After years of waiting, North Texas veterans in Collin County finally have a closer option to get their healthcare services.
On Friday, leaders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs along with esteemed veterans and U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-TX, cut the ribbon on the VA's first outpatient clinic in the Plano area.
The new 10,000 square-foot clinic, located at 3804 West 15th Street in Plano, will offer local veterans general care, mental health, holistic options, lab work and other services they've had to travel to Dallas or Bonham to receive in the past.
Johnson, a veteran himself and Vietnam POW, said the clinic took years of teamwork from local and national leaders to make a reality.
"I vowed I would never stop fighting for the defenders of our freedom, and this hospital is one of those things we've been fighting for," said Johnson, who got a standing ovation from the large crowd of veterans at the dedication.
The clinic is a first step, but by no means a solve-all.
As NBC 5 reported last month, the clinic will only serve about 6,000 veterans who are at least 77 years old, are 30-percent service-connected disabled and live within 15 miles of the clinic.
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Some at the ceremony estimated the total numbers of veterans in Collin County as high as 42,000 with as many as 11,000 living near the clinic.
The VA, however, is limited by the size of the clinic and funding.
Some good news did come at the ribbon cutting for those who haven't qualified for the new clinic.
VA directors announced that due to the massive demand in the growing area the organization has just received approval for a second clinic in the Plano area to continue expanding their footprint.
No time line was given yet on that expansion.
The new facility is now officially open and seeing patients.
