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Located in Tampa, Florida, VISN 8 is the nation’s largest system of hospitals and clinics serving a population of more than 1.4 million Veterans in a vast 64,153 square mile area spread across 79 counties in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
VISN 8’s seven healthcare systems include eight Joint Commission-accredited VA medical centers and more than 90 large and small outpatient clinics. Over 35,000 full-time VISN employees work at these facilities, providing high-quality, cost-effective medical, psychiatric, and extended care services in inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and home care settings.
Read our latest Annual Report (PDF) to learn more about our VISN and health care systems.
Hurricane season starts June 1. Take action now. Scroll down for essential tips and resources to keep you and your loved ones safe. Don’t wait – be prepared for a safer tomorrow. Keep scrolling to learn more!
13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa
FL
33612
813-558-3900
| Facility Name | State | Status Code | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatillo Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Miami Vet Center | Florida | NOTICE | Miami Vet Center's operating hours are now from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday |
| Naples Vet Center | Florida | TEMPORARY_LOCATION | As of 12/16/2024, the Naples Vet Center will be temporarily relocated to the Naples VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at 800 Goodlette Rd. N., Suite 120, Naples FL 34102. The Naples Vet Center phone number will remain the same: 239-403-2377. |
| Ocala West VA Clinic | Florida | LIMITED | The Ocala West VA Clinic has minimal specialty health services available during specific hours. For additional healthcare services in the Ocala region, please visit our main Ocala VA location at: https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/locations/ocala-va-clinic/. |
| Pasco County Vet Center | Florida | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for renovations. We're conducting all appointments virtually and at Community Access Points. Please contact us at 727-372-1854 to schedule an appointment. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Ponce Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| San Juan Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands Vet Center | U.S. Virgin Islands | NOTICE | We’re located in Suite 1 next to the Builder’s Emporium. Please call us at 939-227-1854 for additional support locating the Vet Center. |
| Facility Name | State | Status Code | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatillo Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Miami Vet Center | Florida | NOTICE | Miami Vet Center's operating hours are now from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday |
| Naples Vet Center | Florida | TEMPORARY_LOCATION | As of 12/16/2024, the Naples Vet Center will be temporarily relocated to the Naples VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at 800 Goodlette Rd. N., Suite 120, Naples FL 34102. The Naples Vet Center phone number will remain the same: 239-403-2377. |
| Ocala West VA Clinic | Florida | LIMITED | The Ocala West VA Clinic has minimal specialty health services available during specific hours. For additional healthcare services in the Ocala region, please visit our main Ocala VA location at: https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/locations/ocala-va-clinic/. |
| Pasco County Vet Center | Florida | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for renovations. We're conducting all appointments virtually and at Community Access Points. Please contact us at 727-372-1854 to schedule an appointment. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Ponce Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| San Juan Vet Center | Puerto Rico | TEMPORARY_CLOSURE | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff, due to the power outage. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands Vet Center | U.S. Virgin Islands | NOTICE | We’re located in Suite 1 next to the Builder’s Emporium. Please call us at 939-227-1854 for additional support locating the Vet Center. |
Find a VISN 08 Medical Center or Clinic near you. Click on the location below to learn more about each healthcare system, including its outpatient clinics.
VA Bay Pines Healthcare System (Bay Pines, Florida)
VA Tampa Healthcare System (Tampa, Florida)
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (Gainesville and Lake City, Florida)
VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System (West Palm Beach, Florida)
VA Caribbean Healthcare System (San Juan Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico)
VA Orlando Healthcare System (Orlando, Florida)
VA Miami Healthcare System (Miami, Florida)
Annual Reports
Explore the VISN 8 2024 Annual Report, where you can discover our achievements and future directions in serving Veterans across Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Veterans Health Matters Magazine
The Spring 2025 issue of Veterans Health Matters is now available to read online. You can access the English and Spanish versions of the publication by clicking the links below, along with the accompanying white board videos.
English Version | Spanish Version
Whiteboard Video
For those unfamiliar with Veterans Health Matters, it is an award winning, quarterly publication that is produced and distributed in both hardcopy and digital formats to Veterans and their loved ones across Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has been in existence since 2011 and largely focuses on Whole Health.
Click here to receive a copy of Veterans Health Matters in the mail, via email, or both.
2025 Healthy Living Calendars
English Version | Spanish Version
Living Well Videos
Click here to access the all videos.
VISN 8 Wall Poster Map
Take a moment to view the Wall Poster Map, which depicts all the facilities within VISN 8.
Breathe Newsletter (E-news in Lung Health)
We are pleased to present the February edition of the Breathe Newsletter from the Lung Precision Oncology Program (LPOP), VISN 8. This issue offers essential information on lung cancer, including current screening locations and resources aimed at supporting your lung health.
