El Paso VA Health Care System

July 1, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ’s

 

With the Upcoming 4^th of July Holiday and the new hospital opening should I expect any changes/interruptions to access or obtain care?

 

Yes. The Alabama Gate will be closed from July 1 through July 5 to help with the transfer of William Beaumont to their new hospital and also to observe the holiday. If you need to get to the El Paso VA Main Clinic, the Fred Wilson Gate will remain open. We will be open while the Alabama Gate is closed (Thursday and Friday), except to observe the federal holiday on (Monday) July 5, for Independence Day however the Emergency room at WBAMC will remain open 24/7.

 

Additionally, please ensure that you carefully check your appointment letters to verify the location of your appointment. If your appointment happens to be at the new William Beaumont hospital you may have to plan ahead to travel further and navigate through the new building. Make sure that you double check your appointment letters so that you arrive at the right place and won’t be late for your appointment.

 

What updates are there on the VA expansion/new construction?

 

The Horizon Community Based Outpatient Clinic is still on our radar, and we are dotting all our i's and crossing all our t’s. The paperwork is headed to Contracting to begin the official process to Request for Lease and is moving along. We are still tentatively estimating activation to occur in late fiscal year 2023 or early 2024, so stay tuned!

 

As for new major construction for a main medical center, we finished our Program Review Documents last week. This meeting of minds involved different offices throughout the Veterans Health Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and our El Paso VA team members. We made it through the Program Review Documents and are estimating the architectural drawings around September of this year!

 

Are you still providing COVID vaccines?

Yes! We are providing Moderna vaccine out of the Main Facility and will take appointments and walk-ins Tuesday-Thursday from 0900-1500.

We are providing the one-dose Janssen (J&J) vaccine out of the West, East, Northeast, and Las Cruces Community Based Outpatient Clinics through August 5, 2021.  We encourage appointments; however, walk-ins will be accepted during normal business hours. If you wish to schedule an appointment call 915-564-6100 and select option 2. 

Reminder that Veteran spouses and caregivers must be registered to receive the vaccine through the VA at www.va.gov

What is BeneTravel and how does it work?

BeneTravel stands for Beneficiary Travel, a service that provides transportation for our patients to medical appointments. If you have a scheduled VA or VA authorized community care appointments and are having difficulty getting to your appointment, El Paso VA can help.  You do not need to be eligible for Travel pay, only requirement is that you are an enrolled Veteran in the El Paso VA Health Care System and are going for a VA appointment or an authorized VA referral appointment in the community or any of the El Paso VA CBOCs or the Las Cruces VA.

 

The El Paso VA offers free curb to curb transportation service within 50 miles of the El Paso VA and Las Cruces VA.  Veterans may bring a companion along if the riders notify the beneficiary travel clerk.

 

Drivers are prohibited from entering any residence or facility to pick up or drop off Veteran. Veteran must be able to transfer from drop off/pick to their residence or appointment location.  We cannot pick up or drop off Veterans other than their residence, place of employment or appointment location.  We cannot accept tips or gratitude of any kind, nor cannot transfer luggage to any vehicle, residence, or facility.

 

No Veteran may be transported on a scooter, Veteran must either be on a wheelchair or a seat, in addition Veterans may not able to bring their scooter with them due to vehicle limitations. Veterans in regular wheelchairs or power wheelchairs can be transported if that information is provided in advance at the time of scheduling.

 

Our hours of operations are from 0700 to 1600 for both pick up and drop off.  Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Please note that rides are based on availability of services.

 

Veterans can call Transportation Service dispatch from 0800-1630 Monday through Friday except federal holidays at a minimum of 48 hours in advance to 915-564-6114 to schedule transportation. It is recommended that rides be scheduled as soon as the Veteran knows he/she will need the transportation due to availability of services. Veterans and caregivers may get help from a travel clerk or a transportation clerk at the facility.  Veterans may use the email group, elpasovatraveloffice@va.gov for general questions or call 915-564-6100, extensions 6114/7947.

 

What is the Caregiver Program?

 

The Caregiver Support Program is made up of two Programs, in addition to the Caregiver Support Line.

 

The first is the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), and is available for eligible Veterans who have incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or before May 7, 1975 or on or after September 11, 2001.

 

If you are Veteran who meets this criteria, you must also have a single or combined service-connected disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 70% or greater, which is a requirement included in the definition of “serious injury.” Additionally, the Veteran must be in need of personal care services requiring in-person personal care for a minimum of six continuous months on either an inability to perform an activity of daily living or is in need of supervision, protection, or instruction. The clinical support for this program may include resources, education, support, a financial stipend to caregivers of eligible Veterans. Also, if the caregivers are eligible, they may also receive health insurance as well as beneficiary travel. To apply for this program, the caregiver and the Veteran must apply together and participate in the application process to determine eligibility. Both of you will need to sign and date the application and answer all the questions for your role.

 

You can apply online at  www.caregiver va.gov or download the application off the website. Once you fill out the form, you can mail it to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, Health Eligibility Center, 2957 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-1647. You may also apply in person by bringing the completed application form to your Caregiver Support Coordinator. If you need assistance or have questions about filling it out, you can call 915-564-7522.

 

The second program is the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), provides resources, education, and support to caregivers of Veterans. The Veteran does not need to have a service-connect condition, for which the caregiver is needed. Also, the Veteran may have served during any era. To enroll in this program, you can contact the VA Caregiver Support line for a referral, and the direct number for the El Paso VA Caregiver Support Program is 915-564-7522. That number again is 915-564-7522. You will complete a brief intake process and, if eligible, you can then enroll in services that meet your needs.

 

Lastly, the Caregiver Support Line serves as a primary resource and referral center to assist caregivers, Veterans, and others seeking caregiver information. You can reach the National Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. They are available from Monday through Friday beginning at 8AM to 10PM, Eastern Time, and on Saturdays from 8AM to 5PM, Eastern Time.

 

What is the Home-Based Primary Care Program?

The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program is a specialty program in the VA that cares for Veterans by providing interdisciplinary Primary Care in the home to maintain the highest level of independence and quality of life, while safely remaining in their own homes. Home Based Primary Care currently has two sites with five Primary Care teams. El Paso has three teams and Las Cruces has two teams. Each team is composed of a Provider, a Nurse, a Registered Dietician, an Occupational Therapist, a Social Worker, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, and a Psychologist.

 

Home Based Primary Care’s goals are to promote maximum level of health and independence in the home setting; reduce hospitalization, nursing home care, emergency department visits, and outpatient clinic visits; enhance the Veteran’s quality of life through symptom management and comfort measures, increase Veteran confidence and ability in management of chronic disease and symptoms; help the Veteran and family positively cope with living with a chronic disease and meet the changing needs of Veterans throughout chronic illness, often through the end of life.

 

If you are interested in enrolling with the Home-Based Primary Care Program, ask your provider to put in a consult, which will be reviewed for eligibility. If you have questions regarding the Home-Based Primary Care Program in El Paso, you may reach me, Brenda Torres, Program Manager, at 915-564-6100, extension 7736 or by cell phone at 915-526-5137. For Las Cruces information, you may contact Ms. Marja Amador, Assistant Program Manager, at 915-471-2001 or Mr. Mike Garcia at 915-487-4969.

 

What is the VA Medical Foster Program?

 

The VA’s Medical Foster Home Program is an adult foster home combined with the HBPC Team that provides non-institutional long term care for Veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting. This program provides a home-like atmosphere, with a caregiver who provides daily personal assistance and supervision. HBPC provides comprehensive care and management as well as caregiver education. The Medical Foster Home Coordinator providers oversight to the home, which includes a furnished room, 24-hour care plan where the caregiver lives in home and provides hands-on daily care, medication management, personal care such as dressing, grooming, bathing, meals, cleaning, flexible routines with various recreational options.

 

Veterans must sign a care agreement with the caregiver and there is a maximum of three residents per home. To participate in the Medical Foster Home program, Veterans must be enrolled in the VA Health Care System and the Home Based Primary Care Program, be unable to live independently due to cognitive, mental, or safety reasons, and must have complex medical conditions requiring care from a Home Based Primary Care Team. Additionally, the Veteran pays for the Medical Foster Home placement.

 

If you are interested in the Medical Foster Home Program, you may contact Ms. Michelle Verranault, the Medical Foster Home Program Coordinator at 915-564-6100, extension 7721, or Ms. Sherene Curry-Hunt at 91-564-6100, extension 7743. For Las Cruces, the program began in 2019 and we currently have 3 homes enrolled. The points of contact at Las Cruces are Ms. Isabel Gonzalez, the Medical Foster Home Program Coordinator at 915-315-1851, or Mr. German Lopez at 915-801-6317.

 

Has the new Chief of Staff arrived?

Almost! The new permanent Chief of Staff coming onboard next week! His name is Dr. Eric Kendle and he is an experienced surgeon with years of experience in the VA and in leadership. We are looking forward to him coming onboard and we are planning for him to attend the next Veterans Telephone Town Hall on July 15 to introduce himself.

Have you done anything in recognition of June being Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month?

Yes! We hosted a walking event last Saturday at the Old Glory Memorial Park to raise PTSD awareness. Our Behavioral Health Team led the charge and the Veterans, Family Members, and supporters like Congresswoman Escobar’s Office and the Veteran Service Organization, participated in walking for 27 minutes to commemorate June 27, the official PTSD Awareness Day. We hope to do it again next year!

PTSD can develop in anyone who has faced a traumatic event, although not everyone does. According to the National Centers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an estimated 8 million people in the U.S. have a diagnosis of PTSD, and 12.9% of Veterans are diagnosed compared to 6.8% of the general population. Reports show that women are 5 times more likely and men are 6 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of PTSD after a military sexual trauma compared to those who did not experience a military sexual trauma. It is also important to note that 54% of suicides in people with PTSD can be attributed to the diagnosis of PTSD.

The VA is the leading organization in professional training in PTSD and for providing PTSD treatment for Veterans. We offer Evidence Based Therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy. These protocols are offered with or without medication management. Our PTSD treatments are effective, evidence-based therapies offered to anyone with a PTSD diagnosis seeking to actively participate in trauma-focused treatment. Behavioral Health (BH) providers are trained professionals in providing care for PTSD. If you would like to learn more you can visit the National Center for PTSD at https://www.ptsd.va.gov or you can speak with your BH provider.

 

For those who are seeking services related to Military Sexual Trauma, you can call the Military Sexual Trauma Mobile Hotline at 915-238-4828. With that number, you will be able to reach me directly for Military Sexual Trauma related services or questions. For any crisis, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1.

 

When is the next update?

 

The next telephone townhall will occur on Thursday, July 15 and we hope you will join us again however if you would like to be removed from the call list please contact us on social media.

 

We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us and questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear via Facebook messenger.

 

June 17, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veteran’s Town Hall Meeting FAQ’s

Are masks still required?

Yes. Masks must be worn inside all medical facilities, including in VA buildings.

Can we be accompanied to our appointments?

Yes but only by a caregiver. Minors under the age of 18 years old, even though school is out.

Where was the VA drop box relocated to?

The primary VA Drop Box is located in the horse shoe for convenient drive-up and drop-off. Please fill out the envelopes appropriately. Do not drop off paperwork without putting them into an envelope.

The envelopes are single-use, so don’t combine your documents that need to go to different locations – don’t put paperwork for Community Care Service and Prosthetics in the same envelope, use 2 different envelopes.

Also, please do not use the VA Drop Box for lab specimens, trash, or expired medications.

Are there any Pharmacy Updates?

