COLUMBIA BASIN — A mobile clinic, offered through the Spokane VA Medical Center, could be replaced with contract services at hospitals and clinics. 

Instead of offering a mobile clinic, the medical center would contract with hospitals for medical services.

“The intent of it is to expand services to veterans,” said Executive Assistant to the Director Chuck Marsden.

Veterans could receive primary care and mental-health services at a hospital in their vicinity. Marsden said more patients could be cared for, and more services could be offered, through contracted services.

The medical center is waiting for permission from headquarters in Vancouver, Wash., to open contracts with hospitals.

The mobile clinic travels in Washington, Montana and Idaho, stopping in Moses Lake three times each month. A total of 651 patients are assigned to the mobile clinic, Marsden said.

Seventeen veterans are assigned to the mobile clinic in Moses Lake, he said. An additional 29 Moses Lake residents are assigned to the medical center in Spokane or Wenatchee but may use the mobile clinic.

“It’s provided a great service — great, great service,” Marsden said.

He said services to veterans would not be disrupted during the transition.

“(The van is) coming until we have something in place,” Marsden said.

No mental health services are offered through the mobile clinic. With a contract in place at hospitals, veterans could receive mental health services in addition to their primary care, Marsden said.

Veterans, who drive to Wenatchee and Spokane for services, would not need to travel as far, except to receive certain other services, such as orthopedic, cardiology and dental services, Marsden said.

A contracted physician could treat 12 to 14 patients per day, Marsden said. He noted the mobile clinic faces challenges accommodating new patients when working under a limited schedule.

Marsden said other medical centers submitted similar proposals to headquarters.