Lakeland's VA Clinic Moves Into Its New Home (2024)

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A new, state-of-the-art Veterans Affairs clinic has opened in south Lakeland, and patients and staff say it’s a big improvement.

The two-story facility is at 2080 Meadowland Park Blvd, behind the Sam’s Club on Lakeland Highlands Road. It will have its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 26.

How it compares: The new facility is almost five times larger than the spaces the VA previously leased at 4231 and 4237 S. Pipkin Road.One of those buildings was closed in April when mold was discovered in ductwork.

The new clinic has 235 employees, an increase of 102 over the previous site. And it expects to serve about 23,000 veterans annually, compared with about 9,000 last year at the previous location.

Veteran-approved: Gary Berg, 76, served as a United States Marine in the final year of the Vietnam War and in Okinawa. On Friday morning, he gave two thumbs up to the new digs after having his blood pressure and blood sugar level checked following ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation (Afib).

“You’re still dealing with the same people — it’s a lot nicer, the seats are a lot better,” Berg said following his appointment. “Here, it’s newer, it’s cleaner, it’s more patient-friendly. The people are a little more on top of things.”

Berg was in and out of the building in under half an hour.

Slideshow: See the new clinic

Employees happy: Andrea Speer and Antee*za Rodriguez, two telehealth nurses, were in a conference room, learning some new technology.

“Our facility is fantastic,” Speer said. “We’ve been here since May. Our patients love it, our staff is super happy. We’ve needed more space for years.”

She said it’s nice to have a space designed as a clinic rather than retrofitting a rented office building. There are wider doors, bigger hallways and places for patients to feel comfortable. “Our patients could come here and hang out if they wanted — they could come and meet a friend here and hang out in the library.”

Rodriguez, whose husband is in charge of the recruiting center on Dale Mabry Boulevard in Tampa, said she was thrilled with the bigger building, which can accommodate spouses or caregivers in waiting areas.

“They can bring their support,” she said.

Mental healthcare: Psychologist Julia Meehan Moroney praised the building’s design, which includes a wall of two-story windows in the multiple waiting areas that skirt the front of the building.

“Our old waiting area would get pretty crowded on busy days,” Meehan Moroney said. “It’s a lot more peaceful. They seem more relaxed. It’s better for our veterans who are uncomfortable in crowded situations.”

Meehan Moroney treats veterans with addiction disorders. She provides one-on-one therapy, adding that group therapy will be starting soon at the new location.

Camaraderie: Veteran’s Affairs Police Lead Sgt. Chris Glover, 60, is not only an employee, he is also a patient. Glover served in the U.S. Navy and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked for the U.S. Department of Defense and then switched to the VA Police seven years ago.

“Ninety-five percent of our police force is veterans,” he said. “It enables us to communicate with veterans and we understand where they’re coming from.”

He said the new clinic has much more to offer than the old one on South Pipkin Road.

“I think it’s incredible for the veterans,” said Glover. “I’ve been here two months now — just the camaraderie between everybody’s so much stronger.”

Glover served as an investigator from Baghdad to the Syrian border and would be sent to any scene where an American soldier died. He said the VA prefers to have veterans policing and protecting the facilities.

He and the six officers he oversees in Lakeland are constantly trained on how to de-escalate situations in which they might deal with a disgruntled patient or a veteran whose post-traumatic stress disorder has been triggered.

“I look forward to coming to work every day and I truly mean it,” Glover said. “All my guys are the same way. We all get along, and we have a family-type relationship. We’re all brothers and anyone would do anything for the others.”

The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m., 2080 Meadowland Park Blvd. in Lakeland. The public is welcome to attend and tour the new facility.