Page 20 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
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way he could be related to the improving.
famous general, but it didn’t Stints with the
seem to matter. Indianapolis
PD, VA Police,
His leadership skills were and the DOD
immediately recognized, and in Pensacola,
Antron was made a platoon FL, Gulfport
guide. Pvt. Patton had already and Biloxi, MS,
learned the value of teamwork, Fort Jackson
but it took a while before he was SC, and Fort
able to convince his peers. He Gordon GA,
worked tirelessly to convince led him to
them that they were “all in this Bonham TX to
together. If one is wrong, we are work for the
all wrong. If one is punished, we VA again. Sgt.
all pay. To get it right, we have to Maj. Thomas’
all get it right. You have to take apprentice
care of your buddy.” discovered he
Patton was trained as a chemical had a knack
operations specialist before for problem
being sent to Ft. Benning GA for solving. After
Airborne School. After that, the a successful
Army sent him to Ft. Campbell term as
KY for Air Assault School, where administrator
he learned how to rappel out of a of the Plano VA Care Teamlets – which include
helicopter. Outpatient Clinic, Antron landed a provider, an RN, an LVN, and
the position of administrator a medical support assistant.
When Patton’s three-year of the new state-of-the-art VA It's all about relationship-
enlistment was up, he wanted Superclinic in Lubbock. He is building. Veterans have access
to join Special Forces. He was grateful for the job his team had to pharmacists, dieticians, social
told he was needed in Chemical already accomplished by the workers, and behavioral health
Ops, something he did not want time he arrived in March 2021. specialists. The team comes to
to continue. So, Antron Patton Antron’s leadership skills are the veteran, and every issue is
left the Army and went into founded on his deep convictions addressed in the exam room. The
law enforcement. His first job about the value of teamwork. Lubbock VA Clinic is designed
was working for the Indiana He is proud of the flexibility and with PACT in mind – veteran-
Department of Corrections. His coachability of the VA staff. He centered.
high school prophecy had come is “very very very passionate
true, but fortunately, he was an about caring for veterans”, and This isn’t the end of Antron
employee, not an inmate. the over-arching goal of the new Patton’s story, and we hope it’s
facility is patient-centered care. a long happy chapter. From the
After 9/11, he went to work for streets of Indy to a sunny office
the Dept. of Defense as a federal The new VA Clinic is with an “open-door policy”, he
law enforcement officer. Antron implementing the VA “PACT” is passionate about providing the
was always learning, always model of care – Patient Aligned best care to all the veterans on
20 Lubbock Senior Link
