VA New England Healthcare System

VA Video Connect links Veterans with their VA health care team from anywhere, using the camera on your computer, phone or tablet, through secure and private videoconferencing sessions. It makes VA health care more convenient for Veterans and caregivers. Veterans can contact us by phone to participate and to learn more. Call 844-VA-CARES (822-2737). When prompted select your geographic region and ask to be connected with the TeleHealth Coordinator.

BEDFORD, Mass. – The VA New England Healthcare System is committed to providing high-quality care while keeping Veterans safe from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans, we are honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Ryan Lilly, VA New England Healthcare System director. “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are 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.

Telephone or Video Appointments – Veterans can receive care at home — either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, Veterans can send their provider a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting myhealth.va.gov. Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect.  Link here for a list of MyHealtheVet and Telehealth coordinators in the VA New England Healthcare System.

Prescription Refills – Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill. Text Message Reminders – Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This application helps Veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at mobile.va.gov/annie.

Secure Messaging – With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, Veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them nonurgent health questions. Register at www.myhealth.va.gov.

For more information about VA’s Connected Care technologies, visit connectedcare.va.gov. 

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 – Veterans can visit our contact page or can call 1-844-VA-CARE (1-844-822-2737) for a directory of all medical centers in New England. Veterans, through this centralized number, can reach their VA medical center in their local area and, in turn, the Clinical Call Center, to best assist them. 

 

VA New England has developed videos and public service announcements to connect Veterans with VA information and help answer questions about VA benefits. The videos can be found on a VA New England playlist linked to the national Veterans Health Administration YouTube channel and then can be searched through the Playlist tab. Playlists include "New England Veteran," which features podcast style interviews with Veterans describing how they use VA benefits and programs.

VA New England launches public service announcements, YouTube playlist

VA New England YouTube Links
Click HERE for New England Veteran Playlist
Click HERE for New England Veteran Shorts Playlist
Click HERE for New England Veteran TV Commercials Playlist
Click HERE for Our History, Our Heritage Playlist

In addition to the many virtual care tools, VA New England Health System continues to reach out to Veterans to remind them that the Veterans Health Administration is actively operating in all six New England states.

Public service announcements are airing throughout the system’s entire New England region.

“VA New England Healthcare’s commitment to our veterans, caregivers and communities has not wavered,” says one of the announcements.  “We have implemented procedures to protect and serve our veterans like telehealth and VA Video Connect. Choose VA. Where we stand proud and ready like the veterans we serve.”

In addition to the public service announcements, VA New England also has launched a YouTube channel to watch videos with a mix of news and items crafted with a regional flair.

VA New England Healthcare System’s communications team is producing the content, which is available through a “New England Veteran” playlist. 

The playlists are linked to the national Veterans Health Administration YouTube channel and then can be searched through the Playlist tab.

Playlists include:

New England Veteran – features podcast style interviews with Veterans describing how they use VA benefits and programs. One recent podcast profiled New Hampshire Veteran Jarod Famison talking about how he used a VA “On the Job” or OJT/Apprenticeship program to get a head start on a technical trade following his military service.

Our History, Our Heritage – features VA outreach program manager and military historian Michael McNamara talking about fun and informative military and historical information.  The series highlights New England’s extensive and storied military heritage from the battlefields of the American Revolution to the participation of New England units and Veterans in campaigns throughout history.   Recent videos  include the British evacuation of Boston and the Capture of Nassau, the first amphibious assault in American history

New England Veteran Shorts – These are 30- to 60-second videos that provide quick information on topics of interest.  Videos produced, to date, include overviews of VA telehealth and how to use practical applications like the popular VA Video Connect system or tips for older Veterans about aging wisely and better brain health.  The series also features “words from our women Veterans” talking about the VA care they receive.

The VA New England YouTube playlist also includes public service announcements that feature commercials that air in the six-state New England region.

It’s all part of an effort to more directly engage Veterans in New England and offer content that connects them to Veteran benefits and increases their knowledge of VA health care and other VA programs.

“Our intent is to create videos that will allow more Veterans to find out about VA programs and services in our New England region,” said McNamara, a U.S. Army Veteran.  “We will be producing content on various subject and topics that Veterans tell us they want to know about, to include fun and interesting topics such as military history or little-known facts about VA benefits.  We’ve already received great feedback from Veterans, and we look forward to expanding our playlist over the next several months.”

VA New England features Veterans and VA employees in its videos and public service announcements. Visit the VA New England YouTube playlist at the Veterans Health Administration YouTube channel and then look for VA New England or New England Veteran. Many of the videos are 30- to 60-second segments that provide quick information on topics of interest. Videos produced, to date, include overviews of VA telehealth and how to use practical applications like the popular VA Video Connect system or tips for older Veterans about aging wisely and better brain health. The series also features “words from our women Veterans” talking about the VA care they receive.

About VA New England Healthcare System – The VA New England Healthcare System is one of 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Services are provided through primary care supported by eight Joint Commission accredited medical centers. We are located throughout the six New England states - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. VISN 1 has 11 medical centers, 45 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), six community living centers and two domiciliaries.