New clinic for veterans opening this week in metro area

Veterans in the metro area are getting a new health clinic when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs opens the North Metro Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Ramsey this week.

The new clinic will offer services including primary care, mental health care, dental, eye and audiology.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the facility is sorely needed.

"So the idea here is to locate an area where we have a lot of returning soldiers and veterans in Ramsey," Klobuchar said. "Its a large clinic, it is going to be about 20,000 square feet ... and it will be capable of serving 5,000 veterans."

Klobuchar said the new clinic is part of an effort to make health care more accessible for veterans and their families so that they don't have to drive hours to get simple procedures like a blood test or blood pressure check.

The clinic will serve veterans in western Hennepin, Anoka, Sherburne, Wright, Isanti and Mille Lacs counties.