MASSENA – The president of the firm that will replace Massena Memorial Hospital as operator of the local Veterans Administration clinic says he expects a “seamless” transition in July.

The Syracuse VA hospital recently awarded the five-year $9.8 million contract to operate the Veterans Administration clinic to Onsite OHS, Inc., which anticipates opening the new clinic at a former 54 East Orvis St. furniture store in July, according to Onsite CEO Kyle Johnson.

“While there remains much work to do before the new clinic becomes operational in July, I am hopeful that through cooperation and communication with the Veterans, local community advocates, and the Syracuse VA Medical Center, the transition will be a seamless one for the veterans,” Johnson said in a letter.

He says about 20 people will staff the 9,000 square-foot facility. It will be open early morning and be available for Saturday appointments. Onsite will offer three rooms for telehealth conferences with VA physicians in Syracuse, including teletherapy.

“We are dismayed that the Syracuse VA has chosen another vendor despite our years of recognized service to the St. Lawrence County veterans,” MMH CEO Robert Wolleben said Feb. 27. “The added economic impact to the local health care community of significant dollars leaving our town is an added concern. MMH stands committed to providing services to the veterans and their family in the local community now and in the future.”

Massena Memorial Hospital has served the local veterans and partnered with the Syracuse VA Medical Center since 1993. MMH will continue to serve the veterans during the transition period of the contract, which they expect will last four months.

After that, veterans will be able to maintain their provider relationships through their Veterans Access Card. MMH says veterans are encouraged to use the hospital’s veterans’ services with their current provider.

“Massena Memorial Hospital has been very dedicated to treating the veterans over the last two decades and working with the Syracuse VA Medical Center. Our partnership developed outreach medical programs in St. Lawrence County serving not only medical but mental health care,” said Mark Brouillette, senior director of ancillary services.

Each year since the North Country Veterans Clinic opened in 1993, the facility has treated an increasing number of patients. The clinic sees approximately 500 patients a month for medical appointments and over 500 patients for mental health services. The MMH North Country Veterans Clinic has over 2,050 registered veterans for the clinic and treated over 12,000 patient visits last year, according to MMH.

“The North Country Veterans and Syracuse VA have a tremendous resource in the depth of services provided by MMH,” said Brouillette. “We continue to be very committed to the outreach program as demonstrated by our facility, staff and continued reviews of the best care provided in a CBOC. MMH’s veterans’ clinic is a premier clinic and has been used as a model to establish other outreach for the Syracuse VA Medical Center.”