Taking time off work isn’t always convenient for Navy Veteran George Thurman, even if it is to take care of himself and see a physician.
VA North Texas Health Care System offers an alternative for Veterans like Thurman to accommodate work schedules with the Bravo Clinic at Dallas VA Medical Center. The clinic is available for later appointment times and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“It’s not easy leaving work early, so I missed one too many doctor appointments at the VA,” said Thurman, who works in the transportation industry. “At one of my appointments, my doctor told me about the Bravo Clinic and I made the switch.”
Navy Veteran George Thurman waits in the empty waiting area to be seen in the Bravo Clinic at Dallas VA Medical Center.
Thurman is now enrolled in the clinic and schedules his appointments after his work day is done, and often finds himself the only one in the waiting area.
“Right now, we have a little more than 400 Veterans enrolled in the clinic and we have the capacity to see 1,200,” said Stacye McLarty, RN, Care Manager for Bravo Clinic. “We are trying to build and let Veterans know we are here.”
Bravo Clinic coordinates with the other specialty clinics such as X-Ray, lab, and pharmacy, and offers the same services for the patients that other primary care clinics offer at the hospital. Video connect is also available for Veterans enrolled at Bravo.
“Patients really appreciate the clinic being open in the evening and they don’t have to take time off work to get to their appointment,” Dr. Lakshmi Gujju, Primary Care Provider for Bravo Clinic. “We aren’t different from any other clinic expect our hours and many Veterans are happy we are here.”
Dr. Gujju is the full-time primary care provider for Bravo Clinic and has a full staff that includes a nurse practitioner, RN and LVN to care for Veterans.
“The Bravo clinic has allowed me to get the care I need with the times that work best for me,” said Thurman. “It has really worked out great.”
Jennifer Roy is a public affairs specialist at the VA North Texas Healthcare System
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