Cheyenne VA Medical Center Update

News & Announcements

Dear Veteran Family,

Like most things, we continue to see things evolve in terms of COVID-19 and healthcare for Veterans, and we hope you all have remained safe and healthy. 

The Public Affairs office is now located in Building 6, located behind the main hospital.  The building will soon be the Veterans Resource Center, and will house Voluntary Services, MyHealtheVet, the Veteran Experience Officer, and Public Affairs.  Stop in and say hi!

Below are some significant things we hope you find interesting and helpful:

COVID Precaution Reminders

Arrive to medical appointment no earlier than 15 min prior to the scheduled time

If you must bring another person to your appointment, we can only allow one person to attend your appointment.  This reduces exposure to COVID-19

No one under the age of 18 years old are allowed into the facility or Community Based Outpatient Clinics for a health care appointment.

Do you need pre-procedure COVID-19 Test?

The Cheyenne VA has established Orange Parking spots located in the main parking lot for drive-up pre-procedure screening.  Veterans who are scheduled for a procedure in the clinics below should plan to be pre-screened within 5 days of their appointment.  Results of the test take between 24 and 48 hours to process.  Veterans should quarantine between their COVID-19 test and their procedure.  Veterans will be notified by phone if test is positive for COVID-19, and notified by mail if the test is negative.

Please park in the Orange Painted lot in front of the Cheyenne VA Emergency Department entrance.  When you arrive, please remain in your vehicle and call the number on the posted sign.

Please ensure you have a face covering while interacting with the staff at your vehicle.

These parking spots are for drive-up services only, so if you plan on entering the facility, we ask that you move your vehicle to a different parking spot.

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please contact your Patient Aligned Care Team.

The following clinics require pre-procedure COVID-19 Screening:

• Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT)
• Urology
• Orthopedics
• General Surgery
• Podiatry
• Eye clinic
• Gynecology
• Endoscopy
• Dental

Copays

Will I still have to pay my VA copays during the pandemic?

As of April 6, 2020, we’ve stopped sending monthly copay billing statements for all Veterans. This means you won’t receive a bill for any copays during this time. Please check this website regularly for updates.

Flu Shots

Flu shots are now available!  We are encouraging everyone to get their vaccination as soon as you can, and we are offering some different options for you to get that shot this year. 

Cheyenne VA Medical Center Options:

• Sept. 21 — Nov. 30, 8 a.m.—3 p.m., drive up by appointment only. Call 307-778-7550 Ext. 4312 to schedule.
• Tuesday, Sept. 29 or Thursday, Oct. 8, 4 p.m.—7 p.m. drive up clinic located in front of VA. No appointment needed.
• Saturday, Oct. 3: 8 a.m. to Noon—Drive Through Clinic
• At your next scheduled VA appointment: Just ask the nurse or provider
• During Normal Business Hours, Monday– Friday in Ambulatory Care— no appointment needed.

Northern Colorado Options:

• During Normal Business Hours, Monday– Friday at either location— no appointment needed.

Loveland Clinic:

• October 10: 8 a.m. to Noon—Drive Through Clinic
• October 24: 8 a.m. to Noon- Drive Through Clinic

Ft. Collins Clinic:

• October 17: 8 a.m. to Noon- Drive Through Clinic

Sidney Nebraska Clinic:

• October 2: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Every Wednesday in October from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m.
• During normal business order

Mobile Clinics-Arrive at the location and call number on door.

Click here for our Webpage. 

If you are eligible to use a non-VA pharmacy to get your vaccination all you need to do is go to an “in network pharmacy” (see Cheyenne VA webpage), bring Veterans Health Identification Card, and tell the pharmacy that you are a Veteran wanting to get their flu shot through the VA’s Community Care Network.  If you are not sure about your eligibility for non-VA pharmacy, please click here.  Be sure to bring documentation of your vaccination to your next VA appointment so that it can be logged into your record.  

Drivers Needed

We are in desperate need of volunteer drivers for our Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Vans, particularly drivers from Cheyenne to Rawlins, and Cheyenne to Casper.  If you are interested, please contact our DAV transportation office at 307-778-7577, or Voluntary Services at 307-778-7550, ext. 7062.

Whole Health

Prepare to be entertained and informed as your VHA clinical colleagues bring you timely, practical, and snack-sized servings of Whole Health from their own clinical practice. Please join us for a break-worthy and lively new event series for VHA Clinicians from the Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation!

