Veterans Hospital

The Sergeant Ernest I. 'Boots' Thomas VA Clinic is a federally operated outpatient facility within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, delivering no-cost comprehensive healthcare services to veterans across rural North Florida. It generates revenue through federal VA funding allocations tied to veteran enrollment and service utilization, providing integrated medical, dental, psychiatric, and transportation assistance to overcome geographic barriers to care. As a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC), it serves as a critical access point in a VA system increasingly focused on decentralized, veteran-centric care models, particularly for populations with limited mobility or specialist access. The clinic employs an estimated 50-100 clinical and administrative staff to support its mission of continuity of care, including providers, care coordinators, and transportation logistics personnel. With 75 estimated W-2 employees (midpoint of 50-100), the clinic qualifies for significant EBP savings through federal tax credit optimization under the FICA tip credit and related provisions applicable to healthcare employers. Annual savings would be approximately $89,250 (75 employees × $1,190), representing a recurring, scalable reduction in employment tax burden that directly supports operational sustainability. The Director of Community Care Coordination oversees care integration and veteran outreach, making them the primary decision-maker for benefits initiatives affecting frontline staff. Motivation to adopt EBP stems from the dual pressure of maintaining competitive compensation in a tight healthcare labor market while managing fixed federal budgets — savings could be redirected toward staff retention bonuses, expanded mental health services, or enhanced transportation fleet maintenance. Given the clinic’s 28-year legacy, partnership with Disabled American Veterans for transport, and high-touch model in underserved rural areas, demonstrating fiscal efficiency through EBP aligns with its mission-driven operational excellence.