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New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Network

 

Vets Welcome Remodeled Clinic

Duffy Violante climbs onto a an exercise cycle, looking at the newly expanded and remodeled physical rehab clinic at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System’s Castle Point campus. His first reaction was a simple one.

Duffy Violante climbs onto a an exercise cycle, looking at the newly expanded and remodeled physical rehab clinic at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System’s Castle Point campus. His first reaction was a simple one.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Duffy Violante climbs onto a recombinant exercise cycle, looking around the newly expanded and remodeled physical rehabilitation clinic at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System’s Castle Point campus.

The 14-year Navy Veteran had been to the clinic 12 years ago to fix an ailing wrist, but that was long before upgrades added some 1,200 more square feet, new equipment and more space for Veterans to get their care. His first reaction to the refurbished area was a simple one. 

“Wow,” said Violante, who now gets care at the clinic for a heart condition. “It’s just so clean and put together so well. They really did a great job.”

September 2014 marked the completion of the project that cost about $790,000. While Veterans have been using the facility since then, the Castle Point physical rehabilitation team hasn’t had a chance to show off the space to fellow employees. An open house Thursday, Jan. 29, will fix that. 

Maura Timm, the physical medicine and rehabilitation supervisor, runs the clinic. A VA employee for 14 years, Timm said the expansion was essential to serve her clinic’s Veteran clientele, which went from 895 to about 1,800 per month. 

“We outgrew our space,” Timm, a New Windsor, N.Y., native said. “We got more clients. It got busier and the space we had become much smaller.” 

Timm said staff members were given full reign on proposed changes. Consulting with the VA Hudson Valley Art Therapist Rosemarie Rogers, the staff provided input on everything from the flooring to the paint on the walls.

Clinic staff input also allowed them to ensure Veterans had more space and privacy while they went through therapy, including adding frosted glass partitions between client therapy spaces. With more equipment, the new square footage came in handy. The space also allowed for a walking track inside the clinic. 

“We were walking with Veterans around in the hallway, often times in their hospital clothes and while the hallways were crowded, and that just wasn’t practical,” Timm said. “Having the dedicated space for the walking track is great.” 

That walking track frames a modular space where therapy tables, exercise equipment, weight sets and more dot the room. There is a waiting area for Veterans and a bolstered shared work space for clinic staff members. 

Katie Galderisi, an occupational therapist who’s worked for the VA for 10 years, said the reaction from Veterans was the measurement of success on the project. 

“They all think that it’s fantastic. The environment is more spacious and gives the Veterans more room for treatments,” said Galderisi, who said Veterans cited the open floor plan and views of the Hudson River as big pluses. “Having this new space helps us further put the Veteran at the center of care.” 

Key to the renovation, Timm said, was Veteran privacy. “They’re more comfortable when laying on the treatment mats. That has been fantastic,” said Timm, also noting that each space went from about five feet wide to about eight feet wide and include frosted glass partitions. “The Veterans are very pleased. I continue to get a lot of positive feedback from them.”

Next for the clinic, Timm said, is fine tuning. “We are still completing some functional fine tuning that comes from working in the space. We will add more to the décor and make the space better for the Vets.” 

Having more space was also a plus to Kathy Johnstone, the lead physical therapist at Castle Point who has worked for the VA for 16 years. 

“I just love it!” said Johnstone, adding that having the entire clinic one side of the hallway instead of two makes a big difference. “It was important to update the space. It looks and feels more like a therapy and rehab space. 

“It just such a positive space for the Veterans,” Johnstone, a Hazel Park, Mich., native said continued. “They all come in and go, ‘Wow. This space is great!’ so they come with a positive attitude and they enjoy their time here.” 

Violante, a Girard, Ohio, native, is back at the Castle Point clinic starting an exercise program for a heart issue. As he ended a session on the recombinant bike, he reflected on the old versus the new. 

“Things have melded together. Previously, occupational therapy was on one side of the hall and physical therapy was on another. It wasn’t as cohesive. Now it’s gelled together,” Violante said. “They’ve really gone above and beyond with this. I’ve seen continual improvement at this hospital. I love the VA system and I get the best care I could ask for.” 

