The Department of Veterans Affairs has seen a 30% increase in veterans enrolling for VA health care over the past year. One such increase occurred in Florida, where almost 33,000 new enrollees joined the program. To address the growing need for health care services, the Department of Veterans Affairs is opening more clinics in the area.
One such clinic is Sabal Park Clinic, which opened in Hillsborough County in February. Dr. Brian Zilka, Associate Chief of Staff for Primary Care, explains that the clinic offers comprehensive services under one roof, including social work, pharmacy, nutrition, and mental health care. The clinic also has consult rooms for patients and plans to offer lab services in the future.
Army veteran Willie Pinkston Sr., who is 88 years old, and his wife, Sonja Pinkston, are patients at the new clinic and appreciate the convenience it offers. The Pinkstons note that being closer to their home saves them money on gas and allows them to access quality care more conveniently.
Zilka is proud of the short wait times at the clinic and emphasizes that they can see new patients in under twenty days in Tampa. Another new VA clinic is scheduled to open in Polk County in July to further expand access to care for veterans in Florida.
In conclusion, as more veterans enroll for VA healthcare services across the country and particularly in Florida there is an increasing demand for healthcare facilities that cater to their needs. With this surge in demand comes a response from the Department of Veterans Affairs by opening new clinics such as Sabal Park Clinic that offers all-encompassing healthcare services under one roof with extended team members available to cater to different needs of veterans.
The Pinkstons’ experience at Sabal Park Clinic highlights how convenient it is for veterans who live nearby as it allows them easy access to quality healthcare without having to travel far away or spend money on transportation costs.
Furthermore, with another new VA clinic set to open soon in Polk County, there will be even more options available for veterans seeking healthcare services from VA facilities.
Overall this expansion of VA clinics will have a positive impact on veteran’s lives by providing them with greater accessibility and convenience while improving their overall well-being through high-quality healthcare services.
