Get VA Clinic

I work with a veteran and I've seen our Dave Morgan have to deal with the VA and take days off so that he can travel to a VA clinic. Dave is a Purple Heart winner and deserves better. Well, it looks like he'll get his wish because the paper work is done for us to get a VA Clinic right here in Lake Charles.

A lease has been awarded for a permanent Veterans Clinic in Lake Charles and the new location will be at 3601 Gerstner Memorial Drive (the old location of Lake Charles Toyota) is expected to be ready for use by 2017, according to the VA. The location stands on 4-1/2 acres.

The Community Based Outpatient Clinic is expected to be completed by the end of 2016, with doors opening to veterans approximately two months later. The VA said the facility will provide primary care, women's health, physical therapy, prosthetics, ophthalmology and optometry, mental health, dental and pharmacy services.

The decision on a location is the next step in what has been a long fight to get a permanent clinic in Lake Charles.