The Beckley (W.Va.) VA Medical Center has announced the indefinite closure of its community-cased outpatient clinic in Maxwelton, W.Va., due to air quality issues, according to a report from The Herald.
Hospital Director Karin McGraw told The Herald that air quality tests revealed higher-than-recommended levels of formaldehyde in the air in several parts of the clinic, which serves roughly 2,400 veterans.
In a hospital news release, Ms. McGraw assured the public that the safety and health of the veterans, their families, and clinic staff remain the hospital's foremost concern.
"The Beckley VAMC is committed to the veterans served at the Greenbrier County CBOC and will explore all options available to determine a viable and speedy resolution. Information will be shared as the process unfolds," Ms. McGraw stated.
With the clinic closed, area veterans will have to travel roughly 53 miles away, to the hospital in Beckley, for healthcare services. Eligible veterans who received reimbursement for mileage to and from the clinic will also be reimbursed for their travels to and from the hospital.
This is not the first time air quality issues have plagued the VA clinic. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs initially closed the clinic in June 2014 and again in October 2014 after several employees became ill due to air quality issues in the hospital.
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