Brownsburg VA Clinic Is There for Those Who’ve Served

Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photography Provided

For nearly a year, veteran Fossil Bates has volunteered at the Brownsburg VA Clinic. As a patient himself, Bates was looking for a way to give back to his community, while staying active.

“I really enjoy the people,” Bates says. “The staff speaks to me every morning. I have plenty to do and it makes me feel like I’ve got a purpose.”

In a fast-moving clinic, the staff are appreciative of all he does as well.

“My desk is at the main entrance so just about everybody has a question for me,” Bates says. “I do my best to direct them or I’ll just walk them to the place they’re looking for. I also fold letters that remind veterans of their next appointment, and stuff the envelopes. I’ve got a call list and I call veterans and remind them of their appointment, and just do anything else they need me to do.”

The Brownsburg VA Clinic opened in October of 2021 as a satellite location to the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis.

Moving from their former facility on the west side of Indianapolis to the Brownsburg location was a welcome change.

“The old facility wasn’t a quarter of the size we have here,” says Jennifer Spangler, primary care unit manager. “Our primary care space doubled in size and we’re able to offer so many more services, adding radiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, an eye clinic and a pharmacy, to name a few.”

Not only has the clinic added weekly services like audiology, dermatology, podiatry and radiology, but veterans can also utilize the clinic for telehealth appointments when speaking to a physician who might visit Brownsburg weekly or biweekly. For example, if a patient needs to talk to their surgical team before or after surgery, or ask their dermatologist about a concern, they are able to do that through the telehealth services without traveling to Indianapolis for the conversation.

Patients in need of an appointment love the Brownsburg location for the convenience, thanks to less traffic and front-door parking compared to some of the heavily populated areas like Indianapolis.

In addition, they love the feeling they get when they walk through the door. Bates spends time chatting with veterans who are there for an appointment, and often relates to their experiences and concerns.

“I like speaking with the veterans and striking up a conversation,” Bates says. “I talked to one guy the other day and learned that he and I were serving in the same place at the same time. Of course, we wouldn’t recognize each other today.”

Not only do the patients enjoy their greeting, but they’re also responding positively when asked about overall services at the Brownsburg VA Clinic.

“I think it’s a less stressful environment and an atmosphere of friendly people that we offer here at Brownsburg,” Spangler says. “In a patient questionnaire about our services last fall, we scored 100%. We’ve received phenomenal feedback.”

Given some of the complex services needed to treat the veteran population, the clinic also offers a variety of mental health treatments.

Many are aware of issues with veteran mental health and suicide, but the VA is looking at other issues too. Many veterans are struggling with military environmental exposure, after encountering toxins during deployment. More than 67% of veterans with a service-related injury also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more than half are dealing with depression.

Programs at the Brownsburg VA Clinic are offered to help veterans struggling with addiction, depression, PTSD, anxiety and trauma, and all VA health care facilities offer same-day help for services.

In addition, the clinic offers a 24/7 crisis line at 1-800-273-8255, option 1.

Overall, the Brownsburg VA Clinic strives to serve patients with support, resources and treatment in the best way possible.

Spangler says she and the staff do what they do in appreciation of what the veterans have done. “We want to provide the best care we can for veterans because they sacrificed for our country,” she says.

Bates agrees. “The truth is, you see some sad cases come in there, and if I can give them a little bit of comfort, I try to do that,” Bates says. “If I can cheer them up in any way, it makes me happy.”

For more information, visit va.gov/indiana-health-care/locations/brownsburg-va-clinic.