What veterans need to know about VSOs, VA Healthcare, the PACT ACT, VA Priority Groups

By Larry Dandridge

Editor’s note: This article is the third in a series of five.

The first article in this series was published on Aug. 13, 2025, and it covered VA-accredited Service Officers (VSOs). Read online at https://bit.ly/45yJ6k7. The second was published on Aug.t 20, 2025, and covered the PACT Act. Read online at https://bit.ly/45yJb7p.

VA health care

This article provides information on what veterans need to know about VA health care, with emphasis on VA healthcare in the footprint of The Island News and the coastal areas of South Carolina and Northeast Georgia.

According to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) webpage at https://www.va.gov/health/, the VHA is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,380 healthcare facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,193 outpatient sites of varying complexity (outpatient clinics), serving 9.1 million enrolled veterans each year. Veterans can find VA healthcare facilities at https://bit.ly/3JvVGIm.

VA Healthcare is “better than or equal to non-VA healthcare.” According to the Journal of General Internal Medicine Systematic Review published April 19, 2003 (https://bit.ly/4lMNQrd) and 37 other credible studies, the clinical quality and safety of VA care are better than or equal to non-VA care.

The 5-star-rated Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center/System (RHJVAMCS)

The RHJVAMCS is the only habitually rated five-star hospital in South Carolina. It is one of the very few public and private medical centers that have been recognized for over a decade to be in the top 10 percent of all medical centers for quality of care, customer satisfaction, infection prevention, and dozens of other quality measures. The RHJVAMC&HCS includes the following eight Community-based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the affiliated non-healthcare Charleston Community Resource and Referral Center:

Beaufort, S.C., VA Clinic: 1 Pinckney Boulevard, Beaufort, S.C. 29902-6122, Phone: 843-577-5011, VA health connect: 855-679-0214, Mental health care: 843-577-5011, Web page: https://bit.ly/4oTtxuM.
Brunswick, Ga., VA Clinic: 93 Benchmark Way, Brunswick, Ga. 31520-1858, Phones: same as above, Web site: https://bit.ly/4p7RZce.
Savannah, Ga., VA Clinic: 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga. 31419-1618, Phone: same as above, Mental health care, Web site: https://bit.ly/4mExSRk.
Hinesville, Ga. VA Clinic: (John Gibson, Dan James, William Sapp, and Frankie Smiley VA Clinic), 500 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga. 31313-2804, Phones: same as above, Web site: https://bit.ly/3Jvu99T.
Goose Creek, S.C., VA Clinic: 2418 NNPTC Circle, Goose Creek, S.C. 29445-6314, Phones: same as above, Web page: https://bit.ly/3JRnFlJ.
Myrtle Beach, VA Clinic: 1800 Airpark Drive, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29577-1412, Phones: same as above, Web page: https://bit.ly/3HQVhQc.
North Charleston VA Clinic: 6450 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29406-4882, Phone: same as above, Web page: https://bit.ly/47Jif6f.
Trident VA Clinic: N. Charleston, 9237 University Boulevard North Charleston, S.C. 29406-8908, Phones: same as above, Web page: https://bit.ly/3UP7t6W.
Community Resource and Referral Center: 2424 City Hall Lane, Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC), Suite B, North Charleston, S.C. 29406-6538, Phone: 843-789-6804, VA health connect: 855-679-0214, Mental health care: 843-577-5011, Web page: https://bit.ly/4mExWR4.

Learn more in The Island News’ Aug. 9, 2023 article, by Larry Dandridge, and titled “The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System” at https://bit.ly/4oT340z.

Reasons S.C. and Ga. veterans should enroll in VA healthcare

The RHJVAMC&HCS:

Is the only medical system in the Lowcountry with a dual five-star Patient Satisfaction and Quality Rating.
Partners with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Is ranked in the top 10 percent of all public and private hospitals by the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information System.
Is a trained and practicing patient and family-centered care (PFCC) facility and team.
Is on Becker’s Great Community Hospitals List.
Utilize state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology to provide advanced diagnostics, treatments, and surgical procedures.
Actively engages in research to advance medical knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
Boasts a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who are committed to meeting the unique needs of veterans.
Providers who work to care for the veterans are veterans themselves, and they are also involved in nationally accredited research.
Prioritizes mental health services for veterans, offering a range of counseling, therapy, and support programs. Mental health services at the Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS cover a broad spectrum of specializations, including but not limited to addiction/substance abuse care, general mental health, military sexual trauma, PTSD, psychiatry services, and suicide prevention.
Is the only VA to offer three nurse residency programs.
Has committed to becoming a High-Reliability Organization that supports consistent operations while catching and correcting potentially catastrophic errors before they happen.

The RHJVAMC is located at 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401-5799. The main phone number is 843-577-5011. For VA Health Connect, the VA’s 24/7 virtual service that makes it easier to access “The Right Care, Right Now, call 855-679-0214. For mental health, call 843-577-5011, Ext. 2. The webpage is https://bit.ly/45OPlPB.

RHJVAMC parking

The RHJVAMC is open 24/7. Free parking is available for patients and visitors. On and off-site shuttle services are available. If a veteran knows that they will be admitted for an overnight stay, the veteran should arrange for someone to drop them off and pick them up. Limited handicapped parking is available in front of the medical center. Handicapped parking is also available for free at the Medical University of South Carolina garage.

If a veteran cannot find a parking space and does not see a police officer to guide them, they should call 843-789-7268. If there is no answer, dial the Medical Center 843-577-5011, then press 0 for the operator. Free parking is also available at each of our community-based outpatient clinics.

The bottom line

Where else can a veteran:

· Get care from the time they get out of the military until they expire, and perpetual care after?

· Get healthcare with no catastrophic cap?

· Get care from a civilian Community Care Provider?

· Could a veteran’s family stay for free for as long as needed (in a VA Fisher House), while the veteran is hospitalized in a VA or military medical center?

· Get free transportation or reimbursement for personal transport to and from a VA medical facility?

· Get prescriptions either free or at such a low co-pay?

· Be surrounded with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), which includes a Primary Care Provider, Social Worker, Clinical Pharmacist, Registered Nurse Manager, LPN or Medical Assistant, Administrative Assistant, and other Specialists as needed?

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.