James E. Van Zandt Veterans' Administration Medical Center

Our Audiology and Speech Pathology clinic provides diagnostic and rehabilitative services, 

VA compensation and pension examinations, and screening for employee hearing conservation screenings. 

We offer a full range of audiology and speech pathology services like : 

• Hearing and balance evaluations 
• Selection, management, and repair of hearing aids and  listening device assessments  
• Evaluation, programming, and management of cochlear implants and bone-anchored implants 
• Evaluation and treatment for auditory processing disorder 
• Services that help with speech, language, fluency, voice, cognitive communication, swallowing, stuttering, and laryngectomy (surgical removal of the larynx, which contains your vocal cords) 

Learn more about hearing aids through VA

Our low vision program can assess your needs and provide a rehab plan tailored to your personal goals. Our team of specialists and social workers will work with you to find the right aids and services, including:

• Complete eye exams and low vision evaluation
• Visual skills assessments
• Guidance on how to develop visual motor and perceptual skills
• Training to help you manage daily activities with your vision loss
• Support and adjustment counseling for you and your family

To be eligible for services, you must be honorably  discharged from the military and diagnosed as visually impaired or legally blind by a VA doctor.

• COVID-19 vaccines for eligible Veterans and staff

We perform non-invasive and minimally invasive tests and procedures that check, support, and improve your heart health. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan and treat you with the most effective medications. 

Our services will:

• Evaluate you for coronary heart disease, heart-valve disease, and heart defects
• Determine how well blood flows through your heart vessels or find the cause of your heart failure
• Treat your heart vessels with non-surgical or minimally invasive operations that open and support them through balloon angioplasty or stent placement
• Monitor you for changes in heart rhythm, using electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs), portable Holt monitors, or ultrasound
• Perform surgical treatments like pacemakers or heart catheters

Caregiver support has two programs available for Veterans and their caregivers.

PROGRAM OF GENERAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES (PGCSS)

• The veteran does NOT need to have a service connected condition, for which the caregiver service is needed, AND Served during any era.

PROGRAM OF COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS (PCAFC)

• Requires a veteran or servicemember to have served on/after September 11, 2001 OR on/before May 7, 1975 to:
• Have a serious injury/illness that was incurred/aggravated in the line of duty
• Have at least a 70% SC [single or combined]

                                   AND

• Be in need of daily personal care services based on an inability to perform an ADL each time it is performed.

                                AND/OR

• Have a need for supervision, protection, or instruction.

Learn more and connect with a support coordinator

If you are eligible for VA dental care, we offer a full range of quality dental services such as:

● Routine exams and teeth cleaning 

● Restorative procedures, including  fillings and crowns

● Comprehensive surgical care, including  extractions (pulling teeth) and oral cancer screening

● Routine and advanced prosthodontic care, including  bridges, dentures, and dental implants 

● Routine and advanced periodontal care, including root canals, gum treatments, and supporting bone care

● Oral and facial reconstruction surgery to repair damage from traumatic injury or serious illness

We provide care for many medical and surgical skin conditions. Our dermatology services include:

• Treatment of medically necessary skin conditions,  such as skin cancer and rashes
• Specialized treatments for acute and chronic skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, warts, and fungal diseases
• Evaluation, biopsy, and treatment of cancerous or pre-cancerous skin conditions, such as  moles and lesions that show abnormal growth or appearance
• Referrals for complex conditions
• Teledermatology (a telehealth resource), which provides patients quick access to expert opinions

We assess your situation and condition to decide which outpatient geriatric services are right for you or a senior Veteran in your care and then we coordinate your care. Our team of specialists provides geriatric services that include:

• Medicine and nursing
• Psychology, psychiatry, and social work
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease care

Learn more about VA long-term care

Our gynecologists focus on the female reproductive system and provide services, such as:

• Mammograms for breast cancer, screenings for sexually transmitted disease, and Pap tests for cervical cancer
• Counseling and treatment for contraception, pregnancy, and infertility
• Osteoporosis screening for brittle bones
• Exams for abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, or various cancers
• Primary care checkups

Learn more about our Woman's Health Services

We help Veterans who are homeless, or those at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, depression, or transition from jail. Contact one of our care coordinators to get help with: 

• Immediate food and shelter needs, including both transitional and permanent housing
• Job training, life skills development, and education
• Justice system navigation and community reentry from jail
• Financial support to prevent homelessness
• Addiction and depression treatment
• Health and dental care

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We promote the health, welfare, and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Veterans and their families. We focus on ensuring a safe, welcoming, and affirmative environment when providing you with sensitive and high-quality health care services like:

