Beaufort Co. VA Director talks new outpatient clinic coming to area

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Sometimes, when veterans visit the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Beaufort, they require care that the clinic can’t provide, so they are referred to other clinics in Savannah or Charleston.

“We have a CBOC that is incredible, but it’s limited in the number of services it currently provides,” Director of Beaufort County Veteran Affairs, Dr. Caroline Fermin, said.

Now, with the recent announcement of funding being approved for the project, officials say they will soon be able to provide that missing care to people.

“You know not only will it be convenient for veterans to stay in town for quality care, but it will also offer an array of services that are currently not being offered,” Dr. Fermin said.

The project is still in the early stages, but is expected to look a lot like the clinics in Savannah and Charleston.

Officials say it will be an 80 to 100,000 square foot single-story building that will support the veteran population in Beaufort County and surrounding counties.

“We are very proud to partner with the VA to provide the services that our veterans have earned and need,” Dr. Fermin said.

Our sister station spoke to one veteran on Wednesday, who says the new clinks will be a godsend.

“I pray that I’ll be able to see it in my day, where that CBOC will be out in the community,” Retired Marine Corps Veteran Sam Spain said.

A date to break ground on the project has not been announced, but we do know that the VA is doing environmental assessments on three areas that could be the future home of the clinic.