The Roseburg VA Medical Center will soon close its Emergency Department and convert it to an Urgent Care clinic that is open on weekdays only.
A release from the VA said the conversion is a result of staffing shortfalls that necessitate a reduction in vital emergency services provided at the facility during certain hours. Beginning August 16th, the Urgent Care clinic will be open from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The release said the Emergency Department requires a full staff to provide safe, patient-focused emergency care. Due to a shortage in qualified providers to staff ancillary services such as laboratory, radiology and respiratory services, the Emergency Department will convert to an extended-hours Urgent Care facility. The release said the transition will provide the highest level of care to veterans and will maximize available resources under the MISSION Act 2018.
Keith Allen, Roseburg VA Health Care System director, said “we will continue to work with all our community-based health care providers to ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they earned as service members”. He said they will continue to listen to veterans and their families and “work toward streamlining and improving VA-provided and community care access”.
The release said veterans and eligible family members should continue to seek the closest emergency care in life-threatening situations regardless of the Roseburg VA Emergency Department and Urgent Care clinic hours of operation.
News Radio 1240 KQEN is seeking additional information and comment on the move, from both VA officials and from leaders in the veteran’s community.