Rio VA Clinic

Michael Patrick King

The Rio Clinic is the legacy agency of the now-defunct W.A.V.E. (Wellness and Vocational Enrichment) Clinic formerly situated on Mission Gorge Place in Grantville. The same dedicated therapists and administrative personnel staff the new clinic. The main differences are the new location's quieter ambience and more spacious facility, which synergize to serve Central San Diego's veteran population better. Also, the new clinic is situated immediately across Rio San Diego Drive from the VA San Diego Healthcare System's Mission Valley Clinic, which provides a host of other services to area veterans and their eligible family members, making it somewhat more convenient as a one-stop health shop for veterans. Only emergency facilities are lacking here; for emergency services, either dial 9-1-1 or go to the VA Medical Center in La Jolla. Mental health, occupational therapy, military-civilian transition services and supported employment are all offered at The Rio Clinic. The staff are dedicated to the VA's mission "to serve [those] who have borne the battle, and [their] widow(s) and [their] orphan(s)". They are caring and confidential and a great help to those whom they serve. I recommend The Rio Clinic to all honorably-discharged veterans and their families who need help with navigating the rougher passages of life.