VA is marking Telehealth Awareness Week this year from September 20–26. For members who haven’t looked at what VA’s virtual care options can do, now is a reasonable time to take stock.
What it is
VA Telehealth Services lets enrolled veterans connect with their care team by video, by phone, or through remote monitoring — without traveling to a clinic or medical center. The VA Video Connect app handles the video appointments. It runs on a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera.
My HealtheVet on VA.gov combines telehealth scheduling with prescription management, appointment booking, and access to medical records in one place.
Why it matters here
Utah County veterans can be a long distance from the nearest VA medical center. VA’s own reporting puts overall veteran trust in VA telehealth at 91.1 percent and satisfaction at 92.5 percent — both up for the sixth consecutive year. For members who are managing a chronic condition or who have limited mobility, the option to connect from home removes a real obstacle.
What you can do through telehealth
VA telehealth covers a range of services:
- Primary care visits
- Mental health appointments
- Specialty care consultations
- Chronic disease management
- Weight management through VA’s TeleMOVE! program
VA also offers more than 60 mobile apps to support health goals outside of scheduled appointments.
How to get started
If you’re already enrolled in VA health care, log in at VA.gov and navigate to My HealtheVet to see your telehealth options. You can also ask your VA care team to set up a video visit.
If you’re not yet enrolled, the starting point is the VA health care enrollment page at va.gov/health-care/apply.
The VA Telehealth Services page has a full breakdown of what is available and how to connect.
Questions
If you need help getting set up or aren’t sure whether you’re enrolled, the post’s service officers or the Utah Department’s service officer can point you in the right direction. You can find Department of Utah contacts at utlegion.org.
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