The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made public, March 27, the COVID-19 Response Plan it is executing within its medical facilities to protect Veterans, their families and staff.

VA deems the plan a valuable tool that’s useful for the nationwide medical community.

The “For Official Use Only” designation has been removed from the plan, making it publicly available. This access allows medical providers across the country to review, learn from and provide feedback, as the nation works to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“VA has a world-class medical team doing incredible work on the frontlines of this fight,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “We will continue to share best practices and lessons learned with other government agencies and the private health care system as appropriate so we can defeat COVID-19 as a nation.”

VA has shifted some outpatient care to telehealth, and some elective and non-emergent procedures have been postponed. This enables Veterans to receive care through minimal contact with staff, saves time and reduces the need for personal protective equipment, making those resources available for critical use.

Additionally, VA will begin to implement two zones within all inpatient units: one for dedicated staff and space to care for COVID-19 patients; the second will be a zone for all other care. These overall changes are aimed at minimizing the risk of infection as VA’s medical professionals make decisions based on what’s appropriate for the given environment and situation.

For the latest information about coronavirus visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To learn more on how VA is responding to COVID-19 visit our Coronavirus FAQs page or read VA’s public health response.

Veterans, their families and staff members are urged to take everyday precautions to protect against respiratory illness caused by COVID-19. Those exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath should call their VA medical center before going to a clinic to limit risk of exposure.

Read VA’s COVID-19 response plan here.

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6 Comments

  1. Raleigh Paulson April 22, 2020 at 10:25

    The leader of the VA is an idiot. Given false hope to remedies, that are unproven. Ideology is not medicine!

  2. Jeffrey Wansley March 30, 2020 at 09:33

    The VA as a whole continues to withhold certain information that veterans should know about. The E.R. is the worst of the lot here at the West Palm Beach VAMC. A brand new Dom opened recently which I reside in and attend groups for treatment of substance abuse which for me is alcohol. The staff here are treating like guinea pigs. Can you imagine that??,
    Someone with authority best step in and put a stop to this BULLSHT.

  3. Vincent Willenberg March 29, 2020 at 00:37

    I don’t like having to talk my councilor over the phone .It doesn’t seem very private to me at all ?

  4. James tobleck March 27, 2020 at 20:32

    Since censorship is your game , street justice will be mine from now on.

  5. James tobleck March 27, 2020 at 20:29

    I already posted it and you’ve censored me again. Director new promotion after a failure to solve numerous problems in West Michigan. My own 43 year 9 month delay in knee replacement ,numerous unpaid bills by VA, TRIWEST, outright lieing to a room full of vets at the VFW. Setting an example its ok to cheat vets by Patient advocates ,phone system worse than third world. The constant churning of doctors ,P A s as primary doctor is foolish, confusing for ordering meds. Typical VA bullsht.The failure of OIG to investigate crimes , take evidence to investigate or contact me. Zero help. There is no justice in the VA.

  6. S W March 27, 2020 at 20:28

    According to this documentation separate areas were supposed to be set up to deal with virus infected vs injured, non-virus infected. VISN 1 Maine, Togus VAMC failed miserably!! The care-giver for a disabled vet had to tell the E.D. they needed to have one or two rooms set aside specifically for injured people. Those nurses, or a doctor, had a well gee we never thought of that answer and told the care-giver they would do that right away.
    It’s written right here in the document you were hiding from the public, and that VA employees should have read!! Also, all through this document it states that care will continue to be provided for ALL veterans. A lie! Any veteran who doesn’t have a sniffle is being turned away and told their appointments are being cancelled, period. The clinics will get back to them in 60 days to reschedule. Clinics aren’t even offering patients either a phone consult or a video consult. So you’ve lied again about providing continued care for all veterans.
    When you treat our troops, VETERANS, this way it’s no wonder the suicide rate is high. I’d be interested to know if those suicide rates increased during this whole situation. But you, VA, most likely won’t tell anyone, you’ll try to hide the facts and sweep it under the rug.

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