Staffing shortage closes Veterans Affairs clinic

The Roane County, Tenn., veterans clinic has been closed temporarily because of staffing problems.

Chris Alexander, public affairs officer for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, said the closing does not affect Chattanooga's veterans clinic or any of the nine other clinics across the state.

"This has no impact on Chattanooga at all," Alexander said. "The Roane County clinic is staffed by a contractor. The Chattanooga clinic is staffed by VA personnel.''

The Roane County clinic is in Kingston, about 30 miles west of Knoxville, and is expected to be staffed fully by the end of the month, Alexander said. Until then, veterans with appointments are being directed to other clinics, he said.

"This temporary closure is due to a recent staffing shortage of medical providers which has impacted their ability to adequately provide care for veterans," according to a news release from Juan Morales, Tennessee Valley Health System director for Veterans Affairs.

While the clinic will be open some days for some services, the days are fluid and there's no set schedule, Alexander said.

Tennessee Valley Health System is contracted to operate two veterans hospitals, the Alvin C. York in Murfreesboro and the Nashville VA hospital, plus nine community clinics in Tennessee and Kentucky.