VA New England Healthcare System

The CDC and Veterans Health Administration are committed to reducing the spread of the flu and COVID-19. If you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath – please stay home and contact your primary care provider. Tell them about how you are feeling and any recent travel you or members of your household have taken. They will be able to discuss your appointment options and answer any questions you may have. In addition to calling first, there are virtual care options such as telehealth or My HealtheVet Secure Messaging at each of our VA New England facilities. For visitors: if you do not feel well, please postpone your visit.

Please note the following important information on the coronavirus and how VA is responding. 

REINTRODUCTION OF VA HEALTH CARE SERVICES: On May 18, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs named VA New England Healthcare System’s White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont as a select facility to reintroduce health care services as states reopen from COVID-19. Read the media release.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR VETERANS: To get answers to questions you have about coronavirus and how VA is responding, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Coronavirus FAQs page, connect to the VA coronavirus chatbot or read VA's public health response.  You can stay informed by also reading the latest releases and blog reports on VA efforts during the pandemic.

LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS: For the latest information about coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

RECEIVING CARE FROM HOME -- Through VA's virtual care tools, VA New England is able to leverage available technology to make sure that our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time. To help us address our Veterans’ most-urgent needs first, VA medical centers in the VA New England Healthcare System network have asked that Veterans use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.  Learn about our Connected Care programs and how to schedule telephone or video appointments, how to request prescription refills and use MyHealtheVet, VA's online patient portal.

PRESS RELEASE ON VA NEW ENGLAND SUPPORT TO VA's 'FOURTH MISSION:  Read about VA New England's support to states in our region and our local communities -- known as VA's Fourth Mission.

ON THE COVID-19 FRONTLINE -- Read about how VA New England has deployed staff, to include doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical support assistants and infection control specialists in support of VA COVID-19 response operations in New York City and in the greater Boston area. 

FOR RETIRED VA CLINICIANS AND FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS: VA is actively seeking clinicians to help in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.  We’re especially looking for health care professionals with interest and expertise in Tele/Virtual Care, National Call Center, Travel Nurse Corps and Direct Patient Care/Support at VA medical centers, including those here in New England. In VA New England, we are especially looking for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and respiratory therapists among others.  To our retired VA health care colleagues: Our primary focus right now is on reducing workload across all sites to reallocate these resources to inpatient surge capacity, and, with your help, we can make this transition.  Nationally, VA also continues to prepare to potentially support our larger community efforts. To learn more, our retired colleagues can email vacareers@va.gov or apply at www.vacareers.va.gov.  For more specific questions related to our VA New England Healthcare System and the clinical occupation re-hiring process, contact VISN 1 Human Resources at VHAV01NewEnglandHiring@va.gov.

OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR VETERANS IN NEW ENGLAND: For operational informational regarding VA health care facilities in New England, note that the Veterans Health Administration and the VA New England Healthcare System are paying special attention to Veteran health due to the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.  VA New England is responding to the pandemic in accordance with the National Response Framework and the Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 response plan.  

VA has put in place procedures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

This effort is being coordinated between VA, the Veterans Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies.

For Veterans using VA New England health care: Any Veteran with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, should call their local VA medical center or clinic. VA urges Veterans to call before visiting. Calling first helps us protect you, medical staff and other patients.  For a list of VA New England Healthcare facilities, you can also visit our contact page or can call 1-844-VA-CARE (1-844-822-2737) for a directory.  In addition to calling first, consider using virtual care options such as telehealth or My HealtheVet Secure Messaging. Visitor: If you do not feel well, please postpone your visit to VA facilities.

Elective surgery and procedures are postponed throughout our VA New England system; except emergencies and care that needs immediate attention.

In an abundance of caution, we are directing all patients and visitors to a screening process at all of our medical centers to include the community-based outpatient clinics.

The screening process has shown minimal delay for those who do not need further evaluation. Additional instructions and evaluation will be provided for those who need it.

Everyone is encouraged to take simple preventive actions to avoid being exposed to viruses:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Stay home if you are sick or becoming sick.

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with symptoms, please call before going to a VA New England Healthcare facility.