SCC Town Hall to offer Riverview VA clinic update, rare enrollment opportunities

By PHYLLIS HODGES

Director Joe Battle will be bringing a construction update and details about the offerings of the new 50,000-square-foot VA clinic in Riverview. The clinic, located just north of U.S. 301 and Big Bend Road on Summerfield Crossings Blvd., is scheduled to open next spring.

When Joe Battle, director of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics, came to Sun City Center six months ago to talk about the new outpatient clinic in Riverview, veterans turned out in droves, eager to hear about the services to be offered there. 

A second Town Hall in SCC is planned for Oct. 24 at the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., to talk about the $44-million project. 

But this gathering will offer more than just an update. Battle is bringing a roster of VA department representatives. Beginning at 1 p.m., they will be assisting veteran attendees with individual issues and distributing information about their sections. Veterans Administration representatives expected to attend, among others, are Enrollment, Women’s Health, Mental Health, Whole Health, Veterans Experience, Patient Advocate and Disabled American Veterans. Battle will begin his remarks at 2 p.m.

Phyllis Hodges Photo
VA transfer and sign-up opportunities at the Oct. 24 Town Hall is the topic when Enrollment Coordinator Thomas Hines and Public Affairs Specialist Alicia Burden are guests on Bill Hodges’ Veterans Corner show Oct. 4 and 16 at 3:30 p.m. WSCQ 96.3 FM or listen outside the broadcast area at www.WSCQFM.com.

Enrollment Coordinator Thomas Hines said that an application opportunity is being offered on Oct. 24 for the convenience of veterans who are interested in getting their care at the new clinic. According to Hines, patients of providers moving from the Primary Care Annex in Tampa to the South Hillsborough clinic and existing patients will have priority. They can wait and apply for transfer after the new clinic is open, of course, but making their wishes known early will help the hospital with planning in assigning physicians, technicians, etc. 

But enrollment representatives will not be handling just transfer requests; there will be several other opportunities available. “We will accept applications for veterans who have never enrolled at a VA, veterans enrolled in the system but who have never been seen at the Tampa VA and veterans now receiving care at Bay Pines,” said Hines. Representatives will also be able to conduct financial assessments and provide hardship applications. Enrollment at a location other than at a VA facility is unusual, and veterans should bring a copy of their DD214 if they wish to seize the opportunity. If a veteran does not have a DD214, a representative will be available to provide information about requesting one. Hines said their representatives will “stay until they kick us out.”

The South Hillsborough Outpatient Clinic is expected to receive an enthusiastic welcome from the 10,000 veterans in the Apollo Beach, Gibsonton, Riverview, Ruskin and Sun City Center communities. There are no geographical restrictions; however, veterans may receive care wherever they choose.

Chapter 110 of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is again sponsoring the Town Hall. The DAV Chapter 110 is a SCC Community Association club, but membership is not limited to CA members. It is primarily open to any honorably discharged veteran with a military-connected disability.