VSO Corner

My HealtheVet at the Blinded Veterans Association 65th National Convention
Commemorating 65 years of Blinded Veterans helping Blinded Veterans

We will exhibit many features and tools available in My HealtheVet. Those who attend can access Healthy Living Centers, such as "Caregiver Assistance" and "Physical Activity" Centers. We will demonstrate how attendees can keep track of their health – including how to monitor their blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, and much more!

The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is an organization of blinded Veterans helping blinded Veterans. Through their service programs, area groups, resources, and advocacy before the legislative and executive branches of government, they hope to make life better for blinded Veterans. There is no charge for any BVA service and membership is not a condition to get help. All legally blinded Veterans are also entitled for BVA’s assistance whether they become blind during or after active duty military service. For more information, please visit www.bva.org.

View previous "VSO Corner" articles »

How Home Telehealth Care Coordinators Help Veterans

Home Telehealth Care Coordinators are usually nurses or social workers. They help Veterans with the care they receive. They assist Veterans who make frequent visits to clinics and often need urgent hospital care to get help when they need it. Care coordinators are there for Veterans with chronic health problems. They link with Veterans using telehealth devices and to check their’ health and are there to help Veterans manage their chronic conditions. Care Coordinator can answer Veterans’ questions about their health and VA services. They talk with Veterans by telephone. Veterans who have used VA Care coordination services like them because they help a Veteran use clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals and get the right care at the right time. This means Veterans can spend more time at home doing what they love to do.

Home Telehealth Care Coordinators provide Veterans with health technology that they can use at home. The health technology is paid for by the VA and allows the Veteran to send information about their health to the Care Coordinator at the VA hospital. Veterans in the Home Telehealth program answer questions, daily while enrolled in the program using health technology. These questions cover how the Veteran is doing both physically and mentally. Their answers show how well they are able to do daily tasks. Their answers show how they feel about their life. These answers also show how well they are coping with their health concerns. Care coordinators use this information to provide care that meets the special needs of each Veteran. Using this information care coordinators help Veterans improve their quality of life by improving and using healthy living skills.

The kinds of health measures Veterans send in and care coordinators watch include:

• Blood Pressure
• Heart Rate
• Number of breaths taken in one minute
• Pulse Oximetry
• Blood Glucose
• Weight
• Pain
• Temperature

Care Coordinators follow national health guidelines to make sure Veterans have the best care. This way Veterans get the best possible results. Care coordinators encourage Veterans to stay within the healthiest range that is right for them. When a Veteran sends information that may show they have problem with their health condition, a Care Coordinator calls the Veteran and finds out what is happening. Then they work with the Veteran to make sure they get the care they need and overcome any problems.

My HealtheVet also has tracking tools and journals that can help Veterans keep records of their health activities. To use these tools, the first step is to register on My HealtheVet. Using My HealtheVet tracking tools, Veterans can record and track their health information such as:

• Health measures
• Food and activity journals
• Health history
• Family health history
• Military history and more...
  

If you are a VA patient who has completed In Person Authentication, you have an upgraded account. This means you can also get selected information from your VA Electronic Health Record as it becomes available.

If you have an upgraded account, you may also get:

• VA Wellness Reminders
• VA prescription history where you see medication names

Mental Health Resources

Considering Professional Help Tool

Considering Professional Help is an online tool using real experiences from Veterans. There are five common concerns that may stop you from getting help for your mental health. This tool helps you identify your concerns. It provides new ways of thinking about them. This tool shows you what to look for and where to find help. You will learn the benefits of getting mental health support from doctors, social workers, mental health staff, clergy, or other counselors. Your responses are confidential. You do not need to be registered with My HealtheVet to use this tool. To access this tool, go to the Mental Health section of My HealtheVet.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administers the largest integrated mental health care system in the United States.  Veterans can access a wide range of mental health services through residential treatment programs, integrated primary care clinics, community-based outpatient clinics, and Vet Centers.  If you are interested in learning more about the common mental health issues facing Veterans and their families, and the various programs and services that VA offers to help address them, please visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov.

Returning Service Members (OEF/OIF)

Welcome home and thank you for your service to our country! VA is ready to provide health care and more to our newest Veterans returning from the armed services.  Read more »

My HealtheVet Virtual Tour

Take the My HealtheVet Virtual Tour here. Get a peek at the many features you can find on My HealtheVet . You can view it online or save it to your PC.

Download (ZIP 4.8Mb) | Watch the tour now » | Get Flash Player Free

Transcript (PDF 28Kb), requires Adobe Reader | Transcript (Word 52Kb), requires MS Word Reader