ABILENE, Texas — A new lease has been signed for a state-of-the-art facility that will be home to the Abilene Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, hopefully by early 2026, the West Texas VA Health Care System announced Thursday.
The new 35,000-plus square foot building at 5602 Health Center Drive will be a significant upgrade from the current 11,000 square foot clinic, reflecting the VA's commitment to serving the rapidly-growing veteran population in West Texas.
The search for a suitable location has been extensive and lasted more than a year as the space needed to be adequate to respond to the increasing needs of West Texas veterans. The new facility is not only larger, but also significantly enhanced with modern facilities and services not available at the current location.
The former medical building space will greatly shorten the time needed to make needed upgrades and refurbishments. The new clinic's design and refurbishment plans are being developed in collaboration with the lessor and a team of expert planners and architects. Rehabilitation of the existing building is expected to start soon with the process estimated to take approximately 18 months.
The introduction of the new Abilene facility will allow the WTVAHCS to offer expanded health care options and benefits, including:
Specialty Care Services: More comprehensive care through various specialties that address the specific needs of veterans.
Advanced Radiology: On-site advanced imaging capabilities to aid in the timely and accurate diagnosis of health conditions.
Enhanced Support Services: Increased access to services such as mental health counseling, physical therapy and more.
The expansion is in direct response to the growing demand for veteran services in the region.
West Texas VA HCS currently provides veterans with health care services at six locations serving West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Facilities include the George H. O’Brien Jr. VA Medical Center in Big Spring and four community-based outpatient clinics in Abilene, Fort Stockton, San Angelo and Odessa and one in Hobbs, New Mexico.