Yes. As most of you know, over the last year, the El Paso VA Pharmacy has offered a curb-side service for dropping off and picking up prescriptions due to the pandemic. As our facility operations return to normal, we are looking at making changes to how we offer our services.

Only urgent medications will be filled on the same day. Urgent medications include antibiotics, medications for procedures, newly prescribed medications, and medications that you have completely run out of. If you are unable to pick up urgent medications the same day, we will package them and mail them to you the very next day. You can expect to receive them in 2 to 3 days.

Any non-urgent medication should be dropped off in the VA Drop box mentioned earlier. Patients must use the blue pharmacy envelope to place your scripts.

For medication refills, always remember to make your request 2 weeks before you run out. Refill requests are fulfilled using the central mail order pharmacy and should arrive within 7 to 10 calendar days.

Finally, as a reminder, prescriptions for controlled substances cannot be e-mailed or faxed to the pharmacy by you personally. These types of prescriptions must be faxed by your provider. A hardcopy can also be dropped off at the pharmacy or sent to us by mail

What do I need to know if I am still thinking of getting the COVID vaccine through the VA?

We are providing Moderna vaccine out of the Main Facility and will take appointments and walk-ins Tuesday-Thursday from 0900-1500

We are providing the one-dose Janssen (J&J) vaccine out of the West, East, and  Las Cruces Community Based Outpatient Clinics through August 5, 2021.  We encourage appointments; however, walk-ins will be accepted during normal business hours.

To schedule an appointment please call (915) 564-6100 and select option 2. 

Reminder that Veteran spouses and caregivers must be registered to receive the vaccine through the VA at www.va.gov

What expansion updates do you have?

The Northeast Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) had its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this past Monday on June 14. We are excited to say that the Northeast CBOC is open and seeing patients now however some patients are still being transferred as two more providers are expected two start working there in July.

The Horizon CBOC paperwork is completed and ready to begin processing to Contracting to begin the official process to request for lease. We are estimating a contract in 2022, at which point we can begin design and construct which takes approximately 12 months so we are estimating activation to occur by 2024.

Our Main Medical Center is coming!  Currently, the Program Review Documents (PRD) draft review began May 27 and will continue onto June 16. This review involves different offices through the VA, VHA, USACE, and our own local team members. Next week, we will be getting into the nitty-gritty for the PRD as our subject matter experts meet with all the contractors and Army Corps of Engineers representatives to further hash out needs and requirements for the new facility. We will keep you updated as we know more!

What does the VA Community Care Service (CCS) do and where is it located?

Our main focus is to provide you with uninterrupted access to your care in the community when services are not available in the VA. The Community Care Service processes over 7,000 consults per month from different departments that include Specialty Clinics, Primary Care Services, imagine studies requests, hospitalizations, medical equipment, and many others.

You may reach the community care department directly at 915-564-7899. We have dedicated staff that will address any concerns or questions you may have related to your community care referral. Also, you may request the status of your referral, report incorrect billing and report self-scheduled appointments. You can also call us for questions regarding travel claims including ambulance bills that are processed by the Travel Department. The number again is 915-564-7899.

CCS is no longer located on the first floor. CCS is now on the third floor, next to the cashiers. At the window, we can answer questions, print authorizations, and receive referrals from community providers. We can also send you the authorization letter through MyHealthEVet upon your request.

Although most things can be done over the phone or electronically, you can also use the VA Drop Box mentioned earlier. Please make sure that you use white envelopes to put in your documents and mark the envelope for Community Care Service to ensure that your packet is delivered to us.

For Veterans with Emergency Room or ER visits and admissions in the community, you can call us at 915-564-7842. Please notify Community Care Service at that number within 72 hours of your admission so that you can avoid billing issues. That number again is 915-564-7842.

When is the next townhall?

The next telephone townhall will occur July 1^st and we hope you will join us again. Please send us a private message if you would like to be removed from our call list.

We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about in future townhalls via Facebook messenger.

June 3, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ’s

Are there any upcoming events we should know about?

YES! There will be a Women’s Health Town Hall scheduled for June 10, 2021. Registered female Veterans will be receiving a robo call inviting you to participate. We hope you join us in these new, quarterly events designed to help improve our services!

Are we still required to wear masks?

YES! We understand new CDC Guidance on was recently put out however masks are still required to be worn in all medical facilities nationwide, including in VA buildings.

Can we bring guests with us to our appointments yet?

Only caregivers are authorized to enter with patients. At this time minors under the age of 18 years old are still not allowed to accompany Veterans to any VA clinic.

Where is the new drop box at the main facility?

The primary VA Drop Box is located in the horseshoe for convenient drive-up and drop-off. Please fill out the envelopes appropriately. Please do not use the VA Drop Box for lab specimens, expired medications, or trash.

Are there any updates to the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention program?

 

Yes! We have hired a Clinical Director for Whole Health. He is Dr. Fonseca and will be joining the El Paso VA family in June. Dr. Fonseca is a Texas native who is currently serving in a similar role at the Loma Linda VA. He comes to use with vast experience in lifestyle and integrative medicine and will be working with the current VA Health Promotion and Whole Health Team to grow what they have already started. We have also hired two health coaches who will soon be on board to provide Whole Health educational programs in addition to one-on-one health coaching, and we are in the process of hiring a chiropractor for our Eastside Community Based Outpatient Clinic as we expand Whole Health services to that clinic.

 

Whole Health is VA’s cutting-edge approach to care that supports the Veteran’s health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, instead of what’s the matter with you. The healthcare team learns what are your values, needs, and goals in order to come up with a personalized health plan. This approach empowers and equips Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being in order to live life to the fullest. We work with you to determine what your Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose is––otherwise known as your “MAP”––then focus on eight areas of self-care that can be included in your plan as you determine their importance to your health. Our approach to care then expands to include complementary approaches, such as Tai Chi, chiropractic care, and acupuncture, as well as skill building and healing that takes place in a community. This approach, which is combined with health promotion disease prevention programs, allows us to assist you in achieving the quality of life that you desire. Currently we are offing the following programs under the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention umbrella:  MOVE! Weight Management; Tobacco Cessation; Diabetic Self-Management; Nutrition Counseling; and Health Coaching. You may attend these programs via self-referral by contacting our Medical Support Assistant at 915-564-6100, extension 6999. The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention staff works with Primary Care and Pain Clinic staff to provide a sleep hygiene program and pain school. If you are interested in these programs, please speak to your provider team for a referral.

 

Are you still administering COVID vaccines?

 

Yes! We are providing single dose J&J vaccines at the all the community-based outpatient clinics even if you are not a regular patient of theirs. We encourage you to call to make your appointment at 564-6100. If you have questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a registered nurse.

 

The Moderna vaccine which requires a first and second dose is still being offered at the main medical center however beginning this week started to operate on a reduced schedule from Tuesday through Thursday. All Veterans’ spouses and caregivers are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine

 

What updates do you have on the opening of new community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC)?

The Northeast CBOC is working diligently to open, currently installing furniture and IT equipment. The plan for employees to move over began on June 1 to allow for everyone to do the required safety training there. Media tour day will occur on Friday, June 4, to tour the building, and the first patients will be seen Monday, June 7.

The Horizon CBOC paperwork is completed and ready to begin processing to Contracting to begin the official process to request for lease. We are estimating a contract in fiscal year 2022, at which point we can begin design and construct from there. From prior experience with these types of projects, it does take approximately 12 months to complete. If this process follows the same path, we are estimating activation to occur in late 2023 or early 2024.  

Major Construction for new Medical Center!  Currently, the Program Review Documents draft began May 27 and will continue onto June 16. This review involves different offices through the VA the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and local team members. Once the review is done, contractors and USACE representatives will return to El Paso on June 21 to work through the reviews. The process continues to stride forward, and we will keep you updated as more information comes out.

 

Has the new Chief of Staff been hired?

YES! While he is relocating however Dr. Eric Koch (our own Chief of Surgery) will be serving as your Chief of Staff for a little while, as we move forward with bringing onboard our permanent Chief of Staff!

Dr. Koch wants to inform you that as this calendar year progresses, we are looking to expand services in Urology, Orthopedics, and Anesthesia.

 

For those that don’t know some of the conditions that we can address here at the VA include, but are not limited to, skin biopsies, umbilical hernia, hemorrhoids, Colonoscopies, and EGDs.

 

After William Beaumont Army Medical Center moves to its new building next month, we will be looking to do advanced surgery using robot systems, to include operations such as gallbladder surgery and inguinal hernia repair.

 

When is the next update?

 

The next telephone townhall will occur on Thursday, June 17and we hope you will join us again however if you would like to be removed from the call list please contact us on social media.

 

We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us and questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear via Facebook messenger.

 

 

 

May 20, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ's

May 6, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ’s

Where does the VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We are Currently at Phase 3

• Pending more information before moving to Phase 4 (75% operations)
• Utilizing VVC as well as Face to Face appointments
• Using honor system to enter the facility, please read the self-screening questions posted at entrances; if you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! The Doors between VA and WBAMC have been opened on the first floor. The honor system also applies when entering the VA from the WBAMC building since both facilities have same patient/employee entry requirements.

There is now a drop box located at Emergency Room horseshoe and envelopes are available at the drop box for your use.

Patients should read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered.

Note that the very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

What resources are available for Veterans with hearing loss?

Our El Paso VA is the First and Only VA in Texas to collaborate with the Texas health and Human Services on these specific state programs. The State is very excited about this partnership and looks forward to serving the entire El Paso and surrounding Veteran area populations.

The first program is the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP). If you are having difficulty communicating on your phone or in general with others, the STAP program may be for you. This program offers assistive technology that will allow you to hear more of what you want to hear, when you want and where you want. Anyone is eligible for STAP! You can contact Ms. Rebecca Hernandez, state your disability, and then she will suggest what technology will be best suited for patients. No proof of disability is necessary or needed, as this relies on the honor system.

There are 37 items available to cover many diverse disabilities. One of the most popular packets is a Bluetooth Phone. This phone is amplified up to 125 decibels and pairs to your Cell Phone, so no phone line is necessary. You will also receive an Assistive Listening Device, which is a small amplifier that you use with earbuds to amplify sound around you to hear and communicate effortlessly with others. Thirdly, you will receive a Ring Signaler to alert you that your phone is ringing by lighting up and vibrating. You get the Bluetooth phone, Amplifier, and Ringer Signaler for free. The voucher value for this packet is $380.00. Another packet is our Smart Phone, which is a Voucher Value of $699.00. Our third example is the Apply IPAD with a voucher value of $699.00, but there is a small out of pocket fee for this device.

To apply for this program, you can contact Rebecca Hernandez and she will walk you through the process to fill out the STAP Application Form. When the application is complete, she will review, certify, and mail your application to the STAP Program in Austin, Texas. In about two (2) months, a Voucher will arrive to you from Texas Health and Human Service to cover all technology agreed upon in the initial application. You then contact Rebecca Hernandez so that she can ensure the Voucher is correct and explain the vender options to you.

Another program Certification of Deafness Tuition Waiver, (CODTW). This program allows an individual in Texas who meets the hearing loss criteria to obtain a tuition waiver to any public, state-supported, post-secondary schools, such as University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) or El Paso Community College (EPCC), to obtain an Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, or a Masters Degree. This program does not cover room, board, or books. To be eligible, you must have been awarded a high school diploma or GED, must be a resident of Texas for at least 12 months, and must have a hearing loss in the better ear of 55 decibels without hearing aids or you must have a hearing loss of 30 decibels or greater with hearing aids.

To apply for this program, you can contact Rebecca Hernandez and to provide you Form 3900 for the Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver. Rebecca Hernandez will then mail the Certification of Deafness Tuition Waiver form with a copy of your audiogram and, in two weeks, you will know the outcome. You will only need to apply once and then save your certificate letter for the entirety of your college education. Veterans can use this waiver for tuition and use the benefits to assist with other costs.

