Days before the scheduled opening of the 24,000-square-foot permanent Veterans Affairs clinic in Lake Charles, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy toured the facility and spoke with staff on the many services it will provide.

“It’s very impressive,” Cassidy, R-La., said Friday. “It’s nice to know it’s about to be open.”

The clinic, at 3601 Gerstner Memorial Drive, is set to open at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Peter Dancy, director of the Alexandria VA Health Care System, said minor cosmetic work remains, but that the facility will be fully operational.

“We have patients scheduled, and we will take in walk-ins,” he said. “We will wait to see who shows up. We’re ready to open.”

During the tour, Cassidy saw the different services offered by the clinic. They include physical therapy, X-ray, dental, eye care, prosthetics, mental health and nutrition. He said he was pleased to see that the clinic will provide Telehealth services for veterans, calling it the “future of medicine.”

Cassidy, a physician, said the clinic is long overdue. “I wish we had this (years ago),” he said.

Cassidy said that having a permanent VA clinic in Lake Charles is important, considering the area’s projected growth over the next several years. He said one of his biggest concerns is increasing access to local care for women veterans, specifically obstetrics.

The clinic will be open 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dancy said. A dedication and open house is set for Oct. 20.

The interim clinic, at 814 W. McNeese St., now provides care for about 1,600 veterans, with a third provider allowing for the care of 1,100 additional patients.