• Article Photo. Pharmicist Deann Cariveau is one of the Atkins residents providing health care at the VGH clinic.
    Pharmicist Deann Cariveau is one of the Atkins residents providing health care at the VGH clinic.
  • Article Photo. Stephanie Vogeler, PA-C speaks with visitors during the Community Health Clinic Thursday.
    Stephanie Vogeler, PA-C speaks with visitors during the Community Health Clinic Thursday.
  • Article Photo. Brenda Werning, Stacey Hodges and Nicole Graber provide PT and OT services in Atkins.
    Brenda Werning, Stacey Hodges and Nicole Graber provide PT and OT services in Atkins.

 

With an Atkins/Newhall native providing medical care, a full-service pharmacy and Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy service, the Virginia Gay Hospital clinic in Atkins has already enjoyed fast growth in its first four months.

“I am thrilled with the response,” said Stephanie Vogeler, PA-C. the primary health care provider at the clinic.  At first, said Vogeler, the patients were approximately 80 percent local.  But now, more and more people are coming to Atkins because they have heard about all the clinic has to offer.

Vogeler, who was born in Atkins then moved to Newhall a few years later, said she is blessed to be able to return to Atkins to serve patients there. Another Atkins resident, Deann (McNulty) Cariveau, is overseeing the pharmacy at the clinic.

While some small towns the size of Atkins do have pharmacies, it’s very rare for a small city to also have a primary care clinic, said Cariveau.

The Atkins facility also features a full-service, three-member PT/OT department. Physical Therapist Nicole Graber, PT assistant Brenda Werning and Occupational Therapist Stacy Hodges serve a growing number of patients from Atkins and beyond. Hodges and Werning are long-time employees of Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton; Graber joined the staff when the clinic opened in August, after, being a physical therapist for more than 10 years in Newton.

The VGH Home Health Service is also available for Atkins residents. A community health clinic that took place on Thursday offered information about all of the VGH services available in the Atkins area.

That free clinic included blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, fall risk assessments and information about health care issues and VGH services. Flu shots were also offered during the clinic.

Public Health Nurse Nancy Farmer and Home Health Director Marcia Taylor also met with visitors to discuss how those programs can benefit Atkins area residents.

The Atkins VGH clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8-12 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information or to make an appointment, call 319-446-7800.

Click HERE for more more information about the Atkins VGH clinic and its staff.