Medical Outreach Jean Lighthall, MD Section Chief, Medical Outreach - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Palo Alto VA Health Care System

Medical Outreach

Jean Lighthall, MD Section Chief, Medical Outreach Kelly Conway, DNP , CNS Outreach Coordinator

VA Health Care Services

 Medical

 Outreach, Primary Care, Women’s Health, Specialty Care, Vision, Audiology (hearing), Emergency, Hospitalization

 OEF/OIF/OND  Mental Health  Alcohol/Substance Dependency  Homeless/Housing

Not VA Health Care

 Claims- Service Connected Conditions

 Under Compensation and Pension  File with Veteran Service Office  Outreach can give advice/guidance  Important to be receiving care with VA Health Care to document treatment for medical condition(s) while awaiting processing of claim(s)

Outreach Services

 Enrollment in VA Healthcare Onsite  Same Day Visit with doctor or nurse practitioner- no appointment needed  Referrals to specialists, vision, hearing, physical therapy  Set up blood tests, x-rays, prescriptions  Flu Shots  Safety Assessment

Medical Outreach Team

• Medical Providers
• Doctors
• Nurse Practitioners
• Enrollment/

Eligibility Specialist

• Health Technician/

Program Support

• Outreach

Coordinator

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Area Served

Sites

 Colleges  VFW/American Legions  Community Centers  Homeless Shelters  Employment Development Department (EDD)  Veteran’s Courts

Demographics Diagnosis:

20-29 136 30-39 117 40-49 52 50-59 159 60-69 182 70-79 61 80-89 22 90+ 9

Demographics: Race/Gender/Age

Benefits of Enrolling in VA Healthcare

 Comprehensive Medical Care with Facilities all over the Country  Expertise in PTSD/Depression/TBI treatment with Veterans

 May be misunderstood as difficulty concentrating/trouble with school work (anger, anxiety, fatigue/insomnia, distractibility, isolation, paranoia)  Treatment can help with academic performance

 Qualifies as Affordable Care Act/”Obamacare” insurance  Combat Veterans- 5 Years Free Healthcare  Once enrolled, never get “kicked out” of system  Even if covered under parents insurance until 26, may not be eligible when older AND may want the coverage then!

Common Misperceptions

 “Already signed up”

 Signed up on line and not seen by any medical service at the VA  May have just seen C&P and not actually enrolled in VA Health Care

 “I was told that I wasn’t eligible”

 Even if denied in past, new benefits available

 “I’m healthy now and don’t need to be seen”

 May miss opportunity to get in and later won’t be eligible

 “I already have a doctor”

 Can use non-VA care and VA Health Care at same time

 Back up or cafeteria style

More Benefits…

 Service Connection Claim in progress

 Can provide more documentation for claim

 Service Connection

 0%: No Copays

 Even scars can be service connected at 0%

 20%: Free Vocational Rehab, Books/Tuition, and living stipend  Homeless and 10% SC: Free Vocational Rehab

 Even if you don’t (or won’t ever need) VA Health Care

 Enrolling will help provide funding for another veteran  Not taking away care someone else could use, but will help provide more care for other veterans!

Thank you for your attention! Questions or Comments?

Jean Lighthall, MD Jean.lighthall@va.gov 650-690-6634 Kelly Conway, DNP , CNS

• Kelly. Conway@va.gov

650-387-5968