VA South Hillsborough clinic opens this month
Open house is May 14, official opening, May 21
By PHYLLIS HODGES
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital has announced that the South Hillsborough Outpatient Clinic in Riverview, which it has dubbed SOHI, will be open for business and welcoming its first patients on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.
An Open House is planned for May 14, from 1 to 3 p.m., for the public to tour the clinic, meet health care providers and enjoy free demonstrations and refreshments. No invitation is required for the afternoon Open House. Earlier that day a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place; that is an invitation-only event because space is limited in the tent where it will be held.
“We look forward to serving more than 10,000 veterans in the South Hillsborough area. Just like our four other clinics, this 50,000-square-foot facility will provide much-needed services for veterans closer to home,” Director Joe Battle said.
Haley has been accepting requests from patients for their primary care to be transferred to the new clinic for several months, and about 3,500 had done so as of mid-April. Veterans still wishing to transfer are directed to tell their PACT teamlet, who will handle it from there. Veterans who are coming from out of state, those who are not assigned to a PACT teamlet here, or those who are not already enrolled in VA health care can call the Haley Enrollment & Eligibility office at 813-972-2000 Ext. 1710. More information is also available on the website (www.tampa.va.gov/patients/eligibility.asp) When the SOHI clinic is open (May 21), veterans can visit the Enrollment & Eligibility office there, as well.
Patients are being assured that not transferring their primary care to the new SOHI facility will in no way affect their ability to use the new clinic for auxiliary services, such as audiology, radiology, laboratory, etc.
The $44-million clinic is located at 12920 Summerfield Crossing Boulevard in Riverview — just north of the Big Bend Road/U.S. 301 intersection. It is similar in design and function to the Primary Care Annex near the Fletcher Avenue and I-75 exit in Tampa.
