Veterans' Healthy Living, Summer 2013
A Simple Process to Keep in Touch
As one of the newest telehealth programs in VISN 1, IP Video into the Home is already flourishing. One reason is that VA makes the process simple for the Veterans to participate.
What is the process? First, the clinician identifies Veterans who are likely candidates forthe program. They are usually established patients who have a chronic illness. They include seizure, stroke, and ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis) patients under the care of a neurologist; mental health patients; and Veterans in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program.
The next step is making sure Veterans' home computers meet the technological criteria with an operating system of XP or higher, a high speed connection, and a webcam. Then an appointment is conveniently scheduled. About 24 hours before the appointment, Veterans receive a unique username and password, as well as a reminder for the session. Finally, at the predetermined time, both Veteran and clinician securely log in and connect for a virtual face-to-face meeting.
David Cornwall, RN VA Connecticut Facility Telehealth Coordinator, said numerous Veterans are unable to drive and live great distances from facilities. It is extremely beneficial for these patients to have the ability to stay in touch with their clinicians without
having to arrange transportation to and from appointments.
If you are interested in more information about the IP Video into the Home program, ask your clinician if this simple process can benefit you, too!
From Grass Roots to Implementation
Michelle C. Michaud, RDH, VHA-CM, Facility Telehealth Coordinator at VAMC Manchester, is excited about the growth of VA’s Telehealth Program.
"When I first became involved in telehealth two years ago, the program presented me with a unique opportunity to be involved in providing state-ofthe- art care to our Veterans," she says.
"My early involvement with the program, during its initial development phase, provided a way for me to be involved in a grass roots approach toprogram development and implementation. Unique to Manchester, my role as Facility Telehealth Coordinator has evolved to include the direct supervision of all modalities of Virtual Medicine including Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT), Store and Forward Telehealth, Home Telehealth, and My HealtheVet programs, therefore providing a comprehensive approach for the development of Telehealth/Virtual Medicine Services at this facility."
Programs available through VAMC Manchester include TeleNutrition, TeleDiabetes Group Education as well as Individual Diabetes Assessment, TeleMental Health for Medication Management, Evidence Based Practice Therapy for PTSD, TeleOrtho Education (Pre-Surgery), and TeleAmputation Group Support. TeleEndocrinology, TeleSCI and Substance Abuse Therapy (TMH) programs will soon be available for Veterans.
Access to quality, state-of-the-art health care is no longer an idealistic concept for the future. It’s taking place in VA today. Don’t wait until tomorrow to learn about all the new and exciting programs that are available now!
