Contractor proceeds with Juneau VA Outreach Clinic construction

Alaska VA Healthcare System announced last week that the General Services Administration gave SBH Services Inc. the notice to proceed with construction for the new Juneau VA Outreach Clinic.

SBH Services Inc., a civil and commercial construction company headquartered in Anchorage, was onsite and began construction Monday. They will have 120 days to complete the construction. Upon completion of construction, VA will take possession of the space and move forward with furniture and equipment installation.

VA initially announced the new clinic in May 2008 with a proposed date of activation in late 2008 and later amended to spring 2009. Initially, the space for the new clinic was planned for the second floor of the Federal Building. When the design was approximately one-third complete, larger space became available on the first floor. VA made the decision to accept the larger space as it would have increased visibility, accessibility and convenience for Veterans to access the clinic. Immediate plans began to re-negotiate the contract and design with GSA.

While this has been a lengthy process, "the Alaska VA has remained committed to activating this clinic for Veterans in Southeast Alaska," said Alex Spector, director of the Alaska VA Healthcare System. "It is important to get VA medical care closer to where veterans live."

The new clinic will provide Southeast Alaska veterans with routine primary care, including screening services as well as mental health services. The Juneau VA Outreach Clinic will facilitate resource sharing with the U.S. Coast Guard for cross coverage of medical providers and clinical lab operations. In addition, VA will continue to use Coast Guard space for performing audiology evaluations for veterans in the Juneau catchment area.

Ten percent of Alaska veterans reside in Southeast Alaska. The VA has had a continuous administrative office presence in the Juneau Federal Building for many years.

The Alaska VA provided 142,246 visits for 15,152 veterans during fiscal year 2009. In addition to providing direct care to veterans at its main clinic location in Anchorage and community based outpatient clinics located in Fairbanks, Kenai and Wasilla, the VA purchased more than $39,000,000 of care from Alaska community providers and hospitals.