EPISODES

September 30: Spend it to Save it – Time!
Taking the time to ask “what matters most” ultimately ended up saving time.

October 7: Dispensing Health and Well-being
How equipping Veterans using a broad range of options led to results.

October 14: I’m Stuck, You’re Stuck - We’re Stuck!
Using Whole Health in navigating difficult clinical situations.

October 21: Beyond the “Me” in Team
Using a WH approach to bring a clinical team together.

October 28: Skeptic—Heal Thyself!
How taking a WH approach helped the healer heal and made a difference in clinical practice.

November 4: Happy(ier) Hours
How Whole Health can rekindle professional passion and bring joy back to the workweek.

 

To attend Whole Health Doses Every Wednesday Sept. 30 to Nov. 4
Live @ 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Length approx. 25min
Adobe Connect: http://va-eerc-ees.adobeconnect.com/whdoses/  

Listen only 1-800-767-1750, Participant Code: 14523#

Community Care is now on MyHealtheVet

Tired of waiting on hold for Community Care?  Try secure messaging through MyHealthyVet! The turnaround time is within 24-hours for a response, but normally you can get an answer on the same day!  Signing up for a MyHealthyVet account has never been easier.

Medication Renewals and Refills

Don’t wait to order your refills or ask for a renewal!  Call the number on your medication bottle and reorder all your meds as soon as you get the package in the mail… this way you will never run out.    Need a renewal?  The pharmacy will coordinate your medication renewals with your primary care provider. Click here for our pharmacy webpage.

Do we have your physical address?

Please ensure we have your “physical address” in our system.  We cannot pay travel reimbursement from a post office box under the MISSION Act.  Next time you are in, please ensure your physical address is correct.

Postal Service tracking

There are two free services—one for the USPS and UPS that we encourage Veterans to enroll in: “Informed Delivery by USPS”; and “UPS My Choice.”

• Informed Deliver by USPS allows you to digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive soon. To sign up, click here.  
• UPS My Choice allows you to get delivery notifications, plan deliveries, provide instructions to the driver and more. To sign up, click here. 

Cheyenne Day of Giving -Sept. 25

Since Mother Nature put the kibosh on the 15th Annual Day of Giving in May, the Day of Giving Board has been working to help area agencies meet client needs. 

On September 25, Day of Giving is holding a Drive-Thru Event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park.  This is a time for area residents to load donations in the back seat or trunk of their cars, pull up curbside at the Kiwanis Community House, have the donation unloaded by a gloved and masked volunteer, and be on their way.

The Day of Giving Board has consulted the Laramie County Health Department for advice on current guidelines.  Volunteers will wear masks and gloves and practice social distancing.  The event will be almost entirely outside; the only visitors who will go inside the Community House will be masked blood donors going to the Vitalant blood drive being held there, with appointments from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Day of Giving is asking for donations of nonperishable food, personal care items, craft items, leftover prescription medications, medical equipment and medical supplies, and used eyeglasses, hearing aids and cell phones.  Volunteers will also have information available about how to register as a prospective bone marrow or organ/eye tissue donor.

As with each previous Day of Giving event, we will be focusing on making a difference for thousands of our neighbors in need!

Questions?  Call Greta Morrow at 635-3943 or 421-3436.  For more information go to www.cheyennedayofgiving.org or find us on Facebook @ Cheyenne Day of Giving.

Agencies Day of Giving supports:

• Be the Match – registers prospective bone marrow donors
• Boys & Girls Club
• Comea House
• Donor Alliance – registers potential organ/eye/tissue donors
• Family Promise
• Frontier Lions Club – collects used eyeglasses, hearing aids, and cell phones with chargers 
• Good Health Will – collects durable medical equipment and medical supplies at the event
• Home Away From Home
• Magic City
• Needs
• Safehouse 
• St. Joseph’s Food Pantry
• Salvation Army
• Unaccompanied Students Initiative
• Vitalant – will hold a blood drive inside the Kiwanis Community House; drop in or call 638-3326 for an appointment 
• Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless
• Wyoming Medication Donation Program – collects leftover prescription medication at the event

Day of Giving drop-off points for donors who cannot come out to the event

B & B Appliance – 714 Central Avenue

First Education Federal Credit Union – 120 West Carlson Street

Laramie County Chiropractic – 611 East Carlson, #101

RE/MAX Capitol Properties – 4000 Central Avenue, Suite 1

*Donations of leftover prescription medications cannot be dropped off at these locations. They must be brought to the Kiwanis Community House between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on September 25.