Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital features a program called “Move!” — a national weight-management program to help veterans lose weight, keep it off and improve their health.

Unfortunately, that title might be just as appropriate for the veterans hospital’s efforts to cut costs and consolidate.

Hines announced this week that it will close its Elgin clinic, located at 450 W. Dundee Ave., in April. The Elgin outpatient clinic will fold into a new facility in Hoffman Estates, located in the Prairie Pointe Medical Building, 4885 Hoffman Boulevard, said Jake Zimmerman, Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission superintendent.

Zimmerman described the news as bittersweet.

“While we welcome the VA expanding their clinic and improving their services to our veterans, we are disappointed that Kane County veterans will have to travel a little farther to attend those appointments,” Zimmerman said.

The Hoffman Estates facility is about six miles from the Elgin location. Zimmerman said the facility will be bigger and hopefully make it easier for Kane County veterans to land a timely appointment. Zimmerman said wait times for an appointment set today were extending to November.

A little more than a year ago, Hines VA Hospital came under fire for wait times that ranged from three days to as long as 50 days.

Hines VA Hospital presently has six clinics, according to its website, including one at 161 South Lincolnway,
North Aurora.

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