VA Health Connect is making it easier than ever for Veterans to access care quickly and conveniently. This virtual care service connects Veterans with VA health professionals through phone and video calls, offering support for urgent health concerns, prescription refills, and medical advice. Available 24/7, VA Health Connect reduces wait times and unnecessary trips to the clinic, ensuring Veterans receive the care they need when they need it. For local access, Veterans can call 833-983-0492.
VA Health Connect also includes tele-emergency care, providing immediate, virtual triage for potential emergencies with a VA medical provider. Veterans may avoid having to potentially drive to the nearest emergency department and wait to be evaluated.
What is VA Tele-Emergency Care? Tele-emergency care (tele-EC) is a service available through VA Health Connect that provides Veterans with increased and quicker access to timely emergency care from VA clinicians, helping them get the right care, at the right time, from the right place.
While tele-EC does not replace the need for in-person emergency evaluation, for Veterans in rural areas or those with mobility and transportation challenges, in-person immediate care can be difficult to access. VA’s tele-EC helps bridge this gap through quick, virtual triage assessments.
If a Veteran believes their life or health is in danger or is experiencing a suicidal crisis, they should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
VA Health Chat: Another Way to Connect In addition to phone calls, Veterans can now access VA Health Connect through VA Health Chat, an online chat service available via web browser or the VA Health Chat app for iOS and Android. This secure messaging platform allows Veterans to chat directly with VA health professionals for quick medical advice, prescription refills, and appointment scheduling.
VA Health Chat is a great option for those who prefer texting over calling. It provides another easy and efficient way to connect with VA care teams without waiting on hold or traveling to a clinic.
A Smarter Way to Access VA Care With services like VA Health Connect, tele-emergency care, and VA Health Chat, Veterans now have more ways than ever to access VA health care quickly and conveniently. These services help reduce the burden on emergency rooms, provide timely medical advice, and ensure Veterans receive expert care when they need it most.
For more information about VA Health Connect, visit www.va.gov/initiatives/va-health-connect. To access VA Health Chat, visit https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-chat . And as always, Veterans can call 833-983-0492 for local VA Health Connect assistance.
Brad Anderson and Melissa Crandall are the Lake County Veterans Service Officers and can be reached at 218.834.8326 or cvso@co.lake.mn.us Karen Christianson is the Cook County Veterans Service Officer and can be reached at 218.387.3639, or karen.christianson@co.cook.mn.us
