CLEARWATER, Fla. — A new veteran outpatient clinic is under construction in Clearwater. 

The site will significantly expand the Pinellas County footprint — and help meet the demand — of Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Heathcare System, which serves nearly 120,000 veterans in the region.

U.S. Army Veteran Remi Rivera says he has relied heavily on treatment from the VA since leaving the service after 72 months overseas. 

"For depression, anxiety, back pain," he named all of the symptoms of PTSD he is being treated for. 

Rivera also has an emotional support animal.

On the road to getting well, he says he's experienced some hiccups with Veterans Affairs.

"My psychiatist left at a random time, didn't tell me," he said. 

That's something he said could easily have derailed him and other veterans from maintaining their treatment. The Bay area currently has VA Hospitals in Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg and Tampa. 

"The clinic that we have in Palm Harbor is not meeting the needs of veterans in Palm Harbor," Bay Pines VA Associate Director Joseph Scotchlas said, explaining that the plan to expand and build a new clinic has been in the works for years.

A new, 25,000 square foot facility is now under construction off of U.S. Highway 19 at the Countryside Mall. 

"This is going to be Godsend to Veteran of North Pinellas County," Scotchlas added.  

"I think they are doing better," said Rivera. "They have a more holistic approach, a team to help".

Rivera is now in medical school and says he plans to give back and help other veterans navigate the VA system. 

"I know about PTSD. I know about mental illnesses," he said. "I know that you need to keep pushing. I know that system sucks. I know the civilian world seems different, but I've come here to help you. That's what a doctor did for me."

The new clinic is set to open in January 2022. ​

Model of New VA Clinic coming to North Pinellas County