Special Notice from Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

August 26, 2020

CAVHS prepared for Hurricane Laura -- implementing temporary screening changes in NLR

As the remnants of Hurricane Laura roar through Arkansas Thursday and Friday, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System is taking measures to protect staff and Veterans entering our North Little Rock facilities.  Beginning tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., screening at Fort Roots will drop to two lanes of traffic.  Visitors may park and proceed to the building for appointments or business; Veterans and essential caregivers will be screened just inside the entrance.  Only the North Entrance to building 170 (Eugene J. Towbin VA Medical Center) will be open after 6:00 p.m.  Normal screening operations in North Little Rock will pick back up Saturday at 4:30 a.m. 

If you are having symptoms of COVID-19, please refrain from coming to any CAVHS campus and instead contact your provider via MyHealtheVet, or go to the Park and Swab at the Little Rock facility.

VA rolls out new patient-appointment tool, as part of electronic health record modernization transformation

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a new appointment scheduling tool Aug. 21 at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System to make medical visits more efficient for care providers and Veterans.

A critical component of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) effort, the Centralized Scheduling Solution (CSS) will be implemented at all VA health facilities to expedite patient-care coordination throughout the department.

“VA has delivered an enhanced scheduling system that will benefit Veterans and health care providers,” said Acting VA Deputy Secretary Pamela Powers, who has oversight of VA’s EHRM program. “This is another successful launch of a major milestone in the EHRM effort and will optimize Veterans’ access to health care by improving appointment scheduling. CSS also provides an efficient and transparent method of identifying and eliminating double bookings, flagging canceled appointments and maximizing provider time spent with patients.”

VA’s current scheduling solutions require VA staff to log in to multiple software applications to coordinate calendars, clinicians, rooms and equipment. This process requires time-intensive manual data entry and workarounds to finalize appointments. CSS will address these challenges by providing an “all-in-one” appointment management solution that offers scheduling by resource (e.g., clinician, room, equipment), simple color-coded time slots and a single view for coordinating schedules across multiple locations.

Through EHRM, VA will move from using its existing electronic health record (EHR) system, the software that stores patient information and tracks all aspects of Veteran care, to a new EHR solution that is interoperable with the Department of Defense (DOD) system. Initial EHR rollout at VA sites will start in fall 2020.

Upon full implementation at all sites, the new EHR will unify all VA health care facilities into one system linked with DOD. This modernization effort will create a comprehensive health record to provide seamless care for service members and Veterans. Visit VA’s EHRM program and CSS for more information.

Veterans encouraged to re-order medication refills as early as possible

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Veterans may notice increased shipping times for mail order prescriptions as more Americans are using delivery options.  Re-order medication refills as early as possible.  Refill requests can be made as soon as you receive a prescription.  We encourage Veterans to sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and UPS MyChoice– both are free services that notify you when packages are on the way.  You may also order and track certain prescriptions in MyHealtheVet.  Thank you for your service to our country, and for choosing VA Pharmacy. If medication delivery delays remain unresolved, CAVHS Veterans are encouraged to contact our pharmacy team (501) 257-2900 for any immediate needs.

VA Veteran Disaster Line

A toll-free number has been established for Veterans who receive care in the area that will be potentially impacted by Hurricane Laura. They or their families should call 1-800-507-4571 to receive information on where to go for care, how to receive prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care. The phone line will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information about compensation or pension benefit checks, please call the toll-free number 1-800-827-1000. The phone line is operational Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. Prepare! Plan! Stay Informed! Visit ready.gov to learn about preparedness kits, family emergency plans, and more.

Drive-through Flu Clinic returning

Stay tuned for a full announcement about the dates, times and locations of CAVHS drive-through flu clinics.  

VA COVID-19 Screening Tool

A new pre-entry screening tool allows Veterans, caregivers, and employees to answer questions on their mobile phones and share their results at any CAVHS entrance screening point.  This easy-to-use digital took helps reduce wait times, ease stress, and lower exposure risk.

You access the tool quickly via text message.  Large text buttons, plain language, and a simple flow of questions allow Veterans to complete screening in under a minute.

The results screen shows one of two messages: "Ok to proceed," or "More screening needed;" plus a timestamp and next steps.  The large, clear text and color-coded screens help staff easily triage.

The tool's features allow us to update questions within 24 hours to meet evolving needs.

To start using the COVID-19 screening tool at CAVHS, simply text 'screen' to 53079

CAVHS Veteran keeps up with tai chi routine during pandemic

Veteran Gary Cates continues to keep up with his Yang Tai Chi routine despite challenge brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Via CAVHS VA Video Connect Health & Wellness group sessions, Mr. Cates, who has a pin that he calls "a lawn ornament in my back," has seen his flexibility and balance improve significantly.

"In [the] Mornings, I go thru stretching and then through the exercises and I am using videos to try to clean up my moves and put more smoothness in them. I’ll do the exercise three or four times, then the breathing exercise and meditate for five or six minutes. I’ll do my cardio and shoulder exercises after lunch and then do the Tai Chi 10 point (I think that’s what you call it)  three or four more times, and then go about yard work or whatever.  Then after supper, Cardio, shoulder exercises and three or more sets of Tai Chi. The VA Kidney Diet , the exercising and the Tai Chi are helping me move towards my goals of better health and weight loss. I’m glad I attended as many classes as I did and hopefully you can start having us back in class before too long."

Veterans interested in the Yang Tai Chi program at CAVHS can contact Cynthia Frusha at 501-257-3754.

Veteran Gary Cates moves through Yang Tai Chi positions he learned through VA Video Connect group sessions.  

Veteran Gary Cates has improved his flexibility and balance significantly by practicing Yang Tai Chi, a staple of CAVHS' Health & Wellness program.