In response to confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, we are taking proactive steps to prevent the risk of infection or its spread to Veterans, employees, and visitors at the Jackson VA Medical Center and its CBOCs. We note this is an evolving situation. For Veterans, families and visitors, that means your VA visit will be different for a while. As a community, our goal is to contain or prevent spread of COVID-19.

WHAT DO VETERANS AND VISITORS NEED TO KNOW?

Who can come to the facility?

• Only Veterans with scheduled appointments, scheduled admissions, urgent or emergent healthcare needs will be permitted inside our facilities. Visitors/guests are not allowed in any site of care.
• Vendors and others doing business should call the facility first

Call before visiting

Veterans, please call us at 601-362-4471 or 1-800-949-1009 and press 6, before visiting any of our VA facilities especially if you have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Calling first helps us protect you, medical staff, and other patients. Ask your VA health care team about the option of care by phone or video instead of an in-person visit.

Veterans with appointments

• Outpatients should come to VA appointments alone
• Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after your appointment
• We encourage patients to arrive early for their appointments. We’re doing all we can to make sure everyone—patients, families, visitors, staff and anyone else—stay as safe as possible during this situation.

Be prepared to be asked screening questions.

We have staff at our entrances asking ALL Veterans, visitors, and employees who enter our main medical center and CBOCs the following three questions.

• Do you have a fever, cough, or other flu-like symptoms?
• Have you traveled to China, Japan, Italy, Iran, Egypt, South Korea, OR other countries/regions/areas known to have positive cases of coronavirus in the last 14 days?
• Have you been in close contact with someone, including health care workers, confirmed to have the coronavirus disease?

We have temporary new hours for building entrances:

Main Entrance (facing Woodrow Wilson Avenue): Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
West Entrance (facing UMMC): Closed Until Further Notice
Emergency Room Entrance: Open on weekends only from Friday at 4:30 p.m. – Monday at 7 a.m.
Staff Entrances: Remain open, but must be accessed with Employee PIV card
CBOC – Hours remain the same

What can you do to help during this situation?

For the latest VA updates on coronavirus and common-sense tips on preventing the spread of disease, visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/

For more information about coronavirus, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

TEMPORARY VISITATION POLICY CHANGES

We have instituted a temporary pause on visits to inpatients. Hospitalized patients are particularly vulnerable, and we have enacted this policy to keep them safe.
No visitors are currently allowed in the Community Living Center.
Exceptions may be made for visitors of patients who are in critical condition or in end-of-life situations. Additional policies restricting visitors may be put in place on certain specialty units or as conditions warrant.

The following groups of people should NOT come to the Medical Center without calling 601-362-4471, press 6.

• Persons with a fever or cough
• Persons who are feeling sick

To limit the number of people on campus for non-essential events and activities:

• The food pantry is temporarily closed
• Large programs and gatherings have been cancelled/postponed at our medical center