VA Healthcare Center
to Open Dec 17

The newly built Lee County Veterans Administration  Healthcare Center will open its doors to patients Dec. 17, 2012, officials announced Thursday afternoon.

Workers now are finishing  installation of medical equipment at the 220,000 square-foot facility at 2489 Diplomat Parkway East,  Cape Coral

“This is a remarkable and exciting time for our healthcare system and for the veterans and families we serve, “said Suzanne Klinker, director of the Bay Pines VA, in a prepared statement. “Just a few years ago this new facility was just a sketch on a piece of paper. Now, in a just a few short months the doors will open to our nation’s heroes.”

Once open the health center will replace the existing VA facility on Winkler Extension in Fort Myers.

The Fort Myers VA Outpatient Clinic currently employs about 330 staff.

Bay Pines VA officials said they expect to hire an additional 70 employees to work at the new healthcare center.