Women who have served in the Armed Forces are eligible for a variety of veterans benefits. VA actively encourages women to utilize the benefits due them.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System offers a variety of health services to address the unique needs of women veterans.  The Women Veterans Health Care Program focuses on wellness education, preventive health treatment, disease management, and the emotional well being of women veterans. Our goal is to offer women patients quality healthcare in a concerned, compassionate and comprehensive manner throughout their life span.

The Women's Clinics

The Bay Pines Women’s Clinic offers a full range of preventive care and treatment services for women of all ages.  Patients are assigned to a physician in the Women’s Clinic, who can provide a comprehensive history and physical examination on the initial visit, and then ongoing care, including gender-specific women’s exams.

The Fort Myers Well Women’s Clinic provides for gender-specific examinations through referral from primary care physicians in southwest Florida clinics.

Community VA Outpatient Clinics also provide primary care services for women veterans. If well women’s examinations are not available in the Community VA Outpatient Clinic, patients are referred to Bay Pines or Fort Myers for their well women’s examinations.

Healthcare for Women Veterans is available for both in-patients and out-patients. If the patient’s condition changes and a hospital admission is needed, women may be admitted to medical, surgical, or mental health inpatient services to receive their hospital care.  Additionally, woman veterans who need long term care or home health services may access them through their VA physician’s referral to Geriatrics & Extended Care Service.

Women's Primary Care Services
Exams & Services:

• History and physical, including pelvic exam & breast exam.
• Menopause treatment including hormonal therapy if appropriate
• Family planning and contraceptive care
• Infertility evaluation and referrals
• Maternity care referrals
• Assessment for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke risk 
• Tobacco use cessation counseling
• Sexual trauma referrals
• Flu and other vaccines
• Social work referrals
• Medication therapy education
• Referrals for other services as needed

Screening for:

• High blood pressure
• Breast cancer or fibrocystic disease - Mammograms
• Cervical cancer - Pap test
• Colorectal cancer 
• Osteoporosis
• High cholesterol
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Diabetes
• Nutrition and dietary needs
• Psychosocial issues that impact your health

Women's Specialty Services at Bay Pines

Gynecology Clinic provides special services including major or minor surgical procedures for treatment of women’s reproductive disorders, urologic-gynecology (for treatment of urinary incontinence) and oncologic-gynecology (for treatment of cancers of the female reproductive organs).

Breast Care Clinic has been established for evaluation and treatment of breast diseases or abnormalities detected through breast examination or mammography.

Mental Health Services are available for treatment of many conditions, including depression and anxiety.  An individual comprehensive treatment plan is developed with the patient.  Referrals are made as needed for specific issues, including military sexual trauma, eating disorders, substance use and post traumatic stress disorder. We invite women veterans to take advantage of our special programs for women veterans.  Your active and vocal participation in the health care process is important to our success.  We value the opinions of veterans and want to listen and respond to your health care concerns.

How to Access These Services

All women veterans who have received an honorable discharge (or general under honorable conditions) from the military are eligible to apply for healthcare services. An eligibility specialist will process the request and the patient will be notified if she has met eligibility criteria.  Eligible women patients are assigned to a primary care team. A co-payment may be assessed for treatment of non-service connected conditions.  The fee is determined by the patient’s income and entitlement.

If you are NOT already enrolled for VA Medical Benefits at Bay Pines, contact the Eligibility Unit for assistance.

If you are already enrolled for VA Medical Benefits and you wish to schedule an appointment, request a prescription refill, or if you have a medical question, please contact your Primary Care Team for information about how you can access the services available in the Women’s Clinic.
 
Bay Pines currently provides primary care services for CHAMPVA/CITI Program women patients.  The CHAMPVA/ CITI Program Coordinator may be contacted for more information about that program.

If you want to know more about the Women Veterans Health Care Program at Bay Pines, please speak with:

The Women Veterans Program Manager, located on the 4th floor of the main hospital (Building 100), Room 4B 163A, or call (727) 398-6661, ext. 4312. For answers to questions about medical issues related to your current plan of care, prescriptions, or appointments (if you are already enrolled), please call your Primary Care Team first.

return to the top