The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ tele-emergency care is now available nationwide, a step that increases timely access to virtual emergency care options for veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. This expansion of care — piloted in recent months — has helped more than 61,182 callers with a 59.4% case resolution rate. This means veterans’ needs were resolved without having to travel from their homes to urgent care or an emergency department.
Tele-emergency care is a part of VA Health Connect, a phone service that veterans can call nationwide. Those who contact VA Health Connect will speak to a clinical triage nurse, who will connect them to tele-emergency care when clinically appropriate. Tele-EC providers will then evaluate the veteran over the phone or on video and recommend treatment or follow-up, including if in-person care is needed.
This expansion is a part of VA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand access to timely, world-class care for veterans. For more details, visit va.gov.
