Volunteers Help Tackle Veteran Loneliness

VA social worker Lori Murphy and voluntary service specialist Anna Giesler led the charge on VAs award-winning Compassionate Contact Corps (CCC) in Columbus.   Hear from Lori and Anna about the impact CCC is having on Central Ohio Veterans.  Read more

Nutrition Services: Try It Before you Diet

Lose weight. Eat healthier. Be more active. Does this sound familiar? 

This is the time of year when people typically set new weight loss and exercise goals.

Let Columbus VA nutrition services help you. We have eight dietitians on staff who can assist you in achieving your health and fitness goals by: 

• Creating nutrition goals that are specific, measurable and attainable
• Thinking differently about nutrition, goal-setting, calories
• Feeling good about the changes you are making in your life

Call nutrition services at 614-257-5937 and get started on a healthier you in 2022.

Where To Get Covid Boosters

Moderna and Janssen (J&J) Covid-19 booster shots are available at all Columbus VA facilities.

Availability by location:

For more information visit our website and Click "Covid-19 vaccines" under specialty services

Columbus Vet Center: A Different Type of Care

The Columbus Vet Center is a resource for Central Ohio Veterans offering services apart from VA healthcare. At the Vet Center you can receive:

• Individual, group or family counseling 
• Grief counseling
• Substance abuse assessment and referral
• Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
• Employment referral

If you are interested in checking out the Columbus Vet Center start by calling 614-257-5550 to schedule an appointment.

Reminder: Surgical Masks Required For Entry

In an ongoing effort to maintain the health, welfare and safety at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System, starting January 5, 2022 all Veterans, patients, caregivers, visitors and employees entering one of our facilities will be required to wear a MEDICAL / SURGICAL MASK. Cloth masks are no longer authorized for wear while inside one of our facilities. This includes our Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Grove City, Marion, Newark and Zanesville and our Behavioral Health facility and administrative offices near the Columbus Airport.

If you do not have a MEDICAL / SURGICAL MASK, screeners at the entrances are happy to provide you with one as you enter any of our facilities.

Remember, we all are in this together. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for your service.

Volunteers Put Their Red Vests Back On

In 2021 our volunteers served Central Ohio Veterans for over 14,000 hours - equal to about seven full-time employees.

Our volunteers serve in roles throughout the facility. From making appointment reminder calls to golf cart drivers shuttling Veterans from the parking lot to the clinic to wheelchair escorts to delivering mail, transporting lab tests or preparing for events, Columbus VA volunteers are making a difference every single day. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Columbus VA, call 614-257-5493.

Important EHR Information

VA Central Ohio Healthcare System is scheduled to launch VA’s new electronic health record (EHR) in March 2022, improving the way VA delivers your health care and simplifying your patient experience. The EHR includes a new patient portal, called My VA Health, that you will use once the system is fully implemented.

You can use My VA Health to do the following:

• Schedule, review, request and cancel VA appointments at VA Central Ohio Healthcare System
• Refill and renew medications prescribed by VA providers
• Send secure messages to VA health care teams
• Access current health records for care provided at VA Central Ohio Healthcare System

Below are some common questions about My VA Health.

What can I do now to get ready?

As VA Central Ohio Healthcare System prepares to install the new EHR, we will distribute information about how and when you can begin using My VA Health. In the meantime, ensure we have your correct contact information by calling 614-257-5200 or visit va.gov to update your contact information.

Will I need to use two VA patient portal accounts?

My VA Health will become your primary VA patient portal once VA Central Ohio Healthcare System adopts the new EHR. However, you will need to continue using My HealtheVet to manage your health records for any other VA health care facilities you visit that have not implemented the new EHR. You also will need to use My HealtheVet to access any secure messages you received prior to transitioning to My VA Health.

Will My VA Health work on any web browser?

My VA Health is available on any device with internet connectivity and can be accessed from this link: https://patientportal.myheath.va.gov. For the best online experience, VA recommends using the following browsers to access My VA Health: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari. VA does not recommend using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser, as Microsoft will no longer support it in the near future.

 Is My VA Health safe and secure?

The new patient portal is secure. VA follows strict security policies and practices to protect personal health information. Users must enter appropriate login credentials to be able to access their information in My VA Health. If a Veteran prints or downloads messages or health records, he or she will be responsible for protecting that information.

For more information about VA’s new electronic health record, visit https://www.ehrm.va.gov.

VA Navigation Tips

Do you find VA difficult to navigate? Every month we will provide tips to help you get the most out of your VA healthcare.  

Did you know Columbus VA has an Urgent Care Center (UCC)?  Hours of operation:  Mon. - Fri., 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sat. & Sun., 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Holidays, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.