$7 million facility could open in spring of 2010.

Listen to the press conference.

(Parma) - The Veteran’s Administration has officially announced the new Outpatient Health Clinic in Parma be located at 8701 Brookpark Road, creating nearly 300 jobs while providing health services for veterans across much of Greater Cleveland. VA officials say they plan to open the clinic as early as spring 2010 following approximately 18 months of construction. Announcement of the new $7 million complex was made today at a joint news conference with Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Parma Mayor Dean DePiero.

“This is great news for the City of Parma and all of Great Cleveland,” said Mayor DePiero. “It’s a win-win when it comes to job creation and also giving back to those who served their country in the U.S. military. Logistically, Parma is the perfect location for the new VA Clinic because of its close proximity to I-480.”

“We are extremely pleased that VA has decided to benefit so many veterans in the area with superior quality of life health care,” said Congressman Kucinich. "The VA’s goal is that no veteran will have to drive more than 30 miles or 30 minutes to get health care services. That says it all for the men and women who served our nation, many of them in harm’s way." The City of Parma is the 13th community in northeast Ohio to have a CBOC, Community Based Outpatient Clinic, operated by the U.S. Veterans Administration.


Artist rendering of new Parma VA Hospital

Positions at the CBOC include physicians, registered nurses, administrative support and others. The new facility will offer numerous health care options such as podiatry, optometry, lab testing, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, radiology neurology, dermatology, physical therapy and pharmacy services. Outpatient veteran services will eventually be transferred from the Brecksville VA Hospital.

A half-dozen potential sites along the I-480 corridor were considered for the 67,000 square foot facility. Following months of review, a final decision on the location of the clinic was made by members of a site selection committee.

William D. Montague, director of the Cleveland Veterans Medical Affairs says according to the latest U.S. Census report, Cuyahoga County has a total veteran population of approximately 125,000. More than 10,000 veterans live in the Parma area. Montague says the new clinic is expected to see 20,000 unique veteran patients with more than 125,000 outpatient visits.

Mayor DePiero, Congressman Kucinich and Montague say Parma was selected because of its demographics and strategic location, increasing access for outpatient services for veterans in northeast Ohio.

Other CBOC clinics are located in Lorain, Akron, Canton Mansfield and Youngstown. The nearest CBOC clinic to Parma is on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.

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