(Jason Tudor is the Public Affairs Officer for VA Hudson Valley Health Care System in New York.)
Duffy Violante climbs onto a recombinant exercise cycle, looking around the newly expanded and remodeled physical rehabilitation clinic at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System’s Castle Point campus.

The 14-year Navy Veteran had been to the clinic 12 years ago to fix an ailing wrist, but that was long before upgrades added some 1,200 more square feet, new equipment and more space for Veterans to get their care. His first reaction to the refurbished area was a simple one. 

“Wow,” said Violante, who now gets care at the clinic for a heart condition. “It’s just so clean and put together so well. They really did a great job.”

September 2014 marked the completion of the project that cost about $790,000. While Veterans have been using the facility since then, the Castle Point physical rehabilitation team hasn’t had a chance to show off the space to fellow employees. An open house Thursday, Jan. 29, will fix that. 

Maura Timm, the physical medicine and rehabilitation supervisor, runs the clinic. A VA employee for 14 years, Timm said the expansion was essential to serve her clinic’s Veteran clientele, which went from 895 to about 1,800 per month. 

“We outgrew our space,” Timm, a New Windsor, N.Y., native said. “We got more clients. It got busier and the space we had become much smaller.” 

Timm said staff members were given full reign on proposed changes. Consulting with the VA Hudson Valley Art Therapist Rosemarie Rogers, the staff provided input on everything from the flooring to the paint on the walls.

Clinic staff input also allowed them to ensure Veterans had more space and privacy while they went through therapy, including adding frosted glass partitions between client therapy spaces. With more equipment, the new square footage came in handy. The space also allowed for a walking track inside the clinic. 

“We were walking with Veterans around in the hallway, often times in their hospital clothes and while the hallways were crowded, and that just wasn’t practical,” Timm said. “Having the dedicated space for the walking track is great.” 

That walking track frames a modular space where therapy tables, exercise equipment, weight sets and more dot the room. There is a waiting area for Veterans and a bolstered shared work space for clinic staff members. 

Katie Galderisi, an occupational therapist who’s worked for the VA for 10 years, said the reaction from Veterans was the measurement of success on the project. 

“They all think that it’s fantastic. The environment is more spacious and gives the Veterans more room for treatments,” said Galderisi, who said Veterans cited the open floor plan and views of the Hudson River as big pluses. “Having this new space helps us further put the Veteran at the center of care.” 

Key to the renovation, Timm said, was Veteran privacy. “They’re more comfortable when laying on the treatment mats. That has been fantastic,” said Timm, also noting that each space went from about five feet wide to about eight feet wide and include frosted glass partitions. “The Veterans are very pleased. I continue to get a lot of positive feedback from them.”

Next for the clinic, Timm said, is fine tuning. “We are still completing some functional fine tuning that comes from working in the space. We will add more to the décor and make the space better for the Vets.” 

Having more space was also a plus to Kathy Johnstone, the lead physical therapist at Castle Point who has worked for the VA for 16 years. 

“I just love it!” said Johnstone, adding that having the entire clinic one side of the hallway instead of two makes a big difference. “It was important to update the space. It looks and feels more like a therapy and rehab space. 

“It just such a positive space for the Veterans,” Johnstone, a Hazel Park, Mich., native said continued. “They all come in and go, ‘Wow. This space is great!’ so they come with a positive attitude and they enjoy their time here.” 

Violante, a Girard, Ohio, native, is back at the Castle Point clinic starting an exercise program for a heart issue. As he ended a session on the recombinant bike, he reflected on the old versus the new. 

“Things have melded together. Previously, occupational therapy was on one side of the hall and physical therapy was on another. It wasn’t as cohesive. Now it’s gelled together,” Violante said. “They’ve really gone above and beyond with this. I’ve seen continual improvement at this hospital. I love the VA system and I get the best care I could ask for.” 

(Jason Tudor is the Public Affairs Officer for VA Hudson Valley Health Care System in New York.)
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