January - VA Roseburg Healthcare System, Roseburg, Oregon

COMING SOON!InFebruaryVARHSCelebratesTheNationalSalute toVeteranPatients!FindAll theDetails inthe FebruaryEdition of:We’re Talking Telehealth....to store these pictures andforward them allowed for quickspecialty exams and morequick diagnosis of health statuschanges. More than 2000Veterans were screened thisway last year.The VA Roseburg HealthcareSystem continues with hometelehealth, clinical videoteleconferencing, and storeand forward for eye and skinimages. It has grown to includebereavement counseling,spiritual assessment, andspiritual counseling by“telechaplaincy.” This programoffers ethical consults andguidance within the systemand for other VA facilities.Recently, diabetes consults,treatment, and education by“teleendocrinology” have beenadded. Amputation patients are“seen” by a doctor in Portlandby “teleamputee clinic.” Thetelemental health program grewby leaps and bounds and sawmore than 500 patients lastyear, allowing the Veteran tostay in his or her communityand see a provider locatedsomewhere else.As a VA employee, I am veryexcited about the future of telehealthcare and the ability to usetechnology to keep Veterans intheir community while providingspecialty services that are notavailable locally. The nation isgearing up to use telehealth inmany creative ways to resolvethe needs of the Veterans andovercome supply concernswith provider availability. Theregion that includes OregonVA facilities is adding moreservices this next year includinghome based telementalhealth, pre and post operativesurgery consults, wound care,education, pain management,SERVICESliver transplant evaluation,cardiology, kidney care(nephrology), rheumatology, andprimary care. The patient wouldstay in his or her community,visit a local Community BasedOutreach Clinic or the mainRoseburg campus, and theprovider could be in anylocation throughout the regionor United States. The visitsare confidential and scheduledthe same way face to faceappointments are now. Theyare convenient and reduce thetime Veterans spend travelingto and from appointments,which makes for the best time oflimited specialty provider time,and increases access to carethat is not currently availablewithout travel.Telehealth will never replaceface to face visits. It is notmeant to, nor will it replacethe relationship that Veteransdevelop with their providers. Itis meant to increase access tospecialty care while reducingtravel and time spent away fromthe home community. It is meantto allow for some exams to bedone in preparation for face toface appointments later. It is anoption for those who prefer tostay with family and friends, intheir community, while gettingneeded care.Tracy Weistreich is the VARHSAssociate Director Patient CareServices (Nurse Executive) andcan be reached at Extension44202For the direct (external) line toour Nursing Service, please call:541-677-3056We’re here toServe You!8