Health clinic for veterans to move from Ohio Veterans Home to Firelands hospital

SANDUSKY — The Veterans Administration outpatient clinic that serves Erie County will move this fall from the Ohio Veterans Home to the south campus of Firelands Regional Medical Center, a spokeswoman for the VA confirmed Friday.The clinic will open at 1912 Hayes Ave. this fall, said VA spokeswoman Ashley Trimble.The south campus of the hospital also is the location of a community health clinic, Family Health Services of Erie County."The lease for the Sandusky VA Clinic on Columbus Avenue in Sandusky will soon expire, giving the VA opportunity to seek new clinic space. The VA uses a leasing model for occupying medical space that requires a competitive bidding process outlined by federal acquisition regulations," Trimble said."The VA carefully reviews each bid to determine which is the best value for the government, tax payers and the veterans we serve. After close review, the VA awarded the contract to Firelands Regional Medical Center. We are excited to continue offering our Sandusky-area veterans the same quality services offered at the current clinic," Trimble said.Trimble said the bidding process is not handled at the local level and she did not have information on how many bids were received. She said a Freedom of Information Act request may be necessary to obtain it. A Firelands official said the hospital is pleased that its bid won the competition. ""We are pleased to be able to provide the space for the VA Clinic. Doing so is consistent with our mission to provide excellent healthcare to all members of the community, including veterans," said Rob Moore, vice president of legal services and general counsel for Firelands. Trimble said treatment at the VA clinic includes primary care, podiatry and a women's clinic.The clinic also has a dietetics unit, a laboratory, eye care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, post traumatic stress disorder treatment and homeless services.