• Hormone therapy
• Substance use and alcohol treatment
• Testing and treatment for HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections)
• Mental health care
• Psycho-social assessments for gender-confirming surgeries and hormone therapy

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services. Our laboratory and pathology (study of disease) services include:

• Study of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for illness management
• Testing for infectious diseases
• Cytopathology (study of unusual cells) and surgical pathology (study of tissue removed during surgery) 
• Autopsy services

Our medical center and clinics provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being. Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for:

• Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression
• Marriage and relationship problems
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety, addictive behaviors, and personality disorders
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator
 

We offer care for military sexual trauma in our mental (behavioral) health clinics. Military sexual trauma refers to sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other threatening, offensive, or unwanted sexual advances, activities, or remarks that you experienced in the military. Our goal is to help you improve your quality of life with strategies to manage emotions and memories related to your military sexual trauma. Our services include:

• Counseling
• Psychiatric care
• Walk-in care

Learn more about military sexual trauma.

If you’re a minority Veteran, we can help you get the services and benefits you need. Our Minority Veterans Program serves all Veterans who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Island Americans). Our  program does not process claims or handle employment complaints, but we work to:

• Inform minority Veterans of VA benefits, services, and programs
• Help resolve conflicts
• Eliminate or reduce barriers keeping minority Veterans from receiving their benefits
• Create a more accessible environment for minority Veterans

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator 

My HealtheVet is a web-based tool you can use to manage your care and improve your health from your computer or mobile device.  If you need help using My HealtheVet, you can contact our coordinator by phone or in person. With My HealtheVet, you can:

• Ask questions and exchange secure online messages with your VA health care team
• Check your lab and test results
• Refill your prescriptions, track delivery, and view a list of your medications
• Keep track of your VA medical appointments and get email reminders
• View, download, or print a copy of your VA medical records
• Enter or update your personal information

Learn more and register for My HealtheVet

We provide inpatient and outpatient services for chronic diseases and disorders that affect your brain, spine, and the nerves that connect them. Our neurologists read electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which measure the electrical impulses brain cells use to communicate with each other. We evaluate and treat many neurological illnesses and disorders such as:  

• Neuropathy (nerve damage), myelopathy and other spinal cord injuries, and radiculopathy (pinched nerves)
• Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis
• Stroke, dementia, and degenerative diseases
• Other neurological conditions 

Nutrition, food, and dietary

Our registered dietitians can help you maintain or improve your health with good nutrition tailored to your needs. Through group, individual, and telehealth sessions, we provide nutrition education and counseling in areas such as: 

• Cardiovascular and heart health
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes (including gestational diabetes)
• Eating disorders and digestive health
• Pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
• Weight management

We offer comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for eye-related illnesses, injuries, and other issues. Our ophthalmology services include:  

• Medical care for glaucoma, eye infections, and other conditions 
• Surgery for cataracts, traumatic eye injuries, and other problems
• Treatment for eye conditions related to illnesses like diabetes or arthritis 
• Plastic surgery to repair droopy eyelids, clear blocked tear ducts, and reconstruct eyelids and surrounding area (oculoplastics)

Our optometrists provide many eye-related services and treatments like: 

• Vision services and eye exams
• Treatment for diseases and injuries of the retina, cornea, and other parts of your eye
• Low-vision services for conditions like macular degeneration that can’t be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication
• Special eye exams for patients with diabetes    

We use surgical and nonsurgical means to treat illnesses and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue. We treat conditions like: 

• Musculoskeletal trauma
• Progressive and worsening illnesses
• Sports injuries

We evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of ear, nose, and throat conditions like:

• Nasal and sinus problems
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Throat, lymph node, thyroid, and parathyroid tumors and other conditions
• Voice and swallowing disorders

Our palliative and hospice care services support you and your family as you cope with a life-threatening or terminal illness. Palliative care works to provide comfort, reduce suffering, and improve the quality of life for patients being treated for serious illnesses. Hospice care focuses on helping patients with terminal illnesses to manage the final stages of their lives. Our palliative and hospice care services include:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support for you and your family
• Help with practical issues that include an advance directive (living will), health care power of attorney, funeral arrangements, and applying for VA death and burial benefits
• Education to help you and your family make informed health care decisions and know what to expect as your health declines
• Bereavement care to help surviving family members during the grieving process

Our patient advocates work hard to make sure you receive the best possible care at our health care facilities. 
They can:

• Help you get answers or address concerns with your care team  
• Advocate for patient and family rights
• Serve as advocates for minority Veterans, women Veterans, and Veterans with disabilities

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

Our pharmacists safely and effectively fill thousands of prescriptions each day.  We only fill new prescriptions in person at the pharmacy window, but you can refill your current prescriptions 3 different ways:

• Online at My HealtheVet. You need a user ID and password to log in, which you receive after creating your personal profile on My HealtheVet.
• By phone through our automated refill service. Call 814-940-7829 or  800-720-7726 to order refills at least 10 days before you need the refill. You need your Social Security number and prescription number to complete the process.
• By mail. Each prescription comes with refill request slips. Please mail your requests at least 14 days before you need a new supply.

