For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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VA using postcards to tell patients of appointments
Question: I received a postcard appointment notice from the VA Medical Center instead of the usual letter. Is this a new procedure?
Answer: The VA new postcard reminder, instead of a letter, has many advantages including being easier to read, smaller in size and sealed for privacy. It supplies improved provider and clinic information and includes important telephone numbers. In the past, veterans have been receiving a letter with multiple appointments. Now they will be receiving a separate card for each clinic appointment that is scheduled at the medical center or the neighbor island clinics. Veterans will be receiving both the card and a letter for a short time period until the transfer over to the new system is complete. Veterans are reminded that if for some reason they cannot keep the scheduled appointment to call 433-0600 to cancel. To obtain additional information on the appointment system or for answers to questions on the new postcard appointment reminder, call the VA Medical Clinic at 433-0600.
Q: What VA services are available to female veterans?
A: A full range of comprehensive medical services are available, including: health promotion and disease prevention; primary care; women's gender-specific health care, such as hormone replacement therapy, breast and gynecological care, maternity and limited infertility (excluding in-vitro fertilization); acute medical/surgical, telephone triage, emergency and substance abuse treatment, mental health, domiciliary, rehabilitation and long-term care. For more information on what is available for female veterans, call either the Honolulu VA Regional Office at (800) 827-1000, or the VA Medical Center at 433-0600.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.