Gallup Independent: Bigger & Better

GALLUP — The new Gallup Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic is more than 2,000 square feet larger than the previous clinic, enabling the facility to provide care and services for about 1,155 veterans in and around Gallup.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Ray Lujn celebrated the grand opening of the facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning along with city, state and Navajo Nation officials and more than 100 community members, including several veterans. Rain sprinkled onto the audience, which many considered a blessing.  

The new clinic, located at 2075 New Mexico Highway 602, covers 7,077 square feet and has plenty of patient parking with eight handicap spaces and 48 regular spots. The old clinic, at 520 E. New Mexico Highway 564, was only 4,800 square feet.

“The condition of the previous community based outpatient clinic was just not adequate,” Heinrich said. “So Congressman Luján and I really started going to work on the VA leadership, saying that in a big state like New Mexico that has so many miles between populations, you can’t expect a veteran who lives half an hour north of Gallup to be going in and out of Albuquerque for basic services.”

He said the need for more efficient and responsive care necessitated a new clinic in Gallup.

Luján said there is now legislation to help veterans who are not being seen in a timely manner. They can get care outside of the VA system. If they live 40 miles or more away from a facility, they’re able to get additional care as well.

“We’re continuing to keep pressure on the VA to address all the backlogs when it comes to VA cases,” he said. “While we have seen some of these issues begin to be addressed, there’s always room for improvement and we have to keep that pressure on.

The new Gallup clinic offers primary care, primary mental health and a laboratory. Other services are being expanded through telemedicine, such as pharmaceutical care and chronic disease education.

Cassandra Valdez, the associate chief nurse for ambulatory care for the New Mexico VA Health Care System, said the telemedicine advances bring tremendous resources to Gallup.

“That’s a model we’re going to see grow,” she said. “It’s a big important step by bringing specialties to this area. Vets don’t have to drive to Albuquerque. ... It’s exciting to see all of that emerge.”

Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura said he could attest to the level of care that the VA provides at its facilities. “Had it not been for them, I wouldn’t know if I’d be here today,” he said, noting that he’s nearly 90 years old. “I have received the best care at these VA facilities. ... I would like to thank the personnel since 1953 who made it possible for me and my fellow veterans to keep going.”

In addition to thanking all of the veterans present for their service, Luján paid respect to a veteran who passed away recently, Trinidad “Trini” Saucedo.

“Trini was a best example of someone who stepped up to use his experience at the Oklahoma City Social Security office to help veterans,” Luján said. “I know that Trini was a brother to each and every one of you, and it’s important that we remember him today as we celebrate the opening of this facility.”

Mayor Jackie McKinney said the new clinic is an installment on a debt that can never be paid to all veterans. He also noted the coming construction of the national veterans ceremony in Gallup.

“We’re going to have a home,” McKinney said. “We got a home here to take care of your health and we’ve got a place to memorialize those that have went before us.”

Perry Shirley, speaking on behalf of the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, noted that Russell Begaye and Jonathan Nez carried the message to help veterans throughout their election campaign.

“We are, as a Navajo Nation, government, very proud and excited that we could see this event and we could see this facility come to fruition,” Shirley said.

Shirley, along with several other speakers, also acknowledged the return of Eunice Muskett as a health care provider at the Gallup clinic.

The Gallup VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays and all federal holidays. 

Information: For appointments, call the clinic at 505-722-7234.

For information about enrollment in the clinic, call 505-265-1711. For after hours assistance, call 866-862-7863. For emergency care, call 911.

Online:  www.albuquerque.va.gov/locations/ GallupClinic.asp