Lastly there is also a Captioning App for your Cell Phone. The app is called Live Transcribe and is a FREE captioning app that assists individuals with hearing loss. The app writes speech in real time on your cell phone screen to allow you to understand what is being said, and lets you communicate in situations where you might not otherwise have been able to. Rebecca Hernandez can assist you with the step by step download instructions via a phone call or a face to face appointment here at the VA.

If you are interested in any of these awesome resources mentioned please contact Rebecca Hernandez at 915-564-7885 or 915-564-7508 and leave a message or call the Special Emphasis Program Manager for Individuals with Disabilities. This will allow Rebecca Hernandez to call you back at a later time and assist with any future hearing loss needs or disability.

 

Does the El Paso VA have a new Associate Director (AD)?

Yes! Mr. Stephen Larsen from the Amarillo VA is now serving as the Interim AD effective May 3, 2021 until a permanent candidate is chosen for this position.

 

What should Veterans know about COVID vaccinations and how to obtain them?

We have same day availability for COVID vaccine Monday – Friday at the Main Facility all through the month of May.   If you are here for an appointment simply ask to be added to the COVID vaccine clinic schedule or you may call us to schedule an appointment that is convenient for you.

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients

• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms

• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Those eligible under the Save Lives Act include:

• All Veterans 
• Spouses and surviving spouses of Veterans
• Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. 
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits.

These newly eligible need to sign up here:  Sign up to get a vaccine | Veterans Affairs prior to contacting EPVA for a vaccine

After they register using above link, they can call (915) 564-6100, option 2 to schedule appointment for COVID vaccine

Reminder that vaccine is for those 18 and older based on emergency use authorization.

We are offering the one-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years and older at our Community Based Outpatient Clinics on the Eastside, Westside, and Las Cruces.  If you wish to receive the J&J COVID Vaccine, please contact our Call Center to schedule an appointment at one of those locations.

Is it true that there is a new Chief for Medical Specialties and what does that mean?

Yes! Dr. Diego Ponieman has joined the El Paso VA team and comes from New York to be the new Chief for Medical Specialties.

Dr. Ponieman’s job at the El Paso VA is to coordinate visits between specialty doctors and Veterans, as medically appropriate. If you are not certain what specialty doctors are, these doctors are those that dedicate themselves to very specific types of medical expertise. For example, a neurologist specializes on disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. A cardiologist works on everything related to your heart’s health. A Gastroenterologist focuses on disorders of the digestive system like indigestion, heartburn, and also to screen for colon cancer. We also have hematology and oncology services to treat blood disorders like anemias and cancer.

If you didn’t already know, we also have a pulmonologist and sleep center located on the west side of town to treat those conditions that affect Veterans getting rest, which can highly impact quality of life. Additionally, the El Paso VA has added a group of neuropsychologists who specialize on how injuries or illnesses of the brain can affect cognitive functions. We are about to expand our services to include an infectious disease specialist and endocrinologist who will treat disorders of hormones.

As part of Dr. Ponieman’s daily responsibilities, he has started working very closely with your Primary Care Physicians so they can help with all the referrals in a timely manner. However, if you should ever have a question or concern that is not being addressed, please feel free to call (915) 564-6100, extension 5050.

When is the next update?

The next telephone townhall will occur on Thursday, May 20 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us and questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear via Facebook messenger.

April 15, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ's 

Where does the VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We are looking to moving into Phase 3, which we are able to do in a virtual capacity. Physical appointments will be conducted at the 50% rate, mainly due to the limitations to safely socially distance.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs have been posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100 and select Option 3 in order to speak with a Nurse.

Accessibility is now easier also! The door between VA and WBAMC has been opened on the first floor since both facilities have the same requirements for entry screening and using face masks, so we have jointly taken this step towards returning to normal operations. 

Additionally, a new drop box is now located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

There will be a VA Listening Session on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. This will be an opportunity for Veterans to engage, to provide your thoughts and feedback, regarding the how the VA delivers care. You can provide valuable insight to help develop a plan for investing the VA’s aging infrastructure.

A letter will be sent out to all eligible Veterans with the dial-in number and passcode, as well as an email address if you are unable to attend but would still like to provide feedback. This information has also been posted on our Facebook April 9 and reminders will also be posted April 16^th and 23^rd.

Our Associate Director (AD), Dr. Jamie Park, has taken a promotion within the VA as a Deputy Network Director. Mr. Stephen Larsen will be serving as the Interim AD beginning May 3, 2021.

Good news from the Beneficiary Travel Office includes the ability to receive faster pay by following the instructions below:

• Be sure to log on to va to receive your travel pay in about 5 days. Currently, the kiosks and paper claims run about 30 days to turn around. However, the automated claim online system runs about 5 days, and sometimes often faster. You can use your DOD.mil DS account, ID.ME or myHealtheVet ID to log on.
• The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is VA’s preferred method for processing travel claim reimbursements. A new or updated profile is required to file a claim online and to process previously submitted kiosk and hard copy claims. Log in to create your profile. Visit Access VA and select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon to get started at https://access.va.gov

 

When will WBAMC open their new facility and how are they allocating vaccine?

WBAMC has run into a few challenges in the final phase of transition to the new hospital. We are making great progress working through those challenges and will not accept anything that potentially jeopardizes the safety of our patients or our staff.

At this time, we still don’t know exactly how long it will take to remediate these challenges, but they must be complete prior to our first patient day. What we can say is that these issues are getting top priority from the Corp of Engineers and the Health Facilities Planning Agency for rapid resolution and anticipate that we will move into the new hospital later this spring.

We have had multiple high-level personnel tour the facility and give their support and influence to make sure we are moving in the right direction. We are refining our lessons learned through multiple walk throughs and assessments and will continue with the dramatic improvements in the coming weeks. We recognize that there will be numerous questions as we refine our timeline for the move and encourage you to be patient and, please, pay attention to all media outlets as timelines and information unfold.

Regarding the Pfizer Vaccination, the good news is that we have been able to vaccinate thousands of beneficiaries across El Paso. As of today, it looks like our supply issues have been solved and we have been receiving our scheduled doses regularly.

• We have finally caught up on our backlog and are running our vaccinations program 6 days a week so patients can call 742-2273 to make an appointment weekdays between 6:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Veterans with a TRICARE health plan such as TRICARE for Life and Tricare Prime can be vaccinated with us. Spouses of Veterans can also be vaccinated if they are covered under their TRICARE health plan. Starting on April 9, TRICARE beneficiaries can go online to the TRICARE Patient Portal at tricareonline.com to book an appointment. Also starting last week, any patients getting their first dose at the vaccination site will have the option of scheduling their second dose appointment on site.
• The vaccination site is currently located at Stout Gym on Fort Bliss, 2930 Cassidy Road. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. This site is subject to closure on federal holidays. Please be reminded that WBAMC is only administering the Pfizer Vaccine.

 

Where does the VA stand when it comes to COVID vaccine administration?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans of ALL age groups who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Veterans may call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling.  This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with vaccine scheduling.  We went live with VetText for enrolled Veterans.  This is an automated message that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. 

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients

• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms

• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Those eligible under the Save Lives Act include:

• All Veterans, Spouses, and surviving spouses of Veterans
• Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. 
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits.

These newly eligible need to sign up here:  Sign up to get a vaccine | Veterans Affairs prior to contacting EPVA for a vaccine

After they register using above link, they can call (915) 564-6100 and select option 2 to schedule appointment or come to the Walk-in Event

The El Paso VAHCS located at 5001 N. Piedras, El Paso TX, 79930 will host a COVID Vaccine Walk-in Event Tonight for Veterans and their spouses.  Veteran couples are encouraged to attend this walk-in event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Spouses MUST register for the vaccine with the El Paso VA at www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine prior to the event. 

Reminder that vaccine is for those 18 and older based on emergency use authorization.

Is it true that there in a new Deputy Chief for Primary Care and what does that mean?

Yes! Her name is Dr. Seigrid Nixon and her responsibilities include to make sure that Primary Care is in adherence with the El Paso VA Health Care System’s mission to maintain quality care and availability of that care to you. That means she is working her way around to all of our VA’s sites to observe operations. In addition, she is seeing scheduled patients at various sites and is phoning patients when there are urgent lab or radiology issues and your provider is unavailable, as well as strategizing with other teams on campus to make sure that we are doing our best to improve your access to appointments with your providers.

Dr. Nixon works with your providers to help do things better. If you should have complaints or unanswered questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, or someone else on your Primary Care team at 915-564-6100, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. If you should have an urgent or emergency matter outside of hours of operation, please seek care at the nearest urgent care or emergency department if your symptoms are not routine.

When is the next update?

The next telephone town hall will occur on Thursday April 29 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about via Facebook messenger.

April 15, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ's

 

Where does the VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We are looking to moving into Phase 3, which we are able to do in a virtual capacity. Physical appointments will be conducted at the 50% rate, mainly due to the limitations to safely socially distance.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs have been posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Accessibility is now easier also! The door between VA and WBAMC has been opened on the first floor since both facilities have the same requirements for entry screening and using face masks, so we have jointly taken this step towards returning to normal operations. 

Additionally, a new drop box is now located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

There will be a VA Listening Session on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. This will be an opportunity for Veterans to engage, to provide your thoughts and feedback, regarding the how the VA delivers care. You can provide valuable insight to help develop a plan for investing the VA’s aging infrastructure.

A letter will be sent out to all eligible Veterans with the dial-in number and passcode, as well as an email address if you are unable to attend but would still like to provide feedback. This information has also been posted on our Facebook April 9 and reminders will also be posted April 16^th and 23^rd.

Our Associate Director (AD), Dr. Jamie Park, has taken a promotion within the VA as a Deputy Network Director. Mr. Stephen Larsen will be serving as the Interim AD beginning May 3, 2021.

Good news from the Beneficiary Travel Office includes the ability to receive faster pay by following the instructions below:

• Be sure to log on to va to receive your travel pay in about 5 days. Currently, the kiosks and paper claims run about 30 days to turn around. However, the automated claim online system runs about 5 days, and sometimes often faster. You can use your DOD.mil DS account, ID.ME or myHealtheVet ID to log on.
• The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is VA’s preferred method for processing travel claim reimbursements. A new or updated profile is required to file a claim online and to process previously submitted kiosk and hard copy claims. Log in to create your profile. Visit Access VA and select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon to get started at https://access.va.gov

 

When will WBAMC open their new facility and how are they allocating vaccine?

WBAMC will run into a few challenges in the final phase of transition to the new hospital. We are making great progress working through those challenges and will not accept anything that potentially jeopardizes the safety of our patients or our staff.

At this time, we still don’t know exactly how long it will take to remediate these challenges, but they must be complete prior to our first patient day. What we can say is that these issues are getting top priority from the Corp of Engineers and the Health Facilities Planning Agency for rapid resolution and anticipate that we will move into the new hospital later this spring.

We have had multiple high-level personnel tour the facility and give their support and influence to make sure we are moving in the right direction. We are refining our lessons learned through multiple walk throughs and assessments and will continue with the dramatic improvements in the coming weeks. We recognize that there will be numerous questions as we refine our timeline for the move and encourage you to be patient and, please, pay attention to all media outlets as timelines and information unfold.

Regarding the Pfizer Vaccination the good news is that we have been able to vaccinate thousands of beneficiaries across El Paso. As of today, it looks like our supply issues have been solved and we have been receiving our scheduled doses regularly.

