Old pizza parlor is new clinic for veterans
JANESVILLE — A building that used to serve pizza and mojos now will serve veterans.
The former Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, 2419 Morse St., is being transformed into a Veterans Administration Medical Clinic.
The new clinic will have more space, offer extended mental health services and will be staffed by VA employees.
And with a location right off of Interstate 90/39, it will be accessible to vets from all over the county and northern Illinois.
“The more convenient a VA facility is, the more likely it is that it will used,” said Bob Baker, a Vietnam combat veteran and lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The current VA medical clinic at 111 N. Main St. will not close until the new clinic is opened, so patients will have continuous care.
Differences between the two facilities include:
-- Space: The North Main Street clinic occupies roughly 2,600 square feet and treats about 2,300 patients a year.
The Morse Street clinic will be an estimated 4,400 square feet, with room to expand.
Along with the regular contingency of older combat veterans, south central Wisconsin is also home to a variety of military units including Company A, the 132nd support battalion. The Wisconsin Army National Guard also has units in Beloit, Elkhorn and Fort Atkinson. All of those units have been called up for active service and will leave for Iraq in the spring of next year.
-- Staffing: Sterling Medical Services, under contract with the VA, staffs the current clinic. VA employees will staff the new clinic.
“We have nothing but good things to say about Sterling Medical,” said John Rohrer, chief strategy and planning officer for the VA’s Madison facility.
But Sterling Medical was coming to the end of its contract. At the end of a contract, the VA’s policy is to reconsider veterans’ needs and best ways to meet those.
-- Services. Limited mental health services are offered at the current clinic, Rohrer said.
Those services will be expanded at the new clinic.
“Telemental” health services will be part of the new lineup.
“Patients can see and speak to a psychologist on a screen,” Rohrer said. “They’ve done this in several places, and it’s been quite successful.”
Telemental health services are especially important for veterans who don’t have a way to get to Madison. It’s also good for patients who wouldn’t get the help if they had to make the trip.
-- Location: Both clinics were on the city bus line. The new clinic is next to Interstate 90/39 and near the Van Galder bus stop.
Builder developers Scott Stephenson and Pat Kelly said the old Shakey’s will get a new façade along with an entirely new interior.
Developers hope the clinic will be done by the beginning of December; the VA predicts between 90 to 120 days until the opening.
About 2,400 square feet remains in the building, and Kelly said he hoped to find a tenant who would be a good match for the VA’s patients, such as a physical therapist’s office.
Meanwhile, people continue to stop at the building, looking for pizza and mojos.
“We had a lady who came all the way from Jefferson looking for mojos,” Kelly said.
“She was so bummed out when she found out Shakey’s was closed.”
Sep 16, 2008 at 9:17 a.m.
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For information and help expediting claims etc. go to the veterans service representative's office at the court house.
For problems with unfair treatment at the VA regional office in Milwaukee, the VA hospital in Madison, and the VA clinic here go to Congressman Ryan's office.
State your complaints on this blog and let other people know that they can state their complaints here and I will forward this blog to Congressman Ryan's office.
Sep 16, 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
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optimism, I strongly recommend that she go to her Congressional Representative. If problems can be corrected with the VA, your congressperson is the best bet.
Sep 16, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
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I have a friend who lives up in Columbus, WI, and she is a vet of the air force. She is in her mid fifties and has had many health issues. She goes to the VA hospital in Madison, but the sad thing is, she can't make an appointment, they make it for you. Which means when she needs medical care, unless she visits the ER, she has to wait forever. Also, her regular doctor is always being replaced because the doctor that resides there is only in training and always moves on. Therefore, she always has to start from square one with the next doctor, and then nothing seems to get done for her. I guess my question is, is this standard? Or is there something else she can do? I am worried she is sitting there waiting to die because she doesn't receive any relief and doesn't have insurance to go elsewhere. She also used the TELEMENTAL counceling service, and she was very sad when she left the appt. The therapist on the otherside of the screen didn't even make eye contact with her!! I am hoping that was just a one time bad experience and she can seek another therapist, but that to me is very cold and scary for a person who is leary about seeking mental help in the first place. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be of assistance to her, please let me know....and I will pass it on.
Sep 15, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
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Mr. Solis, Thank you so much for dropping in here to tell us what and where to go. I now know where to send vets if I am asked. Thank you!
Sep 15, 2008 at 4:35 p.m.
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With no disrespect, I recommend that Bob Baker be nominated for the:
TREMENDOUS GRASP OF THE OBVIOUS AWARD
Sep 15, 2008 at 9:37 a.m.
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Hello, I am John Solis, Rock County Veterans Service Officer. My staff and I are here to assist veterans in applying for a variety of State and Federal VA benefits to include VA Healthcare.
The new and expanded Janesville VA Clinic will continue the fine service veterans have been receiving from the current clinic. One thing to keep in mind is both the current and new clinics are and will be staffed by Primary Care/General Practice doctors. If, a veteran requires treatment by a specialist they are referred to the Madison VA Medical Center (VAMC) and may then wind up receiving all their treatment in Madison. These are medical decisions arrived at on an individual case by case basis.
I encourage every Rock County veteran to stop by one of our offices to see what benefits are available for them. Even if you've stopped in before but it's been a few years you may want to stop in again because benefits may have changed or been added. We are located on the second floor of the Rock County Courthouse, Janesville and in the old Beloit Mall, Beloit.
Sep 14, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.
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Thank you for your suggestions! I never thought the courthouse! Thank you for the ideas to help.
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.
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I think, but am not sure, that if you feel compelled to help out our veterans, that you can contact the Marine Corp League and the VFW. Also, check the courthouse. I know there are resources in the Veterans Affairs office that can point you in the right direction.
Thanks to all our vets.
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.
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That is great that veterans will get better health care. As far as things you can do to help, write your congressman and tell them that hire vets first is a pile of crap.
Sep 14, 2008 at 11:29 a.m.
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Thanks, Cathy Idzerda. Very valuable information.
Sep 14, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.
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Thanks, prevention.
Sep 14, 2008 at 11:26 a.m.
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sarah07 and bigskigor, go to the Veterans Service Officer's office at the court house. Talk to John Solis or someone else there regarding eligibility for treatment both here and in Madison. It seems to me that if you're eligible for treatment in Madison, you're eligible for the same treatment here. That's why the clinic is here.
Sep 14, 2008 at 11:22 a.m.
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bigskigor, the way I understand it, either you misunderstood or you were told something untrue. If you are 30% service connected you should be eligible for treatment locally at the VA clinic. This is especially true if you are eligible for the same treatment in Madison.
Go back to the clinic and see what happens. Let me know how it turns out.
Sep 14, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.
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if this is what then are going to us this for then they should help all the vet cause i know people that have been turned away and have to go up to madison and some of them people dont drive so needs to find someone else to drive them and for many that me taking off work to do this alest if this place would help them then this other people wouldnt be miss work to help them i dont think anyone should be turned away then didnt turn away when then went to fight for are lives and freedom.
Sep 14, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.
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Thank goodness that our veterans are receiving something. Unfortunately, it seems our veterans are still receiving the short end of the stick.
That is definitely sad when they have put their lives on the line for us, they return home and get treated like a 2nd rate citizen.
To the veterans: what can I do to help?
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