CLT Vets Ready for Shorter Wait Times with New Med Center

CHARLOTTE, NC — Veterans in the Queen City could soon have shorter wait times for health care.

Charlotte’s new VA clinic opens next month.

Most have to drive or get a ride an hour away to Salisbury to get treatment, and doctors there are loaded with patients.

Some tell WCCB Charlotte they currently have to wait more than a month for appointments.

“It’s wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,” said Smokey Porter. “Then, when they get a time to get around to you, it maybe too late.”

Congressman Robert Pittenger expects the new clinic to relieve that.

“That’s been a challenge throughout the system,” said Rep. Pittenger, (R) North Carolina. “I believe that we’re going to have some clear direction here.

My understanding is we have some good management, and we will be staffed up.”

Last year, more than 92,000 vets had to use the Salisbury clinic and ER or the small clinic in the University Area of Charlotte.

The VA Director says this Tyvola road location will be able to handle 35,000 of those patients once it is at full staff.

The center is 295,000 square foot.

“I won’t know until I actually use the facility whether we’re gonna be waiting or not,” said Charles Reich.

“The wait time is so long because they don’t have enough physicians to handle it,” said Porter.

The VA Spokesperson did not have the number of doctors who will work at the new facility and did not know when they will be at full staff.

It will be fully running on April 11.

A ribbon cutting is open to the public on April 8 at 1:00 PM