![](media/image1.png){width="2.0in" height="0.4388888888888889in"}**VA
Puget Sound Health Care System**

**The Office of Public Affairs**

Email:

<pugetsoundpublicaffairs@med.va.gov>

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.0541666666666667in"
height="0.7527777777777778in"} News Release

For Immediate Release

May 9, 2008

**VA Puget Sound Moves Interim Outpatient Clinic**

**CBOC moves to Sedro-Woolley Site**

*SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. (*May 8, 2008*) - VA Puget Sound is pleased to
announce that an expanded interim community based outpatient clinic
(CBOC) is scheduled to open its doors May 27, 2008 at a site located at
or on the campus of United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.*

Through an agreement signed with United General Hospital, VA Puget Sound
will occupy 2,400 square feet of clinic space located at Cedar Grove
Building B, 2031 C Hospital Drive in Sedro-Woolley.

By moving the interim clinic to an actual building, VA Puget Sound will
expand primary care and mental health care services to those veterans
enrolled in VA healthcare.  "This is an important venture for VA Puget
Sound and for our current patients living in Northwest Washington", said
Stan Johnson, VA Puget Sound Health Care System director, "and we are
excited to open this interim site here in Sedro-Woolley, it will mean
that we can expand the scope of care while we plan for our permanent
clinic site."

2/2/2/2/ Interim CBOC Site

Greg Reed, CEO/Superintendent of United General Hospital, said he

welcomes the clinic on the hospital campus.

\"We are prepared to offer a very friendly and supportive environment,\"

said Reed, noting the Sedro-Woolley location provides ample parking and

easy access from I-5. \"All of us at United General look forward to

working with the VA staff and patients.\"

VA Puget Sound hopes to announce the site of its permanent CBOC
soon. Johnson added, "We know that by the early part of 2009, we will be
located in the permanent location in Northwest Washington."

Patients who are currently enrolled for care at the current interim site
in Mount Vernon will be notified via mail that their care will be
transferred to the Sedro-Woolley site. Initially, the new clinic will
not be accepting new patients, but as additional staff and providers are
added, new patients will be accepted. The plan is to grow from the
current panel of approximately 14 patients per week to approximately 50
primary care patients per week at the interim clinic site. This number
will continue to grow over the next six months and within the first year
(and with the move to a permanent site, the number of patients is
anticipated to grow to over 1500). Hours for the Sedro-Woolley Interim
Clinic are scheduled to be 8 a.m. -- 4:30p.m Monday through Friday.

Progress toward the permanent clinic is moving rapidly and VA Puget
Sound will be releasing details soon. When construction is complete on
the permanent clinic, VA Puget Sound's Northwest CBOC will have a full
complement of primary care, mental health providers and support staff to
accommodate 6,500 patients. "We are excited for the community and for
our local veterans," said Johnson.

Enrolled patients interested in transferring their care, may do so by
contacting VA Puget Sound Primary Care at (206) 764-2547 for additional
information. Veterans who are [*not*]{.underline} currently enrolled in
the VA system can call 1-800-329-8387, extension #76542 or visit
[www.va.gov](http://www.va.gov/) to enroll and then request
consideration for care at Mount Vernon when openings become available.
All media inquiries should be directed to: VA Puget Sound Office of
Public Affairs at (206) 764-2435.

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