Roseburg VA Health Care System marks 6-months in fight against COVID-19 – services continue, access to care open

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Roseburg VA Health Care System marks 6-months in fight against COVID-19 – services continue, access to care open

ROSEBURG, OREGON, (Oct. 14, 2020) – The Roseburg VA Health Care System (RVAHCS) has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for more than six months now. While the changes necessitated by the facility’s response have helped protect Veteran and employee alike, they have also fundamentally altered how RVAHCS’s Veterans receive care. Though delivery modes may have changed, most of the Roseburg VA’s pre-COVID-19 treatments, programs and services are still available. Following is a short update to answer some Frequently Asked Questions regarding access to care options affected by RVAHCS’s COVID-19 response.

2020 Flu Vaccinations – Dates and hours for easy-access flu vaccinations for eligible Veterans at each RVAHCS facility follow (Note: While all Veterans and companions will be screened for COVID-19 before entering a VA facility or receiving vaccination on VA grounds, only eligible Veterans may receive vaccinations. To speed the screening process, Veterans and companions may answer all COVID-19 screening questions on a mobile device online at https://www.va.gov/covid19screen/. Veterans and companions are urged to not use mobile devices while driving.):

Drive-Thru Clinic - Roseburg VA Medical Center – 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd.:

• When: Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., thru Oct. 16; Oct. 19 thru Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 27 and 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Drive-up canopy at Building 1 (Urgent Care entrance)

Drive-Thru Clinic - Eugene VA Health Care Center (HCC) – 3355 Chad Dr.:

• When: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., thru Oct. 29
• Where: Eugene HCC parking lot (adjacent to COVID-19 screening checkpoint)

Drive-Up Clinic - North Bend VA Clinic – 2191 Marion St.:

• When: Tuesdays, Thursday, and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., thru Oct. 30
• Where: North Bend VA Clinic (parking lot)

Walk-In Clinic - Eugene VA Downtown Clinic – 211 E 7th Ave., Suite 118:

• When: Monday thru Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., thru Oct. 30
• Where: Eugene VA Downtown Clinic

Walk-In Clinic Brookings VA Clinic – 840 Railroad St.:

• When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., thru Oct. 29
• Where: Brookings VA Clinic

Low-and No-Income Veteran Clothing Room – RVAHCS’s Voluntary Service clothing room for low-and no-income Veterans is open with curtailed hours of operation at the Roseburg campus. Low-and no-income Veterans may access the clothing room Monday thru Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The following guidelines apply to all Veteran patrons:

• All patrons must wear an approved face covering
• All patrons must provide COVID-19 screening slip
• All patrons must sanitize hands with hand sanitizer prior to entering the clothing room

Veterans must be present and show proof of Veteran status to access the clothing room. Accepted forms of ID are as follows:

• Veteran ID card or military ID
• Driver’s license may be used (only if the word VETERAN appears on the license)
• If Veterans do not possess an accepted form of ID, a volunteer assistant will call for Veteran verification or direct Veteran to the Voluntary Service Office
• All types of packs, backpacks and luggage will be left at the door
• To meet COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, only two Veterans in the clothing room at any given time

Debt, Copays, Appeals and Other Financial Concerns – Full list of COVID-19-related concerns are answered at https://www.va.gov/coronavirus-veteran-frequently-asked-questions/. Since April 6, 2020, VA has put monthly copay patient statements on hold. It will start sending patient statements again in January 2021. Veterans do not have to make any copay payments until January 2021. However, Veterans wishing to voluntarily continue making payments should visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/pay-copaybill/ to find out more. Veterans may also contact the agent cashier's office at 541-440-1000, Ext. 44464 to find out more.

COVID-19 Screening, Visitations and Companions – RVAHCS will continue screening 100 percent of all Veterans, companions, visitors, vendors and employees at all five of its facilities until further notice. All Veterans, companions, visitors, vendors and employees must continue wearing approved facecoverings while on campus and inside RVAHCS facilities. RVAHCS has a no visitor policy in-place
except for end-of-life compassion cases on a case-by-case basis. Companions wishing to enter an RVAHCS facility will be screened and must be 16 years old or older. Friends and family of Veterans residing inside the RVAHCS Community Living Centers may schedule a Virtual Visit by calling 541-440-1000, Ext. 44777.

Telehealth and Virtual care – Mobile and computer technologies allow for greater access to most routine care services available at RVAHCS. RVAHCS exceeded more than 5,000 Virtual care visits in Fiscal Year 2020, ending on Sept. 30. Veterans are encouraged to ask their Primary Care teams about what telehealth and virtual care options are available through applications like VA Video Connect (VVC). To find out more about VVC options, visit https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect.

Community Care Network – The VA’s Community Care Network (CCN) launched in August. Veterans wanting more information about the new CCN can visit https://bit.ly/3fQ2AEA to view and download a CCN Fact Sheet. Community providers wanting more information can visit https://bit.ly/30tzvZ6 to find out more about becoming a partner with the VA.

Mental Health Care – COVID-19 has not curtailed RVAHC’s capacity for providing mental health care or services. Veterans in a mental health crisis have the following resources available 24/7:

• 9-1-1 to reach emergency responders
• Be There For Veterans Website: BeThereForVeterans.com
• VA’s Suicide Prevention Site: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/index.asp
• Veterans Crisis Line – Call 1-800-273-8255, Press 1; Text 838255; for the deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-800-799-4889; or chat online at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Roseburg VA Mental Health Clinic – 541-440-1257
• VA Suicide Prevention Website – https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/index.asp
• Vets4Warriors (24/7 peer hotline): 1-855-838-8255
• S.A.V.E. training can be viewed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49VgxM9L7Q&t=119s

RVAHCS will continue to update Veterans and stakeholders via Press Release and direct email communications. Veterans and supporters are encouraged to sign up for news and updates via the RVAHCS GovDelivery service at the facility’s website at https://www.roseburg.va.gov/.

Point of contact for this release is Tim Parish, Public Affairs Officer, Roseburg VA Health Care System; timothy.parish@va.gov; 541-440-1000, Ext. 43026.

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