• We have finally caught up on our backlog and are running our vaccinations program 6 days a week so patients can call 742-2273 to make an appointment weekdays between 6:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Veterans with a TRICARE health plan such as TRICARE for Life and Tricare Prime can be vaccinated with us. Spouses of Veterans can also be vaccinated if they are covered under their TRICARE health plan. Starting on April 9, TRICARE beneficiaries can go online to the TRICARE Patient Portal at tricareonline.com to book an appointment. Also starting last week, any patients getting their first dose at the vaccination site will have the option of scheduling their second dose appointment on site.
• The vaccination site is currently located at Stout Gym on Fort Bliss, 2930 Cassidy Road. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. This site is subject to closure on federal holidays. Please be reminded that WBAMC is only administering the Pfizer Vaccine.

 

Where does the VA stand when it comes to COVID vaccine administration?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans of ALL age groups who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Veterans may call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling.  This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with vaccine scheduling.  We went live with VetText for enrolled Veterans.  This is an automated message that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. 

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients

• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms

• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Those eligible under the Save Lives Act include:

• All Veterans, Spouses, and surviving spouses of Veterans
• Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. 
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits.

These newly eligible need to sign up here:  Sign up to get a vaccine | Veterans Affairs prior to contacting EPVA for a vaccine

After they register using above link, they can call (915) 564-6100 and select option 2 to schedule appointment or come to the Walk-in Event

The El Paso VAHCS located at 5001 N. Piedras, El Paso TX, 79930 will host a COVID Vaccine Walk-in Event Tonight for Veterans and their spouses.  Veteran couples are encouraged to attend this walk-in event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Spouses MUST register for the vaccine with the El Paso VA at www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine prior to the event. 

Reminder that vaccine is for those 18 and older based on emergency use authorization.

Is it true that there in a new Deputy Chief for Primary Care and what does that mean?

Yes! Her name is Dr. Seigrid Nixon and her responsibilities include to make sure that Primary Care is in adherence with the El Paso VA Health Care System’s mission to maintain quality care and availability of that care to you. That means she is working her way around to all of our VA’s sites to observe operations. In addition, she is seeing scheduled patients at various sites and is phoning patients when there are urgent lab or radiology issues and your provider is unavailable, as well as strategizing with other teams on campus to make sure that we are doing our best to improve your access to appointments with your providers.

Dr. Nixon works with your providers to help do things better. If you should have complaints or unanswered questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, or someone else on your Primary Care team at 915-564-6100, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. If you should have an urgent or emergency matter outside of hours of operation, please seek care at the nearest urgent care or emergency department if your symptoms are not routine.

When is the next update?

The next telephone town hall will occur on Thursday April 29 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about via Facebook messenger.

April 15, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ's

 

Where does the VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We are looking to moving into Phase 3, which we are able to do in a virtual capacity. Physical appointments will be conducted at the 50% rate, mainly due to the limitations to safely socially distance.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs have been posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Accessibility is now easier also! The door between VA and WBAMC has been opened on the first floor since both facilities have the same requirements for entry screening and using face masks, so we have jointly taken this step towards returning to normal operations. 

Additionally, a new drop box is now located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

There will be a VA Listening Session on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. This will be an opportunity for Veterans to engage, to provide your thoughts and feedback, regarding the how the VA delivers care. You can provide valuable insight to help develop a plan for investing the VA’s aging infrastructure.

A letter will be sent out to all eligible Veterans with the dial-in number and passcode, as well as an email address if you are unable to attend but would still like to provide feedback. This information has also been posted on our Facebook April 9 and reminders will also be posted April 16^th and 23^rd.

Our Associate Director (AD), Dr. Jamie Park, has taken a promotion within the VA as a Deputy Network Director. Mr. Stephen Larsen will be serving as the Interim AD beginning May 3, 2021.

Good news from the Beneficiary Travel Office includes the ability to receive faster pay by following the instructions below:

• Be sure to log on to va to receive your travel pay in about 5 days. Currently, the kiosks and paper claims run about 30 days to turn around. However, the automated claim online system runs about 5 days, and sometimes often faster. You can use your DOD.mil DS account, ID.ME or myHealtheVet ID to log on.
• The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is VA’s preferred method for processing travel claim reimbursements. A new or updated profile is required to file a claim online and to process previously submitted kiosk and hard copy claims. Log in to create your profile. Visit Access VA and select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon to get started at https://access.va.gov

 

When will WBAMC open their new facility and how are they allocating vaccine?

WBAMC will run into a few challenges in the final phase of transition to the new hospital. We are making great progress working through those challenges and will not accept anything that potentially jeopardizes the safety of our patients or our staff.

At this time, we still don’t know exactly how long it will take to remediate these challenges, but they must be complete prior to our first patient day. What we can say is that these issues are getting top priority from the Corp of Engineers and the Health Facilities Planning Agency for rapid resolution and anticipate that we will move into the new hospital later this spring.

We have had multiple high-level personnel tour the facility and give their support and influence to make sure we are moving in the right direction. We are refining our lessons learned through multiple walk throughs and assessments and will continue with the dramatic improvements in the coming weeks. We recognize that there will be numerous questions as we refine our timeline for the move and encourage you to be patient and, please, pay attention to all media outlets as timelines and information unfold.

Regarding the Pfizer Vaccination the good news is that we have been able to vaccinate thousands of beneficiaries across El Paso. As of today, it looks like our supply issues have been solved and we have been receiving our scheduled doses regularly.

• We have finally caught up on our backlog and are running our vaccinations program 6 days a week so patients can call 742-2273 to make an appointment weekdays between 6:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Veterans with a TRICARE health plan such as TRICARE for Life and Tricare Prime can be vaccinated with us. Spouses of Veterans can also be vaccinated if they are covered under their TRICARE health plan. Starting on April 9, TRICARE beneficiaries can go online to the TRICARE Patient Portal at tricareonline.com to book an appointment. Also starting last week, any patients getting their first dose at the vaccination site will have the option of scheduling their second dose appointment on site.
• The vaccination site is currently located at Stout Gym on Fort Bliss, 2930 Cassidy Road. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. This site is subject to closure on federal holidays. Please be reminded that WBAMC is only administering the Pfizer Vaccine.

 

Where does the VA stand when it comes to COVID vaccine administration?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans of ALL age groups who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Veterans may call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling.  This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with vaccine scheduling.  We went live with VetText for enrolled Veterans.  This is an automated message that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. 

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients

• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms

• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Those eligible under the Save Lives Act include:

• All Veterans, Spouses, and surviving spouses of Veterans
• Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. 
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits.

These newly eligible need to sign up here:  Sign up to get a vaccine | Veterans Affairs prior to contacting EPVA for a vaccine

After they register using above link, they can call (915) 564-6100 and select option 2 to schedule appointment or come to the Walk-in Event

The El Paso VAHCS located at 5001 N. Piedras, El Paso TX, 79930 will host a COVID Vaccine Walk-in Event Tonight for Veterans and their spouses.  Veteran couples are encouraged to attend this walk-in event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Spouses MUST register for the vaccine with the El Paso VA at www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine prior to the event. 

Reminder that vaccine is for those 18 and older based on emergency use authorization.

Is it true that there in a new Deputy Chief for Primary Care and what does that mean?

Yes! Her name is Dr. Seigrid Nixon and her responsibilities include to make sure that Primary Care is in adherence with the El Paso VA Health Care System’s mission to maintain quality care and availability of that care to you. That means she is working her way around to all of our VA’s sites to observe operations. In addition, she is seeing scheduled patients at various sites and is phoning patients when there are urgent lab or radiology issues and your provider is unavailable, as well as strategizing with other teams on campus to make sure that we are doing our best to improve your access to appointments with your providers.

Dr. Nixon works with your providers to help do things better. If you should have complaints or unanswered questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, or someone else on your Primary Care team at 915-564-6100, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. If you should have an urgent or emergency matter outside of hours of operation, please seek care at the nearest urgent care or emergency department if your symptoms are not routine.

When is the next update?

The next telephone town hall will occur on Thursday April 29 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about via Facebook messenger.

April 15, 2021 El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ's

 

Where does the VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We are looking to moving into Phase 3, which we are able to do in a virtual capacity. Physical appointments will be conducted at the 50% rate, mainly due to the limitations to safely socially distance.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs have been posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Accessibility is now easier also! The door between VA and WBAMC has been opened on the first floor since both facilities have the same requirements for entry screening and using face masks, so we have jointly taken this step towards returning to normal operations. 

Additionally, a new drop box is now located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

There will be a VA Listening Session on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. This will be an opportunity for Veterans to engage, to provide your thoughts and feedback, regarding the how the VA delivers care. You can provide valuable insight to help develop a plan for investing the VA’s aging infrastructure.

A letter will be sent out to all eligible Veterans with the dial-in number and passcode, as well as an email address if you are unable to attend but would still like to provide feedback. This information has also been posted on our Facebook April 9 and reminders will also be posted April 16^th and 23^rd.

Our Associate Director (AD), Dr. Jamie Park, has taken a promotion within the VA as a Deputy Network Director. Mr. Stephen Larsen will be serving as the Interim AD beginning May 3, 2021.

Good news from the Beneficiary Travel Office includes the ability to receive faster pay by following the instructions below:

• Be sure to log on to va to receive your travel pay in about 5 days. Currently, the kiosks and paper claims run about 30 days to turn around. However, the automated claim online system runs about 5 days, and sometimes often faster. You can use your DOD.mil DS account, ID.ME or myHealtheVet ID to log on.
• The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is VA’s preferred method for processing travel claim reimbursements. A new or updated profile is required to file a claim online and to process previously submitted kiosk and hard copy claims. Log in to create your profile. Visit Access VA and select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon to get started at https://access.va.gov

 

When will WBAMC open their new facility and how are they allocating vaccine?

WBAMC will run into a few challenges in the final phase of transition to the new hospital. We are making great progress working through those challenges and will not accept anything that potentially jeopardizes the safety of our patients or our staff.

At this time, we still don’t know exactly how long it will take to remediate these challenges, but they must be complete prior to our first patient day. What we can say is that these issues are getting top priority from the Corp of Engineers and the Health Facilities Planning Agency for rapid resolution and anticipate that we will move into the new hospital later this spring.

We have had multiple high-level personnel tour the facility and give their support and influence to make sure we are moving in the right direction. We are refining our lessons learned through multiple walk throughs and assessments and will continue with the dramatic improvements in the coming weeks. We recognize that there will be numerous questions as we refine our timeline for the move and encourage you to be patient and, please, pay attention to all media outlets as timelines and information unfold.

Regarding the Pfizer Vaccination the good news is that we have been able to vaccinate thousands of beneficiaries across El Paso. As of today, it looks like our supply issues have been solved and we have been receiving our scheduled doses regularly.

• We have finally caught up on our backlog and are running our vaccinations program 6 days a week so patients can call 742-2273 to make an appointment weekdays between 6:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Veterans with a TRICARE health plan such as TRICARE for Life and Tricare Prime can be vaccinated with us. Spouses of Veterans can also be vaccinated if they are covered under their TRICARE health plan. Starting on April 9, TRICARE beneficiaries can go online to the TRICARE Patient Portal at tricareonline.com to book an appointment. Also starting last week, any patients getting their first dose at the vaccination site will have the option of scheduling their second dose appointment on site.
• The vaccination site is currently located at Stout Gym on Fort Bliss, 2930 Cassidy Road. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. This site is subject to closure on federal holidays. Please be reminded that WBAMC is only administering the Pfizer Vaccine.

