The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the daily lives of veterans across the country. This includes how they are connecting with their Veterans Administration (VA) health care teams. One of the most popular tools veterans are using to connect with their VA health care teams is VA Video Connect. That program lets veterans connect by video with their VA care teams while staying home.
Even more highly utilized is My HealtheVet. VA’s online patient portal lets veterans request VA prescription refills, review their medical records and connect directly with their health care providers through secure online messages. Veterans are also increasingly using VA’s Mobile App Store. There, they can download apps that offer assistance with pain management, self-care reminders and more.
In March, 9% of veterans enrolled in VA health care used telehealth for part of their care. By the end of June, 18% of veterans were using telehealth. More than 1.1 million veterans used digital health options in fiscal year 2020, through the end of June.
Telehealth video visits to the veteran’s home or other non-VA place of choice have increased by 1,132% since February. VA providers conducted 138,700 visits a week in late June. My HealtheVet has processed over 11.2 million VA prescription refill requests and managed over 11.6 million secure messages between veterans and their health care teams from January to June 2020.
VA is also committed to helping all veterans participate in telehealth services. That includes veterans who live in rural areas, whose mobile phone plans have limited data services, VA has partnered with Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint, and SafeLink by TracFone to provide data at no charge to veterans using VA Video Connect. VA recommends that veterans talk with their VA care provider to learn what connected services are available to them or visit connectedcare.va.gov for more information.
~ Article courtesy of VA.