TeleHealth Visits Avoid COVID Delays at VA

The deployment of the new electronic health record at one of the Department Veterans Affairs health systems has been delayed. As of now, so many employees are sick with covid-19 and unable to work that the rollout has been moved from March 5 to April 30.

That particular system, with multiple VA locations in 15 counties, currently has a covid positivity rate of over 30% with one county seeing an increase of 150% in the past two weeks.

Think about that, and ask yourself: Can your next appointment at the VA be accomplished via TeleHealth? While the VA was one of the first agencies to mandate that all their employees be vaccinated against covid, facts and figures show that it’s not complete protection.

TeleHealth uses computers, phones and tablets to connect you with your medical team in real-time video or a phone call. Accessing care this way means you don’t have physically go in. This can be especially helpful if you are in a rural area far from a VA facility or are disabled, older or very ill. You can even talk to specialists via TeleHealth.

If you’re not signed up, start here: telehealth.va.gov. Scroll down to See How It Works. On that same page, click on My HealtheVet. From there you can track appointments, get messages from your care team, view or print your medical records or refill your prescriptions.

Don’t miss the VA Mobile Apps link. That’s where you can get your Video Connect app for iOS, web or Android. Note that AT&T, SafeLink by TracFone, T-Mobile and Verizon will help you avoid data charges when using the VA Video Connect app. You’ll also find the 24/7 help desk to get your app going (866) 651-3180 and a test site to try a practice session.

The VA has gone all out in battling covid-19. Consider doing your part and ask if your next appointment can be accomplished from home via TeleHealth.