 

Where does the VA stand when it comes to COVID vaccine administration?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans of ALL age groups who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Veterans may call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling.  This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with vaccine scheduling.  We went live with VetText for enrolled Veterans.  This is an automated message that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. 

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients

• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms

• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Those eligible under the Save Lives Act include:

• All Veterans, Spouses, and surviving spouses of Veterans
• Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. 
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits.

These newly eligible need to sign up here:  Sign up to get a vaccine | Veterans Affairs prior to contacting EPVA for a vaccine

After they register using above link, they can call (915) 564-6100 and select option 2 to schedule appointment or come to the Walk-in Event

The El Paso VAHCS located at 5001 N. Piedras, El Paso TX, 79930 will host a COVID Vaccine Walk-in Event Tonight for Veterans and their spouses.  Veteran couples are encouraged to attend this walk-in event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Spouses MUST register for the vaccine with the El Paso VA at www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine prior to the event. 

Reminder that vaccine is for those 18 and older based on emergency use authorization.

Is it true that there in a new Deputy Chief for Primary Care and what does that mean?

Yes! Her name is Dr. Seigrid Nixon and her responsibilities include to make sure that Primary Care is in adherence with the El Paso VA Health Care System’s mission to maintain quality care and availability of that care to you. That means she is working her way around to all of our VA’s sites to observe operations. In addition, she is seeing scheduled patients at various sites and is phoning patients when there are urgent lab or radiology issues and your provider is unavailable, as well as strategizing with other teams on campus to make sure that we are doing our best to improve your access to appointments with your providers.

Dr. Nixon works with your providers to help do things better. If you should have complaints or unanswered questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, or someone else on your Primary Care team at 915-564-6100, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. If you should have an urgent or emergency matter outside of hours of operation, please seek care at the nearest urgent care or emergency department if your symptoms are not routine.

When is the next update?

The next telephone town hall will occur on Thursday April 29 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask that you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about via Facebook messenger.

El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall Meeting FAQ’s-April 1, 2021

Where does the VA stand in its moving forward plan?  

We are looking to moving into Phase 3, which we are able to do in a virtual capacity. Physical appointments will still be conducted at the 50% rate, mainly due to the limitations to safely socially distance. To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs have been posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the VA and must call 564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Reminder that, while the State of Texas no longer requires the wearing of face coverings/masks, face coverings are still required when you are inside the VA buildings.

A new drop box is now located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

Is it true that prescription co-pays will be refunded?

Yes! A VA bulletin was put out that discusses prescription co-pays billed and paid from April 6, 2020, until September 30, 2021, will be refunded to our Veterans. Currently we are awaiting further guidance on how to execute, whether this will be handled at the facility level or centrally.

Are there updates from the Beneficiary Travel Office?

Yes! Veterans can now receive travel pay faster! Be sure to log on to access.va to receive your travel pay in about 5 days. Currently, the kiosks and paper claims run about 30 days to turn around. However, the automated claim online system runs about 5 days, and sometimes even faster. You can use your DOD.mil DS account, ID.ME or myHealtheVet ID to log on.

The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is VA’s preferred method for processing travel claim reimbursements. A new or updated profile is required to file a claim online and to process previously submitted kiosk and hard copy claims. Log in to create your profile. Visit Access VA and select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon to get started at https://access.va.gov

What age group is the VA currently vaccinating?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans of ALL age groups who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Veterans may call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling.  This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with COVID vaccine scheduling.  We went live with VetText for enrolled Veterans.  This is an automated text that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using text. These text messages are automated and go to about 600 Veterans per day.  

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   

• Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:
• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients to include polysorbate ingredients
• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms
• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive vaccine.

 

What should we know about the recent Act signed by President Biden?

On March 24, 2021, the President signed the Save Lives Act which expands VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. SAVE LIVES Act allows VA to soon provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, their spouses and caregivers. The law allows the VA to offer COVID-19 vaccines to more Veterans, some spouses, and caregivers of Veterans. It is still early in the planning phase, and we are waiting on guidance from national VA on how this will be implemented. The referenced press release states that VA will conduct COVID-19 vaccination pilots for the individuals named in HR1276 at select VA medical centers.

At this time, we still have a limited amount of vaccines. We’re working to determine how quickly we can begin to offer vaccines to these other groups.

• In the meantime, Veterans, caregivers, spouses, and CHAMPVA beneficiaries newly eligible under the law can go to www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine to register and indicate their interest in receiving a vaccine from VA. Signing up will also give users regular updates about VA’s vaccine rollout process.
• Veterans can also sign up to get vaccinated through their employer, pharmacy, or local public health office. We encourage Veterans to take the first opportunity to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

• Veterans can visit the VA’s main page www.va.gov and click on link near the top of the page “vaccine information page”.

What Behavioral Health Services are available to me?

We offer a wide range of outpatient services, including medication management, individual and couples psychotherapy, intensive case management for Veterans with severe mental illness, peer support, homeless services, compensated work therapy, telehealth services, specialized treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, and substance abuse disorders.

We provide same-day access for urgent issues during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. We also have behavioral health providers embedded in the primary care teams. If you would like behavioral health services, please contact your primary care team to be evaluated by one of their embedded behavioral health providers.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please call the Veterans’ Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, or call 911, or report to the nearest Emergency Room.

When is the next update?

The next telephone townhall will occur on Thursday, April 15 and we hope you will join us again. We welcome your feedback and ask you send us any questions or topics of interest that you would like to hear about via Facebook messenger!

El Paso VA Health Care System Town Hall meeting FAQ’s-March 18, 2021

Where does the VA stand in its moving forward plan?

We returned to Phase 2 on February 16 and are now reviewing when to move to Phase 3 which would allow us to see 75% of patients in the facility. The trends are moving downward, and we are looking at possibly going into Phase 3 on March 26, 2021. If you prefer virtual services, they will still be offered.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know about when I visit the VA?

Yes! Signs will be posted at our entryways with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter and must call 564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Additionally there will be a new drop box located outside the Emergency Room roundabout. There are envelopes that are available at the drop box for your use, to input documents or items. Please be sure to read the envelope carefully and mark the location of where you want your documents or items to be delivered. The very bottom of the envelope includes an area to write in your name, date of birth, and contact information, so please be sure to fill that in before dropping your packet into the box.

What is the status of WBAMC’s move to the new hospital and vaccine distribution?

Unfortunately, moving to the new hospital has been delayed once again. As you may have heard we have run into a few challenges in the final phase of our transition to the new hospital.  We are currently working through those challenges and will not accept anything that potentially jeopardizes the safety of our patients or our staff, or places our Joint Commission Accreditation at risk.

At this time, we don’t know exactly how long it will take to remediate these challenges, but they must be complete prior to our first patient day. What I can tell you is that these issues are getting top priority for the Corps of Engineers and the Health Facilities Planning Agency for rapid resolution, and I would anticipate that we will move into the new hospital later this spring.  We are refining our lessons learned and will continue process improvement in the coming weeks.  I recognize that there will be numerous questions as we refine our timeline for the move, so I encourage you be patient and pay attention to all media outlets as timelines and information unfold.

The good news is that we have been able to vaccinate thousands of beneficiaries across El Paso.  The problem with us being so efficient is that we ran out of the vaccination and the supplies.  Unfortunately, WBAMC had to postpone all appointments until our vaccine resupply arrived.  Finally, a small shipment came in last week.  In order to catch up on our backlog, we are running a seven-day delay while prioritizing second dose appointments to minimize any more delay.  There have been hiccups and a bit of communication issues, but we are feverishly trying to iron out all of the wrinkles in the process.  I would ask, please be patient as we attempt to call and reschedule cancelations. Patients can call 742-2273 to inquire about their 2^nd dose appointment.

 

I heard there will be an enrollment fair coming up…can you elaborate on what this event is about?

At this time, we are currently on track to provide you the ability to enroll for your healthcare benefits at our West Side Community Based Outpatient Clinic located at 1870 Northwestern Drive. Please take this time to enroll for your healthcare benefits if you have not yet done so or if you have a need to reestablish your care with the El Paso VA. During this time, we will assist you in enrolling, obtaining an initial appointment and answer any health benefit questions you may have.

On March 23rd, we will have representatives from the Caregiver Support Program from 9:00 a.m. to noon, so please take advantage of this opportunity.

 

What is BTSSS and how does it benefit me?

It is a new way to submit travel pay. VA travel pay reimbursement through the Beneficiary Travel programs pays eligible Veterans back for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments.

VA offers two types of travel pay reimbursements:  general health care travel and special mode transportation. As a Veteran, you may be eligible for one or both. A Veteran may be eligible for beneficiary travel services if the following criteria are met:

• have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or
• are traveling for treatment of a SC condition, or
• receive a VA pension, or your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
• are traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension.

To submit a claim, visit https://access.va.gov, select the Veteran Travel Claim Entry icon, and logon using a DS Log on Level 2 account or an ID.ME account. You will need to create or re activate your account before you can use the new automated system. Log in to BTSSS and create your profile today to allow faster processing of any pending claims. If you do not want to use the new electronic system you can still submit a hard copy voucher at your local travel office

Eligible Veterans and caregivers may get help from a travel clerk at the facility.  Veterans may use the email group, elpasovatraveloffice@va.gov for general questions at 915-564-6100, extension 7947.

 

What age group is the VA currently vaccinating?

Currently, vaccine allocation is limited, so we must follow the established priority groups set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Veterans Health Administration.

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans 50 years old and older who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Health Care System. Our Medical Support Assistants are contacting Veterans directly to schedule appointments. Additionally, Veterans 50 and older can call 915-564-6100, Option 2, to request scheduling. This option gets you into the Call Center that can assist with COVID vaccine scheduling. We went live with VetText for those 50 and older. This is an automated text that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. These text messages are automated and go out to about 600 Veterans per day.

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.

Veterans with contraindications (reasons they should not get the vaccine) to the COVID vaccine include:

• History of severe or immediate allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to a previous dose of COVID vaccine or any of its ingredients to include polysorbate ingredients.
• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms.
• Those who have received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 should wait 90 days to receive the vaccine.

Please remember If you received your 1^st COVID vaccine through the City of El Paso or another health care provider, we cannot administer your 2^nd dose.

What Audiology services and locations are available to me?

You do not need to have a referral or consult from your primary care provider in order to receive care from Audiology. Hearing services, which includes examinations of ringing or buzzing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, are available to all Veterans. Types of care that would require a referral would be anything associated with dizziness or vertigo. However, we will still see you if you could not get a referral from your provider in adequate time. Veterans can call 564-6172 with questions or to make an appointment.

 

The audiology department allows Walk-In services for which would allow a Veteran with sudden hearing loss, lost hearing aids or any other issue requiring immediate attention to be seen by a hearing health technician or an Audiologist at the main clinic only between the hours of 0800-1500, Monday through Thursday and Fridays from 0800-1000. However, our department never turns away a Veteran in need.

Audiology hearing examinations are available at our Main clinic, Westside Clinic and now on Fort Bliss for those with access. If you are a service-connected Veteran or a retiree and have your appointment letter, you can be seen at our Fort Bliss Clinic. This clinic is located off Sergeant Major Blvd near the Sergeant Major Academy and Biggs Park. Availability for this clinic can sometimes be same day or up to 1-2 weeks maximum. If interested, you will be asked a set of questions to ensure access to the installation and will be given directions along with your scheduled appointment slip.

Hearing aid or ear lavage services are offered at all our clinics which include: Main clinic, Westside clinic, Las Cruces clinic, Eastside clinic, Fort Bliss and the Vet Home. Our VA facility works with about 5 different hearing aid vendors to ensure that hearing aids with the latest technology and capabilities are available.

