The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center announced that it will expand its clinic at 787 Market St. in Hancock. The expansion aims to improve veterans’ experience and access to medical services. 

The medical center will add a third primary care provider. They will also continue to offer mental health services and specialty care services to over 1,700 veterans in the Copper Country. 

The Hancock VA Clinic is one of only eight outpatient locations in the U.P., with the others in Menominee, Marquette, Manistique, Sault Ste. Marie, Ironwood and Rhinelander, Wisconsin. With the other clinics being well out of reach for many, the Hancock location is the only option for many veterans in the Keweenaw. 

“We are thrilled to expand our service capacity in the Keweenaw,” said Medical Center Director John P. Shealey in an Aug. 9 press release. “Having the space to accommodate a third provider to serve this veteran population has been a priority for us this last year.” 

The Hancock VA Clinic provides primary care and specialty health services, including cardiology, emergency services and mental health care. 

The center can also diagnose and treat conditions that affect hearing, speech and balance. These include hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and speech, language, voice or swallowing disorders. They’re also able to offer care and treatment for veterans diagnosed with anemia, lymphoma, leukemia and other blood cancers and disorders. 

Same-day help is available for things like PTSD, depression, anger and trauma. They also offer counseling and treatment for sexual assault or harassment during military service, no matter when a veteran served. 

Palliative and hospice care is available as well. Palliative care focuses on comfort, quality of life and reducing suffering. Hospice care is a type of palliative care offered to patients with life-threatening illness under certain conditions. 

They boast a high rate of satisfaction from veterans who use the facility for routine care, with 94% of patients saying they usually or always get an appointment when they need it. The satisfaction rate for urgent needs is 70%. 

The clinic is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and can be reached by phone at 800-215-8262. 

To enroll in VA services, veterans can call 906-774-3300 (ext. 32810).