WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, DC – VA Leadership and representatives were joined by city and state officials, veteran service organizations and community partners in cutting the ceremonial ribbon of the newly constructed Women’s Health Clinic.
The 7,160 square foot space signifies the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s promise to provide quality health care to all veterans. Women are the fastest growing Veteran population and to meet their unique health care needs, the DC VA Medical Center reconfigured clinical space to better serve the 14,693 women Veterans enrolled for care. The Department of Veterans Affairs expects that number to grow quickly and by 2020, women will represent 12 percent of the total Veteran population.
The opening of the new clinic marks a promise kept. VA Women’s Health Services promotes the health, welfare and dignity of women Veterans and their families by ensuring equitable access to timely, sensitive, high- quality health care. The new clinic offers a safe, respectful and inviting environment with six exam rooms, two procedure rooms, a meditation and alternative therapies treatment area, a conference room and a serene waiting area with computer access.
“In addition to providing comprehensive women’s health care, our new clinic expands our ability to provide more gender-specific services, such as gynecology, mammography and wellness education,” said L. Gale Bell, RN, Women’s Health Program Manager at the DC VA Medical Center.
When entering the new Women’s Health Clinic, veterans will be greeted by a tile mosaic butterfly, which is built into the floor symbolizing the cultural transformation in VA health care for women. The clinic’s color scheme and décor present a calm and private setting complete with comfortable seating, an inset electric fireplace and a children’s activity area.
The ribbon cutting ceremony not only represented a new era in women Veterans’ health care, but signified the Department’s and the community’s support of female Veterans.
For more information about women’s VA health care, phone 202-745-8345.