Speech Pathology now falls under our department. However, they are located on the 4^th floor whereas Audiology is located on the 3^rd/main floor. Please note that for Speech Pathology care you would require a referral from a physician. Also, we recently welcomed a second Speech Pathologist and hope to welcome back any Veterans who previously had to go out to the community for care due to unavailability.

Do we still have to wear masks when we visit the clinic?

Yes! Although Texas State no longer requires the wearing of masks, as both a health care and federal facility, masks are still required when you are inside the VA buildings.

We welcome your feedback. Please send us your questions or topics of interest that you would like via Facebook messenger.

El Paso VA Health Care System Telephone Townhall meeting FAQ’s-March 4, 2021

Where does the El Paso VA stand in its Moving Forward Plan?

We returned to Phase 2 on February 16, 2021 meaning that we can safely welcome back 50 percent of our patients that must be physically examined although we highly encourage you to continue to accept virtual care appointments.

To continue to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being, please remember that everyone must still have an appointment to enter the facility and no children under the age of 18 are allowed to enter the facility.

Are there any updates that I should know when I visit the VA?

Yes! Our entry procedures into El Paso VA facilities have changed. Signs are now posted with a series of COVID-related questions that you can read to yourself. If you are able to answer all the questions with a “no,” then you may enter the facility.

If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you cannot enter the facility and must call 915-564-6100, select Option 3, in order to speak with a Nurse.

Governor Greg Abbot has lifted the mask requirement for Texas, what does that mean for the VA?

As of next Wednesday Texas, will no longer requires the wearing of face coverings/masks. However, as a health care and federal facility, face coverings are still required when you are inside any VA.

Is there a set date for the opening of the new North East Community Based Outpatient Clinic?

Yes! We will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 26^th. We are super excited to be able to welcome Veterans to this new site of care; the intent with these new community-based outpatient clinics is to be able to provide you the services you most frequently access closer to your home and in a smaller environment.

We’ve had wonderful success in meeting the needs of Veterans on the West side at the new clinic and we continue to get very positive feedback. I’m absolutely sure that the same thing will occur with the North East clinic!

There have been discussions about installing a drop box for a number of months…are there any updates?

Yes! The El Paso VA Health Care System wanted to provide Veterans with a convenient mechanism that would allow them to securely turn in documents without having to come into the facility.

We have placed signs for ease and directionality. We have also had envelopes specially printed so that we can quickly and accurately get your information where it needs to go. We plan to “go live” with the new process at the end of the month.

Any update to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center move?

Yes! During the last tele town hall LTC Jason Ling from William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) was our guest speaker. He shared details about the movement activity to the new hospital which was scheduled to happen on March 28^th.

Unfortunately, that date has now been pushed back due to some delays in the new facility. LTC Ling will join use at the next tele town hall to share new information with us.

What is the status on building a new facility for the El Paso VA?

We have undertaken a great deal of action related to the planning of the replacement facility this week. We’ve met with the Army Corps of Engineers and contracted architects to begin to plan what our new facility will look like, and all of the services we will have with it. We are excited to begin this work and will keep you updated.

Are there any upcoming VA events we should know about?

Yes! We are super excited to announce our first-ever enrollment and eligibility fair for the El Paso VA Health Care System. We’ve not had the space nor the clinical providers to be able to have this type of event.

The Enrollment/Eligibility fair that we will be having at our Westside Community Based Outpatient Clinic location. The event invites Veterans who may not have taken advantage of their health care benefit to come out and enroll. Additionally, it extends to those Veterans who may have utilized VA health care in the past but need to re-establish their care.

We will have Health Benefits Counselors on site starting on March 22^nd through March 26^th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During this time, we will assist you in enrolling for your health care, obtaining your initial appointment, and explain your entitlements.

We ask you bring in a valid picture ID and copy of your DD214 if this is your first-time enrolling. If you don’t have your DD214 come anyways and we will still be able to assist you. If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact the enrollment department at 915-564-6100, extension 6150.

What age group is the El Paso VA currently vaccinating?

We are currently scheduling vaccines for Veterans 65 and older who are enrolled for care through the El Paso VA Healthcare System.  Our Medical Support Assistants are contacting Veterans directly to schedule appointments. Additionally, Veterans 65 and older can call (915) 564-6100 option 2 to request scheduling. 

We went live with VetText for those 65 and older.  This is an automated text that gives Veterans the option to schedule their vaccine using the text option. These text messages go to about 600 Veterans per day.  

We have added evening and Saturday clinics to increase vaccine distribution when we receive additional allocation of the COVID vaccine.   We will host a walk-in vaccine clinic for Veterans 65 and older today March 4^th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  We will service the first 150 Veterans to come to the Main facility between 4 and 6 pm tonight.

If you received your 1^st COVID vaccine through the City of El Paso or another healthcare provider, you MUST return to that provider for the 2^nd dose.

Has a new Chief of Staff arrived?

Yes! We are pleased to introduce Dr. Marvin Miller who has joined us from the VA in Nashville to be the interim Chief of Staff (COS). He arrived on February 22, 2021 and will serve with the El Paso VA for 120 days while we search for a permanent COS.

Please note our expectations when it comes to Veteran behavior and language:

As our staff are professional and courteous towards our patients, they too are expected to be courteous in their interactions with our staff members. If you need to elevate an issue, you may address it with a Service Level Advocate. 

When will you be providing us with the next update?

Thursday, March 18, 2021 will be the date for our next telephone townhall meeting.

Additionally we will no longer be sending out reminder robo calls the day prior to Veteran Telephone Town Halls. You will still receive the call to connect you to join the Town Hall on Thursdays. If you do receive a call from the El Paso VA, please answer it because it may be a staff member trying to reach you regarding your health care.

We welcome your feedback. Please send us your questions or topics of interest that you would like discussed via Facebook messenger.

 

El Paso VA Health Care System Telephone Townhall- February 4, 2020

Where does the VA El Paso VA stand on return to normal operations?

 

Because the city has shown a steady decline in COVID cases our plan is to advance to Phase 2 of our re-opening process on February 16, 2021. This means we will allow up to 50 percent of Veterans back into the facility who need to receive in person care.

 

How will VA beneficiaries be affected by the WBAMC move?

 

The new William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) is scheduled to see its first patient March 28. The transition will occur in phases and your care will not be interrupted.

 

During the next townhall we will have the William Beaumont Army Medical Center Public Affairs Officer speaking about the move and what you can expect in the coming months as they relocate 8 miles east of their current facility.

 

When does the North East Clinic Open?

 

We are now awaiting a certificate of occupancy and the facility it tentatively scheduled to be opening up in March.

 

Patients are still receiving their notices by mail notifying them to transfer to that location as soon as our primary care teams are in place.

 

When can I get the COVID vaccine?

 

We are expecting another significant allocation of vaccines soon and our team is prepared to work extended hours and weekends in order to get those distributed into the arms of our Veterans as quickly as possible.

 

Our staff is currently calling those patients 75 and older, or those with serious underlying health conditions, transplant patients or those currently receiving chemotherapy or dialysis treatment.

 

If you wish to be placed on a standby list please contact our call center at 564-6100 and ask to be included. Additionally, know that if you receive a call to get the vaccine because we have extra at the end of the day then you must be able to report to the main medical center within one hour.

 

As a reminder we are only issuing the Moderna vaccine which requires two doses given 24-32 days apart. Patients must schedule their second appointment date at the time they are called and come in for the first vaccination.

 

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

 

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter any of our facilities Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

 

Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early to your appointment or you will be asked to wait in your car in order to reduce the amount of people in the facility at one time.

 

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

 

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

 

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

 

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

 

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

 

When will you be providing us with the next update?

 

Thursday, February 18, 2021 will be the date for our next telephone townhall meeting. Please note that we welcome your feedback. Send us your questions or topics of interest that you would like discussed via Facebook messenger!

 
We recommend you visit the following sites for additional COVID related information:

 

 

CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Recommendations | CDC

 

What's New | CDC

 

Destinations | Travelers' Health | CDC

 

 

El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall- January 21, 2020

 

What are the various methods a Veteran can enroll with the El Paso VA?

1. Online – visiting va.gov. A veteran can fill out a 10-10ez electronically and submit it to the enrollment office. Once received the turnaround time may be up to 5 business days.
2. By Mail – visiting va.gov. A veteran can download and print out a 10-10ez and mail it in to:

Registration & Eligibility 136E

5001 N. Piedras

El Paso, TX 79930

3. A Veteran can also contact the Enrollment office at (915)564-6100 x6150 to speak with an enrollment coordinator. The veteran will have the option to either have a 10-10ez mailed out to their home with a return envelope or have an appointment scheduled to come in and register in person.

 

Where does the VA El Paso VA stand on return to normal operations?

 

Because the city has shown a steady decline in COVID cases our plan is to advance to Phase 2 of our re-opening process on February 16, 2021. This means we will allow up to 50 percent of patients back into the facility who need to be seen face to face.

When does the North East Clinic Open?

Northeast Clinic Updates waiting on new furniture and putting finishing touches. Facility should be opening up in about a month.

Patients are still receiving their notices by mail notifying them to transfer to that location as soon as our primary care teams are in place.

When can I get the COVID vaccine?

Our staff is currently calling those patients 75 and older, or those with serious underlying health conditions, transplant patients or those currently receiving chemotherapy or dialysis treatment.

If you wish to be placed on a standby list please contact our call center at 564-6100 and ask to be included. Additionally, know that if you receive a call to get the vaccine because we have extra at the end of the day then you must be able to report to the main medical center within one hour.

Since December 22 we have only received 2,300 doses of the vaccine and we serve about 37,000 Veterans so we ask you to be patient while we continue to work through the priority groups with our limited allocation.

As a reminder we are only issuing the Moderna vaccine which requires two doses given 24-32 days apart. Patients must schedule their second appointment date at the time they are called and come in for the first vaccination.

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility. Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early to your appointment or you will be asked to wait in your car in order to reduce the amount of people in the facility at one time.

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

When will you be providing us with the next update?

Thursday, February 4, 2021 will be the date for our next telephone townhall meeting. Additionally, we will be inviting a guest speaker from WBAMC to explain their transition to the new hospital!

We welcome your feedback and ask that you please send us your questions or topics of interest that you would like discussed via Facebook messenger!

El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall-January 7, 2020

 

With the continuous COVID cases in El Paso, how is the VA affected?

 

We are still at Phase I our re-opening process due to the number of COVID-19 cases in the community, the hospitalization rates and high ICU occupancy rates. Our clinical staff are reviewing all patients with scheduled appointments for the next two weeks to determine who must be seen in person and who should be seen via VA Video Connect or Telephone.

 

If cases continue to decline, we are targeting to return to Phase 2 (where 50 percent of patients would be allowed in the facility for in person care) beginning February 16. If you need to be seen, you will be seen. We participate in daily calls with the City of El Paso and WBAMC to ensure an aligned response.

 

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

 

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility. Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early to your appointment or you will be asked to wait in your car in order to reduce the amount of people in the facility at one time.

 

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

 

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

 

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

 

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

How and where will the vaccines be administered?

Currently vaccine allocation for the facility is limited. Due to the limited vaccine supply, unpredictable allocation, and established priority groups by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) we have to offer vaccine in a calculated manner.

 

Additionally, we are evaluating the best way to provide the vaccine to Veterans (i.e. drive through clinic, walk in clinic, appointments, etc.). Depending on health status, everyone must wait 15 – 30 minutes after receiving their vaccine to ensure that there are no negative reactions.

Please note we will be calling you to schedule your vaccine. You do NOT need to call us, we will contact you!