We depend on the goodwill and generosity of our donors and volunteers. By volunteering your time or making a donation, you can give something back to Veterans who have given so much to our country. As a volunteer, you’ll provide many important services throughout our health care system and help make Veterans’ visits to our facilities more rewarding.
Informational Flyers on Volunteering and Donating
Exceeding Veterans Expectations
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System – Tampa, FL
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital – St. Petersburg, FL
Miami VA Healthcare System – Miami, FL
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System – Lake City & Gainesville, FL
Orlando VA Medical Center – Orlando, FL
VA Caribbean Healthcare System – San Juan, PR
West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System – West Palm Beach, FL
VA welcomes women Veterans. We are committed to providing high-quality services in a sensitive and safe environment at all VA facilities. Women Veteran Program Managers are available at each VA medical center to assist women Veterans with questions and coordinate services (see contact information on this page).
Each woman Veteran is assigned a Women’s Health Primary Care Provider. These experienced providers are trained to deliver comprehensive primary care, as well as routine women’s health care. You will be at the center of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) where a provider, nurse, and others will work with you to manage your health care:
The Women Veterans Call Center provides women Veterans information about VA services and resources, benefits, and eligibility. The toll-free line is available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. ET and on Saturdays 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. ET. Please see our Women Veterans Call Center website or call 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636). Call, chat, or text are all available.
Join VA Health Care
By enrolling in VA health care, you gain access to a comprehensive range of services. This includes regular checkups with your primary care provider, as well as appointments with specialists such as cardiologists, gynecologists, and mental health professionals. You can also benefit from Veterans’ health services like home health care, elder care, medical equipment, prosthetics, and prescriptions. Discover how you can apply for and manage the valuable health care benefits you deserve.
VA Welcome Kit
The VA Welcome Kit serves as a helpful guide, ensuring you make the most of the benefits and services available to you.
My HealtheVet
Through My HealtheVet, Veterans and their families have access to top-notch, trustworthy patient education resources, along with the latest updates from VA News.
Veterans Health Library
The Veterans Health Library provides you with immediate access to thousands of health information articles that are approved by the VA.
VISN 8 Wall Poster Map
Take a moment to view the Wall Poster Map, which depicts all the facilities within VISN 8.
For Public Affairs matters, send a note to VISN 8 Office of Communication
For Veterans benefits-related complaints and issues, call the St. Petersburg Regional Office at (800) 827-1000.
VISN 8 FOIA – VISN8FOIA@va.gov
Atlantic Hurricane Season: June 1 thru November 30
Emergencies are unpredictable by nature, and can strike at any moment, leaving individuals and communities vulnerable. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a medical crisis, or a human-made catastrophe, having a plan in place can significantly mitigate risks and enhance safety. Click on the links below to various emergency preparedness resources and tips to assist:
Veterans who receive care in the network can call 1-877-741-3400 around the clock to get their health questions or concerns answered from the comfort and convenience of their home, or wherever they may be.
Services include general administrative support, nurse triage, pharmacy, and virtual visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner via telephone, VA Video Connect, or VA Health Chat.
Video: VA Health Connect
Network Director
Network Director
David B. Isaacks was appointed as the new executive director of the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) effective October 9, 2022. Mr. Isaacks oversees the delivery of health care to nearly 800,000 Veterans and an operating budget of $9.2 billion.
He previously served as Executive Director at the North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System in Gainesville, Fl., Executive Director at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., and Executive Director for the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Mo., Mr. Isaacks joined the VA in 2006 and has served in several other leadership roles including deputy network director for both the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the VA Heartland Network in Kansas City, Mo. He also served as director of the VA Central Plaines Consolidated Patient Account Center in Leavenworth, Kan.
Mr. Isaacks is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, VHA Certified Mentor, an Excellence in Government Senior Fellow, a graduate of the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Leadership Institute – Class of 2008, the 19th Annual Prince Williams Regional Chamber of Commerce Valor Award winner from 2005, a 2003 U.S. Marine Corps Institute Graduate, and a certified LEAN Black Belt. Most recently Mr. Isaacks was recognized in October 2022 with the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award and March 2021 with the ACHE VA Regents Senior Healthcare Award. Additionally, Isaacks is a proud Veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
The Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 8) based in Tampa, Fla., encompasses seven healthcare systems that include eight large medical centers, more than 100 outpatient clinics, and seven community living centers. VISN 8 serves Veterans in 79 counties spanning 63,400 square miles in southern Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Deputy Network Director
Deputy Network Director
Ms. Verana Richardson was appointed in May 2019 as the Deputy Network Director for Operations for the VA VISN 8 Sunshine Healthcare Network. In this role, she is responsible for network operations and provides administrative oversight to eight VA hospitals and approximately 60 community VA outpatient clinics. In 2019, VISN 8 employed approximately 31,000 staff and provided healthcare to about 630,000 Veterans. The VISN 8 Sunshine Healthcare Network includes most of Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Before this current assignment, Ms. Richardson previously served as the interim VISN 8 Chief Operating Officer. Mrs. Richardson has been with VISN 8 since 2008. She has also worked at several other VA facilities during her VA career, which include the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa and the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center in Cleveland. She holds a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree from Ohio University and is an active American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) member.
