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May 6, 2009

Elizabethtown VA Clinic attempts to avoid closure

E'town Hospital CEO to argue against likely closing

By ALVIN REINER

ELIZABETHTOWN — Elizabethtown Community Hospital CEO Rod Boula is concerned about the possible closure of the VA Clinic, which has been housed in that facility for more than two decades.

Boula, a Vietnam-era veteran, received the approximately 60-page Veterans Administration proposal April 15 and plans to have his input completed by the May 15 deadline.

The Elizabethtown clinic is one of only two in New York state that are hospital-based; the other is in Carthage.

During ECH's recent expansion, renovations and upgrade of services, a new and larger VA Clinic was incorporated within the facility.

There's also the option of a "store-front" clinic that would operate in a separate building in Elizabethtown.

Boula admits it may be less expensive to have a store-front facility, but he said it would likely necessitate patients going to the hospital or another facility for lab tests, X-rays and other medical procedures.

"We can't give space at less than cost," Boula said. "We have to break even."

He said the hospital lost $60,000 last year with the current government payment plan.

The hospital has been working with the VA in Albany about providing a physician for the clinic rather than a physician's assistant, which is one of the reasons a clinic move to the Tri-Lakes area is being considered.

"It's hard to recruit a physician in this area," Boula said. "We have a veteran population that has been extremely cooperative in working with us. They know we are serious with recruitment. For the most part, the VA in Albany has been cooperative, and we're appreciative."

Boula feels political pressure has come from the west side of the region for service in the Lake Placid area. He said the best solution is to have two clinics.

"But that would take congressional action, and it's not likely to happen.

"There are people making decisions who don't know about the geography of the area. We have four seasons, and in the winter there is treacherous driving. Veterans deserve better than that. Veterans are irate."

Boula has received petitions with 220 names and is expecting others with more than 500 signatures total.

Veterans using the clinic come from areas as diverse as Churubusco, Minerva, Glens Falls and Rouses Point, even though there are clinics in Plattsburgh and Malone, he said.

Boula pointed with pride to the quality of service afforded by the Elizabethtown clinic.

"We receive accolades from surveys. We know we are doing something right."

The VA said it wants to relocate the clinic to Saranac Lake or Lake Placid.

"The VA will also consider proposals that offer a full-time clinic presence split between either Saranac Lake and Elizabethtown or Lake Placid and Elizabethtown," according to the VA proposal.

The VA says 830 veterans are enrolled at the Elizabethtown clinic and projects Saranac Lake enrollment of 401 from Essex County, 114 from Franklin County and 50 from Hamilton County.

A public meeting about the potential clinic move will be held at 1 p.m. today in the Old Essex County Courthouse on Court Street (Route 9).

E-mail Alvin Reiner at: rondackrambler@yahoo.com

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