COVID-19 & Patient Precautions at VA Eastern Kansas

“VA remains committed to honoring our Nation’s Veterans by ensuring a safe environment to deliver exceptional health care.”

As you are aware, COVID-19 and the Omicron variance is continuing to cause havoc across the nation and right here in our local catchment area. Each of you are important to us and to that end, your safety and that of our staff, is priority. Individually and collectively, we must all do our part each and every day in utilizing every precaution necessary. At VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System these precautions include:

• Patients seen by appointment only - No Walk-ins
• Unless referred to or directed to behavioral health / or in a behavioral health crisis
• If you are experiencing symptoms such as a cough, runny/stuffy nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever or sneezing, contact, do not walk-in for an appointment. Contact our Nurse Call Center at:
  • 1-800-574 8387 option 3 or local 785-350-4555
  • Our care team will advise you on next steps and assist in scheduling a COVID test for you if needed

• “Surgical” masks must be worn inside our facilities (see attached)
• No cloth masks allowed - No Exceptions
• These surgical masks are available at each entry/screening point throughout the medical centers

• Veterans who require the assistance of a caregiver to attend their outpatient appointment are permitted to have one companion, 18 years of age or older

• All in-patient visitation is prohibited except for end-of-life circumstances
• Please contact us at 785.350.3111 (Topeka) or 913.682.2000 (Leavenworth) and press 0, to contact the specific inpatient unit where the Veteran is located in order to coordinate end-of-life visitation
• Social distancing must be adhered to in our hallways, waiting areas, and elevators
• Our Emergency Department is for emergencies only and is not designed to manage walk-in COVID testing

Protecting yourself and others cannot be overstated! Currently, we have over 160 Veteran outpatients who are COVID positive. We also have approximately 50 staff members who are COVID positive. Some of you have lost family and friends to this virus and with that, our thoughts and prayers are shared with each of you. It (COVID-19) is real, and we all have a real responsibility to do everything in our power to fight back. It starts with the precautions/directives mentioned above.   

VA Eastern Kansas leadership is meeting routinely to keep up with the latest national, regional, and local updates/guidance. We will provide communication to our Veterans as information changes and/or updates are available.      

• VA Medical Facility Entry Guidance - Updated 10JAN2022.pdf