Which patients will be receiving the vaccines first?

We will be vaccinating Veterans in high-risk priority groups that have been identified using criteria set forth by the CDC first. Those Veterans are being contacted directly by El Paso VA staff to schedule their vaccine. We are currently contacting Veterans who are on chemotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, are on hemodialysis or are 90 years of age and older.

We anticipate that in the coming weeks we will receive more vaccine and will open scheduling to Veterans 75 and older. When additional vaccine is received, we will advertise the number for interested Veterans age 75 and older to call and schedule their vaccine. Please do not call at this time, we are reaching out to Veterans who meet the first priority group. All vaccines at this time will be given at the main facility.

Which vaccine is being offered?

El Paso VA only has Moderna Vaccine which requires the first dose and 28-days later the second dose is administered. Approximately 10 days after the second dose, you will be about 96% protected. Our goal is to offer vaccine to every Veteran who wants it when adequate vaccine is available.

Veterans with contraindications to the COVID vaccine include:

• History of severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) to vaccine or injectable therapies
• Active COVID-19 infection, in active quarantine, or experiencing COVID symptoms
• Those who have contracted COVID-19 or received monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 will be expected to wait 90 days from confirmed infection to receive vaccine 

When is the next townhall taking place?

Going forward, we will hold our Telephone Town Hall events on the first and third Thursdays of the month so the next “meeting” will occur January 21, 2020.

If you wish to be removed from our townhall contact list you must send us the Veteran's full name and phone number (including area code) in a private Facebook message.

Please share this post for widest distribution!!

 

El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall-December 17, 2020

 

With the continuous COVID cases in El Paso, how is the VA affected?

 

We are still at Phase I our re-opening process due to the number of new COVID-19 cases in the community, the hospitalization rates and high ICU occupancy rates. Our clinical staff are reviewing all patients with scheduled appointments for the next two weeks to determine who must be seen in person and who should be seen via VA Video Connect or Telephone. If you need to be seen, you will be seen. We participate in daily calls with the City of El Paso and WBAMC to ensure an aligned response.

 

Additionally, we are planning for the best way to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine to all of our Veterans and employees when it becomes available.

 

Is there any new guidance on when to quarantine after a COVID exposure?

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) AND Prevention has revised its guidelines for people who may have been exposed to coronavirus.

 

Now, instead of the standard 14-day quarantine it has been recommending, the CDC says that potential exposure warrants a quarantine of 10 or seven days, depending on one’s test results and symptoms.

 

If individuals do NOT develop symptoms, they need only quarantine for 10 days; if they test negative, that period can be reduced to just one week.

 

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

 

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility. Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

 

Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early to your appointment or you will be asked to wait in your car in order to reduce the amount of people in the facility at one time.

 

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

 

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

 

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

 

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

 

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

 

When will the Northeast Community Based Outpatient Clinic (NCBOC) Open?

 

We have leased a building on Sanders Avenue and are working with the lessor to make renovations to the building. We anticipate opening the clinic to Veteran patients by the end of January or beginning of February.

 

Patients who live in that area and who will be assigned to that clinic should have received a letter by mail introducing Ms. Amy Straley as the new NCBOC manager and welcoming Veterans to what will be our newest site of care!

 

Have MEB and C&P Exam Updates resumed?

 

Yes. The Veterans Benefit Administration has started sending out the request for these exams to the contractors. If you were previously scheduled for these exams, they are working the list to reschedule from the oldest cancellation to the newest.

 

Are you still offering COVID tests?

 

Yes. When your provider orders a COVID test you will need to call our call center at (915) 564-6100 option 2 to schedule the testing via our curbside services. As a reminder we are only testing symptomatic Veterans or those that will be having certain procedures performed here at the El Paso VA.

 

Why should I get the flu shot and where can I get it?

 

The flu vaccine has many benefits, but this year it is more important than ever before. The Center for Disease Control reports that the flu vaccine reduces your risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. This year it can also help save resources needed in healthcare settings for COVID-19 by preventing flu infections and reducing flu related hospitalizations. For our patients with chronic conditions, the flu vaccine is an effective preventative tool.

We are offering flu shots at Entrance of the main facility, Mon- Fri from 0900-1400 until December 23rd.

 

After Christmas the flu vaccines will be offered inside the primary care, specialty, and mental health clinics as well as our Community Based Outpatient Clinics only. If you do not have an upcoming appointment at any of our clinics, walk-in flu shots are available daily after 1400-1600. Additionally, Veterans can also receive flu vaccines at Walgreens and Wal-Mart free of charge.

 

Why am I being asked different screening questions when I visit the facility?

 

We have updated our screening questions related to COVID based on revised guidance from Center for Disease Control. You will still be asked about any symptoms you may be experience, but we will also ask about close contact with a confirmed COVID positive person and if you are waiting on results of a COVID test. If you confirm any symptoms, close exposure, or pending COVID test results you will be sent for a secondary screening.

As always, if you are not feeling well or have concerns related to exposure please dial into our Call Center to speak to a Registered Nurse so they can appropriately assess you over the phone and determine next steps. If you need to be seen or require testing the Call Center will work with your Care Team to get things coordinated. You can speak to Registered Nurse by calling 915-564-6100, option 3, then option 1.

 

Are there updates on when VA will receive the COVID vaccine and who get it first?

 

VA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a phased distribution plan that will maximize benefits to Veterans and employees. The goal is to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all health care personnel and Veterans who want it when sufficient vaccine supply is available. Initially, however, there will be limited vaccine supply. VA is currently planning to first offer the COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel in high-risk health care settings. Vaccinating high-risk health care personnel ensures that a strong and healthy workforce is available to continue caring for Veterans. As more vaccines become available, VA will offer the vaccine to high-risk Veterans. VA’s goal is to offer it to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.

 

What phone companies participate in free services for VA virtual appointments?

VA Video Connect app can now be used without incurring data charges on the AT&T Cellular network! Many cellphone networks allow VVC to be used without incurring charges, these include T-Mobile, TracFone and Verizon wireless. If your provider recommends it please give it a try!!

Are authorizations required for VA patients to be seen?

 

Authorizations are needed before scheduling of appointments in the community if Veterans expect VA to pay for those services. Some Veterans are booking their own appointments and CCS is receiving calls because a Veteran is in an office waiting room to be seen without authorizations and we have to jump through hoops to get the referral in and authorize the care which often times we do not have clinical documents or request for services on file.

 

Please note that hospital episodes of care are separate from outpatient episodes of care and both require authorizations. Veterans are being seen by a consultant during inpatient stay and they are going to see these consultants after discharge without authorization. I believe they are assuming that because they were told to follow up after discharge that VA will pay automatically. We are trying to find a solution to this via community hospitals discharge planning process.

 

Additionally, all requests for medications need to go to the pharmacy and not the Community Care Service (CCS). Some Vets are dropping prescriptions in the CCS drop box.

 

Below is the ER notification process:

 

 

Centralized Reporting for Community Emergency Treatment

Emergency Care Reporting (ECR) Portal

 

The Office of Community Care (OCC) launched a new online Emergency Care Reporting (ECR) portal on November 18, 2020 to support the Centralized Authorized Emergency Care 72-hour notification process. 

The Emergency Care Reporting portal is designed to be accessed by community providers, VA Medical Center (VAMC) staff, Veterans, and Veteran representatives to provide patient-related information in a convenient and secure way.  Case-specific details are necessary for proper care coordination and eligibility determinations.

Portal users will be encouraged to access the portal when reporting a Veteran who is self-presenting to a community facility for an emergency episode of care.  Updated information will be shared during our Clinical Integration Emergency Treatment Office Hours series.  While we encourage the use of the Emergency Care Reporting portal for ease of accurate information sharing, any of the following can be used to report emergency services:

• https://EMERGENCYCAREREPORTING.COMMUNITYCARE.VA.GOV
• 844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842)
• Appropriate VA official at the nearest VA medical facility

If an individual notifies a VAMC directly and is unable to supply the information outlined, VAMC staff should attempt to collect the information from appropriate parties.

If treatment is reported after the date in which it was received (e.g. treatment received on Saturday and notification is made the following Monday) VA facility community care staff will continue to send the notification via email to VHAEmergencyNotification@va.gov because the portal will not accept back dated notification.

If VAMC staff enter a notification into the portal, they should follow the instructions outlined in Chapter 3.6 of the Field Guidebook.  Notifications entered through the portal by community providers, VAMC staff, Veterans, and Veteran representatives will be uploaded directly into the ECAT SharePoint worklist currently being used by VAMC staff.  VAMC staff will continue to access the worklist for notifications assigned to their facility and the intake and care coordination processes will remain the same.  The new portal will simply allow for a more streamlined and timely notification intake.

Resources

For information regarding the new Emergency Care Reporting portal, contact the Emergency Treatment team VHAOCCEmergencyCareTeam@va.gov

Support

For any questions, contact VHA10D1D1CILeadership@va.gov

How is the VA addressing new Veteran enrollment right now?

The registration and Eligibility department is working hard to ensure those of you who wish to enroll for the first time or renew your enrollment are processed in a timely manner during this time. Currently we are offering appointments for registrations and ID cards. To schedule an appointment please contact the registration department at (915)564-6100 x6150. However, to minimize the time in the building, enrollments can also be done online through www.va.gov website. On this site you will find a tab to complete your enrollment and submit it electronically. For those who are not able to access the website or feel more comfortable filling out a 10-10ez but also not wanting to necessarily come in, you can contact the registration department again at (915)564-6100 x6150 and an enrollment representative will be able to mail you a 10-10ez form along with a return envelope to ensure the applications comes back directly to the enrollment office. The turnaround time, once the enrollment office receives your application is five business days to process. What will happen once your enrollment is complete you will have an enrollment packet with specific information to your benefits mailed to you and you will also receive a call to schedule your initial appointment with primary care. If you have not received a call or enrollment packet after 5 business days, we ask you do not submit another enrollment application but contact the registration and eligibility department so we may better assist you.

This process is not just for registrations but for any other concerns such as award letter updates, copay updates or general questions regarding your eligibility. Please contact the registration department at (915)564-6100 x6150 so we can assess your concern and possibly assist you over the phone.

When is the next townhall taking place?

Going forward, we will hold our Telephone Town Hall events on the first and third Thursdays of the month so the next “meeting” will occur January 7, 2020.

El Paso VA Health Care System Veterans Town Hall-December 3, 2020

 

With the continuous increase of COVID cases in El Paso, how is the VA affected?

 

We have reverted to a temporary Transition to Phase I due to the significant spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the community, the high hospitalization rates and high ICU occupancy rates. Our clinical staff are reviewing all patients with scheduled appointments for the next two weeks to determine who must be seen in person and who should be seen via VA Video Connect or Telephone. If you need to be seen, you will be seen. We participate in daily calls with the City of El Paso and WBAMC to ensure an aligned response.

 

Additionally, we are planning for the best way to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine to all of our Veterans and employees when it becomes available.

 

Is there any new guidance on when to quarantine after a COVID exposure?

 

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) AND Prevention has revised its guidelines for people who may have been exposed to coronavirus.

 

Now, instead of the standard 14-day quarantine it has been recommending, the CDC says that potential exposure warrants a quarantine of 10 or seven days, depending on one’s test results and symptoms.

 

If individuals do NOT develop symptoms, they need only quarantine for 10 days; if they test negative, that period can be reduced to just one week.

 

 

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

 

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility. Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

 

Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early to your appointment or you will be asked to wait in your car in order to reduce the amount of people in the facility at one time.

 

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

 

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

 

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

 

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

 

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

 

When will the Northeast Community Based Outpatient Clinic (NCBOC) Open?

