Florida:Orange City VA Clinic Gets Rave Reviews

Orange City VA clinic opens to rave reviews
Staff and services also have increased in the move from Sanford to Orange City.
Andrea Stanley Special To The Sentinel
May 25, 2008

World War II veteran Charles Ganoudis lives in Winter Springs. But he likes the new Department of Veterans Affairs' clinic in Orange City so much that he doesn't mind driving from Seminole to Volusia County for medical treatments.The clinic, which opened May 13, is at 2583 S. Volusia Ave.It replaces a smaller clinic in Sanford near Central Florida Regional Hospital on State Road 46. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday."I did have some injuries; I did survive them," said 81-year-old Ganoudis. "I don't like to go into it.


"Now I am just glad I get to go to this outstanding clinic. I feel good just going in and coming out."The move from Sanford to Orange City was prompted by the fact that many more veterans in southwest Volusia need services, including those living in DeBary, Deltona and Orange City, according to Dr. Martin S. Schnier, chief medical officer for community-based outpatient clinics for the Orlando VA Center.The new clinic is also expected to draw veterans from north Seminole County and east Lake County, he said.

Nearly three times larger than the Sanford location, the 6,000-square-foot clinic in Orange City also offers a host of new services.The staff of primary-care physicians has been increased from three to five, and new members of the team include a full-time psychiatrist, a social worker and a pharmacist.The clinic also allows access to what Schnier refers to as "telehealth," a service in which patients can consult with specialists at other VA clinics and hospitals via special equipment, including a TV monitor.

"It is really cutting-edge stuff," Schnier said."It is wonderful for the patient. Now they don't necessarily have to travel to Orlando or Tampa to be seen by a specialist."He expects the clinic will begin serving about 2,500 veterans and expand to about 6,000, compared with the Daytona Beach VA outpatient clinic's 18,000 served."We are finding a large number of veterans are coming in already, including a lot of new applicants," he said."

Certainly location, with the cost of gas, plays a factor, and the increased services are a big plus. Even our old patients don't mind the drive. When they see the new clinic, they are amazed with the wow factor."It is a beautiful, spectacular clinic."That's one of the reasons Ganoudis continues to travel."I have been to VA hospitals and clinics all over the country, and this is the best," he said. "The clinic has the finest staff of people, and it is so clean. It isn't laid out like a dungeon.

"The clinic will have a ceremonial opening June 7 with VA officials and others, including U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park.

"The huge growth in population of veterans in southwest Volusia more than warrants this facility," said Mica, whose district includes part of Volusia."It is critical to provide our veterans with convenient services, so this is very exciting.""They [veterans] are coming out, and we are happy to see them," Schnier said. "It is our job to bring services to these veterans."The number for the clinic is 386-456-2080.