Less than two months since re-opening, the VA Clinic in Maxwelton is closing again. The VA closed the clinic in April 2014 after several employees complained about air quality and air testing found formaldehyde levels above the recommended exposure limit in several parts of the clinic.
The clinic re-opened on February 27 following repairs to the building’s heating, ventilation and cooling system. The air quality problem has re-occurred, resulting in another closure. The clinic is located in the Rahall Building, owned by the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation.
Veterans served by the clinic will have to travel to the VA hospital in Beckley, about 53 miles west of Maxwelton, for health care services. The clinic serves about 2,400 veterans in Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers counties in West Virginia, and in Alleghany County, Virginia.
A press release from the VA follows:
Beckley VA Medical Center Director Karin L. McGraw announced today that the services offered to Veterans through the Greenbrier County Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Maxwelton, WV, will be relocated to the Beckley VA Medical Center effective April 13, 2015 for an undetermined timeframe. The decision to relocate the services from the Greenbrier County CBOC was based upon results of air quality testing by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the fact that a number of employees were continuing to report issues with air quality.
Air levels of formaldehyde measured by the NIOSH on March 26, 2015, were above their Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 0.016 parts per million (ppm) at 0.017 ppm within parts of the clinic.
Veterans will be notified of the change in location to the Beckley VAMC for their scheduled appointments. Veterans who have questions can call their CBOC staff at 304-255-2121. Eligible Veterans who were reimbursed mileage to and from the CBOC will be reimbursed for mileage to and from the medical center.
According to Director McGraw “The safety and health of the Veterans, their families, and our staff remain our foremost concern. The Beckley VAMC is committed to the Veterans served at the Greenbrier County CBOC and will explore all options available to determine a viable and speedy resolution. Information will be shared as the process unfolds.”