Telehealth services are becoming increasingly popular in the United States as a way to improve access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas. Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of the largest providers of telehealth services in the country and offers a wide variety of care options via teleconference. VA telehealth services can be used for a variety of medical appointments, including primary care, mental health, and specialty care. Many VA facilities also offer home telehealth services, which allow veterans to receive care in their own homes using videoconferencing technology.
There are many benefits to using VA telehealth services, including improved access to care, increased convenience, and lower costs. In addition, telehealth can help to improve communication between patients and their care providers and can provide support for caregivers who may live far away from their loved ones.
If you are a veteran and would like to learn more about VA telehealth services, please contact your local VA facility or visit the VA website.
VA Telehealth Appointments at the Veterans Administration
Clinical video telehealth (CVT) is the use of live, two-way video conferencing to provide clinical care at a distance. It is a type of telemedicine. The Veterans Administration (VA) has been a leader in the use of telehealth, particularly clinical video telehealth, and offers several CVT services to veterans.
The VA has been using telehealth since the early 1990s to provide care to rural veterans. In 2003, the VA launched the Veterans Health Administration Telehealth Services (VHATS) program to expand the use of telehealth throughout the VA system. The VHATS program was replaced by the Veterans Affairs Tele-Health Services (VATS) program in 2011. The VATS program includes both clinical video telehealth and store-and-forward telehealth.
The VA offers several CVT services, including primary care, mental health, and specialty care. CVT services are provided by VA providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, and social workers) to veterans who are enrolled in the VA healthcare system. CVT appointments are made through the VA’s My HealtheVet portal.
Veterans can also receive care through the Veterans Choice Program, which is a program that allows veterans to receive care from non-VA providers. Veterans who are eligible for the Veterans Choice Program can receive care from any provider who is enrolled in the program and who accepts the Veterans Choice Program as a form of payment. Veterans can find Veterans Choice Program providers through the Find a Provider tool on the Veterans Choice Program website.
The VA also offers several other telehealth services, including telemental health, store-and-forward telehealth, and home telehealth. Telemental health is the use of telecommunications to provide mental health services. Store-and-forward telehealth is the use of telecommunications to exchange medical information between providers and patients. Home telehealth is the use of telecommunications and other technologies to monitor the health of patients who are at home.
The VA is committed to expanding the use of telehealth and has been working to increase the number of Veterans who have access to telehealth services. The VA has also been working to increase the number of providers who can provide telehealth services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive health care to our Nation’s Veterans. We are proud to offer a wide range of services to meet the unique needs of each Veteran.
One of the VA’s many services is VA urgent care. Urgent care is for Veterans who need medical attention for a condition that is not life-threatening but still requires prompt care. Veterans can receive urgent care at any VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic.
If you need urgent care, please call your local VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic. A VA provider will work with you to determine if you need to be seen right away or if your condition can be managed over the phone.
If you need to be seen by a provider, you will be given a VA appointment time. Please note that urgent care appointments are not always available on the same day that you call.
If you have a life-threatening condition, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
The VA also offers tele neurology services for Veterans who need to see a neurologist but live in rural areas. Tele-neurology allows a Veteran to consult with a neurologist via video conference. This service is available at select VA medical centers.
If you think you might need tele-neurology services, please call your local VA medical center and ask to speak with a neurology provider.
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