Veterans Clinic Opens at NUMC

Local veterans now have a more central location to visit to receive basic health services.

Friday morning brought in a new era veterans' health care in Nassau County, with a clinic officially opening on the grounds of Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. The suitably named Veterans Clinic of East Meadow began offering services March 29.

“Veterans are the heart and soul of this country,” Legis. Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, who is attributed with pushing to get the clinic operational, said. “I am extremely proud that we have finally opened the doors to this clinic. The men and women of the United States armed forces have served us and we have the opportunity to serve you.”

The facility, which has been in the works for approximately 14 years, now replaces the Plainview clinic’s services. The 11,000 square foot building on the NUMC campus was donated for rent-free use by the hospital’s parent organization, NuHealth.

“Today is a great day – today is a day that we move away from some really poor conditions that this county has offered our veterans,” said County Executive Edward Mangano. “A ramshackle veterans center no longer exists in this county. Today we honor our veterans by opening this beautiful 11,000 square foot center.”

Gonsalves explained that the new building is 4,000 square feet larger than the one the VA utilized in Plainview. Construction for the building was approved by the Nassau County Legislature for $3 million and finishing touches were completed only a few days before the opening.

“If we ever spent a penny, this was $3 million well spent,” Gonsalves added.

The new clinic will provide easier access for the veterans because of its central location in the county, the Director of the Northport VA Hospital Phillip Moschitta said. He added that the additional space enables them to add services that were not available before, including an expansion of their home base capability and eventually increasing clinical hours.

“It is very convenient for me – I can practically walk here,” said Levittown resident and veteran Marvin Goldstein. “It is better than dragging up to Plainview, or for serious stuff, Northport. I really appreciate this.”

Presently, they have a state-of-the-art triage room, 14 exam rooms and qualified doctors on hand just for veterans. They will also have a counselor from the vet’s center available on site. Additionally, the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency has been moved to NUMC to be close to the new clinic.

Mangano said that the clinic will provide “our heroes with primary care, mental health and nutritional services.”

“There are many federal, state and local programs available to our veterans and it is our mission to ensure that our heroes are receiving the benefits and services they are entitled to and need,” he added.

“I’ve been here for 14 years trying to get this thing moved,” said Junior Vice Commander of VFW Post 2736 Albert Lusardi, of East Meadow. “It is not for us, mostly. It is for the new guys that are going to be coming in here.”

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