New clinic for veterans coming to Castle Rock
Veteran Affairs leader, Michael Kilmer (left) waits to be introduced to the town hall at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hosted a town hall at Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines on January 30 to discuss a new outpatient clinic in northwest Castle Rock. The clinic will be located at the corner of Prairie Hawk Drive and Dacoro Lane, directly southeast of the AMC Castle Rock 12 theater.
Michael Kilmer, Director of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, was joined by other VA leadership and support staff in the packed event hall at the library for a discussion on the future clinic. State, county, and local officials attended with dozens of community members, primarily veterans, seeking information on services that will be provided.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest division of the VA, is charged with providing healthcare services to veterans throughout the United States. It is the second largest agency in the federal government in terms of number of employees, second only to the U.S. Postal Service.
Kilmer stated that more than 7,700 citizens of Douglas County are currently receiving care through the VHA. Those citizens will be eligible to start receiving care within their home county once the clinic is opened, instead of driving to facilities in Aurora or Colorado Springs.
According to the presentation from VA leaders, the new clinic will have multiple primary care teams, mental health and lab services, and complimentary benefits like chiropractic and massage services. The clinic is not expected to have a pharmacy or vision care services. The new clinic location will have a 20-year lease and is expected to open in 2024.
“The thing that makes me confident about this clinic opening on time is that the lease is ‘build-to-suit,’” Kilmer said. “Which means the landlord cannot start collecting rent until the buildout is complete,” he added. “That means highly-motivated contractors.”
The town hall discussion also provided updates on how veterans can better access new, expanded benefits recognizing more service-related needs and how they can utilize VA planning services for burial benefits.
“I really believe because of the advocacy of the generations that came before us that the next generation of veterans aren’t having to wait as long to be recognized for the services they need,” Kilmer concluded.
A packed audience listened to VA leaders explain the services of the future outpatient clinic for veterans, which will be located in Castle Rock near the AMC 12 Castle Rock theater.
Article and photos by Bear Rothe
