New Puget Sound VA Clinic Christened In Silverdale: 'They Take Care Of Me'
SILVERDALE — When Roger Mangahas Sr. goes to the new VA Puget Sound Clinic, he said he'll be getting more than health care.
"They keep me alive," said Mangahas, 81, a resident of East Bremerton. "They take care of me."
Mangahas' "Seahawk" treatment team, known in the VA as a Patient Aligned Care Team, includes a variety of professionals that work to provide efficient care, prevent diseases and yes, keep him healthy.
The only thing changing this month for the Navy veteran — whose 23-year Navy career included stints on planes, ships and submarines as a cook — will be where he gets that care. For years, he went to a small, 1952-built medical office on Adele Avenue in Bremerton. Following years in development, he'll start going to the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound outpatient facility on Ridgetop any time after Dec. 2, when it swings open its doors.
The $9.7 million facility was christened by veterans, local leaders and others Tuesday morning, with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, declaring it still had "that new clinic smell."
It's also a big leap forward in technology. The clinic has Wi-Fi to go with spacious exam rooms, and the clinic's staff of some 50 people will also have three teleconference rooms so patients don't even have to come into the clinic to receive care.
"This is not just a building," Kilmer said. "This is going to be a place that provides vital care to all those who've served."
"Our goal is to take care of as many veterans as we can," said Kathleen Tonti-Horne, director of the new clinic.
The clinic, at 9177 Ridgetop, can also take on more veterans. The staff expects to grow the number of patients enrolled from 4,300 at its Bremerton location to around 6,000 that can be treated over 14 exam rooms, as opposed to six in the former location. That includes rooms that are made for both women and men and ones where advanced procedures can be performed.
Kilmer noted in his remarks that, using an analogy of everyone rowing in the same direction, it had been "rocky" seas at times getting the clinic completed. It was four years ago the VA Puget Sound had first tried for a clinic within the old QFC complex, one now being remodeled by CHI Franciscan for a new health care facility. Lacking seismic standards, the building idea was abandoned in favor of the Ridgetop location, which broke ground in April 2018.
The new clinic is one of nine in Puget Sound Veterans Affairs operates. Mangahas Sr. appreciated the spacious parking lot he said it was much easier to get into. The clinic also includes Kitsap's first portion of cross-laminated timber in its entryway, a strong wooden structure that is becoming more popular.
Aside from a "state of the art" building, Mangahas is happy he's still going to be working with the same staff he had in Bremerton. Lab Technician Chris Bronson, who every so often pokes Mangahas' arm with a needle, makes Mangahas happy.
"She's a tireless lady, always has a big smile whether day or night," he said.
By: Josh Farley
Source: Kitsap Sun