 

We have leased a building on Sanders Avenue and are working with the lessor to make renovations to the building. We anticipate opening the clinic to Veteran patients by the end of December or beginning of January.

Patients who live in that area and who will be assigned to that clinic should have received a letter by mail introducing Ms. Amy Straley as the new NCBOC manager and welcoming Veterans to what will be our newest site of care!

Have MEB and C&P Exam Updates resumed?

 

Yes. The Veterans Benefit Administration has started sending out the request for these exams to the contractors. If you were previously scheduled for these exams, they are working the list to reschedule from the oldest cancellation to the newest.

 

Are you still offering COVID tests?

 

Yes. When your provider orders a COVID test you will need to call our call center at (915) 564-6100 option 2 to schedule the testing via our curbside services. As a reminder we are only testing symptomatic Veterans or those that will be having certain procedures performed here at the El Paso VA.

 

Is it true that there is a Mobile ICU stood up outside the VA/WBAMC parking lot?

 

Yes. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has opened a total of 18 intensive care unit (ICU) beds to Veteran and Department of Defense, non-COVID patients to help assist the city of El Paso in its COVID-19 response efforts.

 

The mobile ICU was activated at the request of the VA Central Office and Office of Emergency Management and is being staffed by VA employees (with the help of WBAMC) who have the required ICU experience and have graciously volunteered to deploy from other VA hospitals and help as needed.

  

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is very fortunate to have this type of deployable resource to areas that have a need. This is the result of proactive, strategic planning at the organizational level and it ensures we are able to serve Veterans in the midst of any situation or circumstance.

 

What is Survey of Health Experience for Patients (SHEP) survey?

It is a questionnaire that you might receive randomly requesting your feedback.

If you receive one, please help us by filling it out so that we know what you like and don’t like at your local VA and remember that if you do contribute any feedback it will be kept anonymous.

 

Why should I get the flu shot and where can I get it?

The flu vaccine has many benefits, but this year it is more important than ever before.  The Center for Disease Control reports that the flu vaccine reduces your risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.  This year it can also help save resources needed in healthcare settings for COVID-19 by preventing flu infections and reducing flu related hospitalizations.  For our patients with chronic conditions, the flu vaccine is an effective preventative tool. 

We are offering flu shots at Entrance of the main facility, Mon- Fri from 0900-1400.  Flu vaccines will be offered inside the primary care, specialty, and mental health clinics as well as our Community Based Outpatient Clinics.  If you do not have an upcoming appointment at any of our clinics, walk-in flu shots are available daily after 1400-1600.  Additionally Veterans can also receive flu vaccines at Walgreens and Wal-Mart free of charge.

 

Why am I being asked different screening questions when I visit the facility?

We have updated our screening questions related to COVID based on revised guidance from Center for Disease Control.  You will still be asked about any symptoms you may be experience, but we will also ask about close contact with a confirmed COVID positive person and if you are waiting on results of a COVID test.  If you confirm any symptoms, close exposure, or pending COVID test results you will be sent for a secondary screening.

As always, if you are not feeling well or have concerns related to exposure please dial into our Call Center to speak to a Registered Nurse so they can appropriately assess you over the phone and determine next steps. If you need to be seen or require testing the Call Center will work with your Care Team to get things coordinated.  You can speak to Registered Nurse by calling 915-564-6100, option 3, then option 1.

 

Are there updates on when VA will receive the COVID vaccine and who get it first?

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) anticipates the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will authorize one or more COVID-19 vaccines for use in the next few months. Safety continues to be the top priority in VA’s vaccine distribution plan, which is based on scientific and historical vaccination data, as well as past pandemic vaccine plans.

 

VA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a phased distribution plan that will maximize benefits to Veterans and employees. The goal is to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all health care personnel and Veterans who want it when sufficient vaccine supply is available. Initially, however, there will be limited vaccine supply. VA is currently planning to first offer the COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel in high-risk health care settings. Vaccinating high-risk health care personnel ensures that a strong and healthy workforce is available to continue caring for Veterans. As more vaccines become available, VA will offer the vaccine to high-risk Veterans. VA’s goal is to offer it to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.

 

How do I process a Release of Information and Medical Records request?

When Veterans need their provider to complete medical forms, they may forward or mail them to the Release of Information Office directly or may drop forms off at their assigned clinics, and include a completed authorization form 10-5345a, Individual’s Request for a Copy of their own Health Information. If the medical forms are received in ROI directly, the staff will log the request and electronically forward the forms to the identified provider.  Once the provider completes the forms, clinic staff will forward them back to ROI to be completed/closed and mailed. However, if forms are received in the clinic directly, providers may complete medical forms prior to sending them to ROI.  Once the forms are competed and received in ROI, staff will log the forms, complete/close the request, and mail the forms. While our goal is to have forms completed and mailed within 20 days, but no more than 30 days, there are sometimes when it may not be possible.  For example:

• Incomplete or unsigned authorization form- A valid authorization is required for ROI to process and release medical forms.

 

• Provider requires a face to face or telehealth appointment- The form may be extensive, and the provider is unable to complete it by simply reviewing records.

 

• Coordination between providers of different specialties may be required.

 

When it is not possible to meet the turnaround times, Veterans receive a letter informing them of the delay.  Veterans may choose the option that is most convenient and may also utilize My HealtheVet to submit medical forms and authorization as well.  Please contact the ROI office at 915-564-7998 for additional questions and we will be happy to assist!

 

 

November 12, 2020 Veterans Telephone Town Hall FAQ’s

With the continuous increase of COVID cases in El Paso, how is the VA affected?

A few weeks ago we reverted to a temporary Transition to Phase I due to the significant spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the community, the high hospitalization rates and high ICU occupancy rates. Our clinical staff are reviewing all patients with scheduled appointments for the next two weeks to determine who must be seen in person and who should be seen via VA Video Connect or Telephone. If you need to be seen, you will be seen. We participate in daily calls with the City of El Paso and WBAMC to ensure an aligned response.

Additionally, we are planning for the best way to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine to all of our Veterans and employees when it becomes available.

 

Do I still need to have an appointment to go into the VA?

Yes, everyone must have an appointment to enter the facility. Many of our services have shifted to virtual and/or the parking lot to streamline our delivery of health care. Only one person is allowed to enter the building with each patient.

 

Can I bring my kids to my appointment with me?

No. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter the facility. Please make appropriate arrangements in advance. We cannot have unaccompanied children left alone, outside of the building, in cars, etc. while you go in for your appointment. This is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

 

Are Ambulatory Surgery services still available?

Yes, as of now we will continue to perform scheduled cases.

 

What does the Face Covering Policy entail?

Everyone must continue to wear face coverings at all times while on our campus unless a provider asks a patient to remove their masks for clinical exam or medical care. Please remember that as of September 28, bandanas and face masks with vents are NO LONGER ALLOWED on the premises.

The center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone wear a mask that has two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric, fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth AND nose.

When will the Northeast Community Based Outpatient Clinic (NCBOC) Open?

We have leased a building on Sanders Avenue and are working with the lessor to make renovations to the building. We anticipate opening the clinic to Veteran patients by the end of the year.

Patients who live in that area and who will be assigned to that clinic should have received a letter by mail introducing Ms. Amy Straley as the new NCBOC manager and welcoming Veterans to what will be our newest site of care!

 

Have MEB and C&P Exam Updates resumed?

Yes. The Veterans Benefit Administration has started sending out the request for these exams to the contractors. If you were previously scheduled for these exams, they are working the list to reschedule from the oldest cancellation to the newest.

 

Why should I receive the Flu Shot this year?

The flu vaccine has many benefits, but this year it is more important than ever before.  The Center for Disease Control reports that the flu vaccine reduces your risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.  This year it can also help save resources needed in healthcare settings for COVID-19 by preventing flu infections and reducing flu related hospitalizations.  For our patients with chronic conditions, the flu vaccine is an effective preventative tool.  The drive-thru clinic is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others this flu season. 

 We are offering flu shots at the main facility via drive thru near the Alabama gate entrance.  Available Monday through Friday from 0900 until1400 through November 20, 2020.  After November 20, 2020 flu vaccines will be offered inside the main facility, primary care, specialty, and mental health clinics.

 We are also offering flu vaccines at our CBOC locations, with walk in hours every afternoon after 1pm. Additionally, with A veteran ID, beneficiaries can also receive flu vaccines at Walgreens and Wal-Mart free of charge.

 

Are you still offering COVID tests?

Yes. Please note a change in our COVID testing process. As of October 5, 2020 - When your provider orders a COVID test you will need to call our call center at (915) 564-6100 option 2 to schedule the testing via our curbside services. As a reminder we are only testing symptomatic Veterans or those that will be having certain procedures performed here at the El Paso VA.

Please note that we have received reports of Veterans being belligerent with staff – Leadership has been notified that some patients are yelling at, raising their voices and acting overall aggressive with our staff members (especially in the call center and patient advocacy) about transfers to the Westside and Northeast Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Please do not raise your voices with our staff as this is not going to result in a change to the outcome.

 

Is it true that there is a Mobile ICU being stood up outside the VA/WBAMC parking lot?

Yes. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is opening a total of 15 intensive care unit (ICU) beds to Veteran and Department of Defense, non-COVID patients to help assist the city of El Paso in its COVID-19 response efforts.

The mobile ICU was deployed from Florida and began arriving Monday at the request of the VA Central Office and Office of Emergency Management.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is very fortunate to have this type of deployable resource to areas that have a need. This is the result of proactive, strategic planning at the organizational level and it ensures we are able to serve Veterans in the midst of any situation or circumstance.

How can we manage stress during the holiday season as we battle the pandemic? 

1. Acknowledge your feelings; own your emotions, ask for space when you need it.
2. Reach out: Utilize community services available to you or seek comfort in somebody you can trust in whether it be a good friend, a fellow veteran, or somebody from your church. Remember the VA offers a wide range of services to you from: counseling services, spiritual care, peer support services among other services.

Also, the Veterans Crisis Line is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . The number to dial is: 1-800-273-8255 then select option 1.

3. Be realistic: Understand that there are restrictions in place throughout our city and explore innovative ways with your family so that you can still celebrate the holidays together such as: setting up virtual dates via zoom or other social platforms.

4.It’s ok to say no: It’s important to set healthy boundaries. If you don’t feel comfortable participating in a particular activity, make that known.

5.Most importantly don’t abandon healthy habits: stick to a routine (healthy eating and sleep is highly important for your mental health), continue to engage in steps that support your goals whether that has been to have a healthier diet, increase physical activity, reduce your nicotine use, etc.

You can take control of the holidays and remember that professional help is available to you! I would like to provide you with some great community resources which are the following:

Project Amistad offers counseling services to veterans as well as financial assistance to aid with rent and utilities if you’re experiencing a financial hardship. To receive more information on their counseling services you can call: 915-298-1194. To receive more information on how to apply for financial assistance, you can call 915-298-1107.

The Steven A. Cohen Clinic at Endeavors is also offering telehealth services for individual therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy.  At this time, they are waiving fees due to the pandemic. You can contact them at 915-320-1390.

The Veterans One Stop Center in partnership with Emergence Health Network can provide psychiatry and counseling  services via telephone and skype. To schedule an appointment, you can call 915-242-0555.

Lastly, if you are currently experiencing imminent risk of homelessness or homeless, you can call the  Health Care for Homeless Veterans intake line at: 915-564-6161  M-F from 0800-1630  or you can call the national call center for homeless veterans at 1-877-424-3838. We have various supportive services to assist you with your housing needs.

 

October 15, 2020 Veteran Telephone Town Hall FAQs