WICHITA, Kan. – Southwest Medical Center and the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center reached an agreement to relocate the VAs current Outpatient Clinic-Liberal into a shared space, the 15th Street Family Care Center, owned by Southwest Medical Center. The agreement comes as the VA explores opportunities to better serve Veterans in rural Kansas.

The partnership will ensure access to community care where needed in rural Kansas.

“The VA Outpatient Clinic in Liberal is a shining example of the future of healthcare,” said Rick Ament, Robert J. Dole VAMC director. “To maximize the health of Veterans, we must work closely with our community partners to expand our reach and improve the integration of care for Veterans in the communities in which they live. Southwest Medical Center is a great organization that helps us better serve our nation’s Veterans and accomplish this goal.”

“Through the hard work of our Board of Trustees, care center providers, community supporters, hospital team, and of course – the VA team – we’ve been able to follow through on our commitment to provide quality healthcare close to home through establishing services to care for Veterans in our community,” said Bill Ermann, Southwest Medical Center administrator. “This collaboration will serve our community well for many years to come.”

“The VA system is doing what it was designed to do – give our Veterans proper medical care they need and have earned,” said Sergeant Major Ivanhoe Love Jr., U.S. Army, Ret. “The care has been excellent! Clinic staff are friendly, courteous, and professional. I look forward to receiving my care at the new clinic location.”
Finally, the VA Outpatient Clinic-Liberal will move November 2, 2018 into its new clinic space. The VA will notify Veterans who currently receive care, of the change.

SWMC is excited to share news of the grand opening of this new VA Outpatient Clinic, which is being installed inside their 15th Street Family Care Center in Liberal.SWMC will host a ribbon cutting alongside the VA team on Friday, November 2 from 1-2 p.m. at the 15th Street Family Care Center, 555 W. 15th Street.