Acting Chief Medical Officer
Acting Chief Medical Officer
Effective January 1, 2025, Lisa L. Zacher, M.D., MACP, is the Acting Chief Medical Officer, VISN 8. Currently, as the Chief of Staff at the Orlando VA Healthcare System since 2015, she oversees medical care for over 140,000 Central Florida Veterans.
Dr. Zacher holds a BS in Chemistry and a medical degree from the University of South Dakota. Her training includes an Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary/Critical Care specialization at military centers.
A retired U.S. Army Colonel with 24 years of service, she has received numerous military honors and has contributed to research on lung injuries from airborne hazards. Dr. Zacher is active in professional organizations and has received several accolades, including the “Colonel Lisa L. Zacher Mentorship of Women in Medicine” award. She also holds academic positions at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.
Deputy Director for Clinical Contact Center
Deputy Director for Clinical Contact Center
Ms. Suzanne M. Klinker is the Deputy Network Director of the Clinical Contact Center, VISN 8. In this role, she oversees the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center, a 24/7 virtual urgent care service available to Veterans enrolled for VA care in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is an active member of the VHA Clinical Contact Center Governance Board, where she advances VA’s modernization and transformation in virtual care.
Before her appointment with the VISN 8 Network Office, she was the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Director from May 2012 to September 2018. Previously, Ms. Klinker was the director of the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan; before that, she served as the Associate Medical Center Director at VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo and Batavia, New York. Ms. Klinker started her VA service at the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, Kansas. She has also worked at VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas.
Ms. Klinker began her VA career in 1995. She completed VHA’s Health Care Leadership Institute and graduated from VHA’s Executive Career Field Candidate Development Program. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She began her Federal service working for then U.S. Representative Jim Slattery from 1989 through 1994 in Washington, DC, and Topeka, Kansas.
Ms. Klinker was born in Lafayette, Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance, from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, and a Master of Science in Management from Baker University in Topeka, Kansas.
Chief Nursing Officer and Acting Quality Management Officer
Chief Nursing Officer and Acting Quality Management Officer
Ms. Rebecca M. Tiffault, MSN, RN, currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer for the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8). She is responsible for Nutrition and Food Service, Sterile Processing Service, Chaplain Service, Nursing Informatics, Utilization Management, Care Coordination/Integrated Case Management, Bed Management System, VISN HRO Champion, and Nursing Practice. She will also serve as the Nursing Executive Champion for the Associate Director for Patient Care Service (ADPCS) Community of Practice, nurse staffing, nurse recruitment, nurse staffing surveys, evidenced based practice, nursing research, nursing policy and more.
As acting Quality Management Officer, she oversees and leads Quality Management, Change Management, Risk Management (to include peer reviews, state licensing board actions), Accreditations with External Stakeholders, High Reliability Organization (HRO), Systems Redesign, and Patient Safety. Additionally, she will provide support and consultation for Customer Service, Patient Experience, and Continuous Process Improvement (CPI).
Before joining the VISN 8 team, Ms. Tiffault was the Chief of Quality at the Tomah VA Medical Center. She also completed details as the Acting VISN 12 Deputy Quality Management Officer and Acting Associate Director at Tomah. She has been with the VA for over 18 years, having served in various progressively complex administrative and leadership roles. She is passionate about quality and safety in health care. Ms. Tiffault also has extensive experience in the private sector, spending many years as a Certified Emergency Nurse working in ED/Trauma.
Ms. Tiffault is a graduate of the Healthcare Leadership Development Program (HCLDP) and the VISN 12 Leadership Development Program. She is also a graduate of the Improvement Advisor Academy and has worked as a national coach for the Patient Flow Collaborative. She is a VHA mentor, actively engaged in several coaching/mentoring relationships, and a Sigma Theta Tau International member. Ms. Tiffault has an ADN from Central Carolina Technical College, a BSN from the University of South Carolina, and an MSN from the University of Phoenix.
When you can't see a VA health care provider in person, here are some ways to connect to VA virtually — by text, chat, secure messaging, online, over the phone, and using apps. Explore each option and decide which is best for you.
