The Veterans Administration (VA) will soon open a new clinic annex in Dededo to augment much-needed services to thousands of local vets.

Dr. Adam Robinson is the Director of the Veterans Administration's Pacific Islands Health care system, which covers Guam and the entire pacific region.

He says the newly signed lease for a new Community-based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is a long time coming.

“So the key here is that we're actually increasing the amount of clinical space that we can provide our veterans in Guam within the confines of our CBOC that's now there,” Robinson said.

The facility next to the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) adds another 5500 square feet.

Robinson said about 6-thousand of the estimated 13-thousand veterans on Guam are registered with the V.A.'s health care system, and 3-thousand are active patients.

Dr. Robinson said the need for more space is in response, in part to the new laws that expand benefits for veterans exposed to agent orange, and toxins from burn pits.“The different new acts that the VA and the secretary have initiated, we're trying to have the capacity, the clinical space capacity, to take care of our veterans,” he added.

He said the annex will provide typical primary services as well as prosthetics, in-person mental health counseling, and most importantly specialty care for the many vets who would rather not, or can't travel off-island.

Dr. Robinson goes on to explain more, “The way this will work is the specialty care will rotate in and out through the annex. So we're trying to make sure that we can give a comprehensive look at our care model and increase that in Guam and specifically at the CBOC annex. Those areas where we need specialty care we have to depend often on community members such as the Guam Regional Medical Center, Guam Memorial Hospital. We are going to partner with everyone we can to make sure our veterans are cared for.”

A top priority would be establishing a 12-bed community living center, which is the VA's nursing home model, to meet the needs of elderly veteran patients.

We also asked about the V.A.'s interest in establishing a bigger presence when a new GMH is built.

“The key here is that we're very anxious to partner with Guam Memorial and to try to see if we can have VA in-patient care in Guam Memorial Hospital. So the answer is yes. We have actively talked with the government, the Guam government, about the twelve bed CLC and we would be more than happy to partner in other ways because we think that its a win-win for veterans in Guam,” Robinson expressed.

Robinson also said, “We're awaiting the government to come back with their proposals and show us exactly what they think we should have because it's going to be up to them to get it but we're gonna partner with them in terms of managing it and helping our veterans.”

Meanwhile, the VA annex in Dededo is expected to be operational by early next year.