By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — While the well-attended celebration on Nov. 29 honored the Veterans Administration Community Based Outpatient Clinic’s (CBOC) successful 25 years at the Cary Medical Center Campus, Cary Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Kris Doody was quick to acknowledge that the clinic’s history predates the 25-year anniversary.
Photo by Duane McCubrey
Nearly 100 gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Caribou VA clinic on Nov. 29, including Vietnam veteran John Wallace, shown at left, (and his dog) who led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
The first ever of its kind, Caribou’s outpatient veterans clinic paved the way for others like it throughout the nation — and its creation was the product of eight years of persistent work from a group of dedicated advocates who relentlessly pursued the idea.
“Even when representatives in the VA system itself said that the chances for a VA outpatient clinic in Caribou were zero, the Aroostook County Veterans Medical Facility Research and Development Inc. would not give up,” she said. “This remarkable group of veterans representing multiple veterans’ organizations took off their hats and became together as one and won the day; they did not stop with the VA clinic but went on to advocate for the Maine Veterans Home and the Residential Care Facility, which are on our campus today.”
That first group who passionately pursued the creation of the clinic were Richard Pratt, Leonard Woods Sr., Dewey Ouellette, Roy Doak, John Rowe, Meo Bosse, Walter Corey, Raphael Guerrette, Everett Roberts, Edward Dahlgren, Jack Stewart, Val Jandreau, George Morin, Percy Thibeault, Wesley Adams and coordinator Bill Flagg.
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| Photo by Duane McCubrey Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, VA of New England network director, guest spoke during the Nov. 29 celebration, highlighting the need of continued support of health care for veterans living in rural areas. |
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| Photo by Duane McCubrey Director of the Maine Veterans Administration Healthcare System Ryan Lilly addressed an audience of approximately 100 who gathered at the Cary Medical Center on Nov. 29 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Community Based Outpatient VA Clinic in Caribou. |
But when the first Caribou clinic doors were opened in 1987, it was a “humble beginning” as described by Director of the Maine VA Healthcare System Ryan Lilly, who reiterated the running joke among audience members that the clinic began in two broom closets.
“It started 25 years ago with a single provider and a single service,” Lilly said. “Now we have three full-time providers, many nurses, many clerks — we also have mental health services, lab services, home-based primary care services … it’s really a robust and diverse outpatient clinic, and one that we’re all very proud of,” he added.
As Lilly spoke about ways in which the VA has brought medical services closer to where veterans live and the uniquely positive experiences offered through the CBOC in Caribou, he did address spatial concerns with the current location.
“Many of you know that we’ve outgrown our clinic space downstairs, but let me just say as the director of the system in Maine, we are committed to staying on this campus and working through the federal contractual guidelines to allow us to do that, we we’re not going anywhere soon,” Lilly said. “We’re going to expand the clinic downstairs and you’re still going to be able to come here for outpatient care here in northern Maine.”
The assurance of the CBOC’s expansion at the Cary Campus location was met by the audience with applause.
The positive partnership between the Caribou community and the VA was discussed by Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, the VA New England network director. Aside from praising the quality staff at the Caribou VA clinic, he spoke about the need for continued support of health care for veterans living in rural area and said that the model established in Caribou has been key to the advancement of services that allow eligible veterans to receive specialty care, including in-patient care at Cary Medical Center.
Lilly also spoke of the advancements in care over the years, and how Caribou was integral in the implementation of new programs, like Project ARCH.
“Many of you are patients here today, and have experienced Project ARCH — this is the newest innovation in the VA health care system where we actually contract for care here at the Cary Medical Center and with Pines Medical Group for out-patient specialty services and also in-patient specialty services,” he explained, describing how the new program saves veterans the tremendous travel distance to Togus. “Once again, on the leading edge of the frontier of innovation and creativity here in northern Maine,” Lilly emphasized.
Lilly also highlighted what many would agree is the key to the success of the Caribou clinic.
“This is a really unique place here in northern Maine where the veterans groups, the VA, the private sector and the congressional offices all work together on programs, on funding, on new initiatives trying to bring the latest and greatest care innovations to veterans because you’re a very deserving population and it’s our job to do that,” Lilly said. “We’re very grateful to you for your service, and we’re very thankful we have the opportunity to now serve you.”
Doody also spoke highly of the opportunity to serve northern Maine’s veterans.
“If you think of what the veterans have done for us, for freedom in serving our country in the way that they have and the sacrifices they have made — to be able to, in turn, serve them in a hospital that they know and trust and are close to, it’s extremely satisfying,” she said,
From the founding veterans group who brought the clinic to Caribou, to the veterans who utilize the clinic, to the VA staff, members of the Cary Board, community members, the Caribou City Council and the city manager all in attendance, the celebratory event that drew an audience of approximately 100 was well received.
Doody described the energy of everyone in one room celebrating that not only did the community make the clinic a reality in Caribou, the Caribou clinic became a model for the nation.
“I think that’s a huge feather in the cap for Caribou and something that all citizens of Aroostook County should be extremely proud of,” Doody said.
Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, along with Congressman Michael Michaud praised the Caribou CBOC on their 25th anniversary; their sentiments can be found on page 3A.
Other highlights of the event including the presentation of colors and a flag-folding ceremony by the Loring Job Corps Honor Guard, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Vietnam veteran and advocate John Wallace, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Caribou High School students Victoria Keaton and Emma Duplessie-Cyr, and the opening prayer and benediction by Reverend Gordon Compton.