Learn more about our pharmacy

Our physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors and therapists focus on whole-body health. We offer wheelchair, amputee, and physical therapy triage clinics. We can help you manage your pain, increase your independence, and improve your quality of life through:      

• Physical and occupational therapy
• Audiology (hearing)
• Kinesiotherapy (movement therapy)      
• Prosthetics (artificial limbs)
• Recreation therapy
• Speech therapy

Learn more about rehabilitation services

Physical therapy, occupational therapy and kinesiotherapy can help restore movement and function if you have been disabled by injury or disease.

If you’re living with or recovering from an injury, illness, or chronic (long lasting) condition that limits your mobility and independence, we can help. Our physical, occupational, and movement therapists combine therapeutic exercise, counseling, education, and training to help you improve your health and quality of life. Our services include:

• Pain relief and joint mobilization
• Movement and exercise therapies to improve your strength, endurance, balance, and coordination
• Mobility assessment and training with wheelchairs, scooters, and walking devices
• Life skills training and activities to help you maintain the highest level of independence and functionality
• Evaluation and treatment for a wide range of medical, orthopedic, psychosocial, and neurological conditions

Our podiatry specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of injuries, diseases and disorders that affect your feet and ankles—from ingrown toenails to inflammation to diabetic foot ulcers.

After years of walking, running, marching, jumping, rappelling, and parachuting, many Veterans experience trouble with their feet and ankles. We can help treat those problems so you can continue to enjoy an active lifestyle. Our podiatry services include:

• Arthritis care for inflamed, swollen, or damaged joints
• Foot and ankle fractures treatment; cartilage,  tendons, and ligaments repair    
• Injections to reduce pain and swelling                      
• Arthroplasty to surgically repair, reconstruction, or replace joints
• Minimally invasive surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation                        
• Foot health maintenance like bunion removal, resurfacing, and nail trimming

Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life, including immunizations and vaccinations. They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you.

We offer primary care at all of our VA  health care facilities. We take a team approach to health care that centers on you. You’ll work with family members, caregivers, and health care professionals to create a plan for your lifelong health and wellness. Your primary care team also coordinates other services as part of your care like:                            

• Labs, blood work, and immunizations           
• Mental health care                                                                 
• Radiology and cancer screenings
• Women’s health care
• Nutrition, weight counseling, and quitting smoking and tobacco use
• Social services             

We provide and help you use medical aids, hearing aids, state-of-the-art adaptive home equipment and other equipment to help you preserve and increase your mobility and independence.

VA is the world’s largest and most comprehensive provider of sensory aides and prosthetic devices. Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system and referred by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician can receive a full range of services and equipment like: 

• Artificial limbs and surgical implants, including artificial joints and pacemakers
• Wheelchairs and other medical devices
• Aids for Veterans who are blind, have low vision, or are hearing impaired
• Adaptive equipment and modifications to make your vehicle or home more accessible
• Other devices and services to help increase your mobility, dignity, and independence
• Clothing allowance for Veterans with devices that damage their clothing

Our pulmonary medicine team treats diseases and conditions that affect the lungs and breathing, including asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sleep apnea.

If you find it difficult to breathe or sleep, our pulmonary (lung) specialists can help. We offer education, exercises, and treatments like:

• Oxygen therapy to help you stay active and breathe better
• Pulmonary rehabilitation to build your strength and increase lung capacity
• Healthy diets to help you manage your weight and improve energy
• Strategies to help you increase your feelings of control, optimism, and self-esteem
• Tests to measure your lung function, lung volume, and blood gas

We offer radiology and imaging services to diagnose and treat many medical conditions. Our services include:          

• X-ray  
• Ultrasound
• Mammography (mammograms)         
• Computer tomography (CT)  
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)  

We want to help Veterans live safe, independent lives at home as they recover from extended illnesses. Veterans in stable condition with chronic (long-lasting) health problems can also receive long-term care at our community living center. We offer several care options:

• Home-based primary care visits from our health care team
• Remote health monitoring by computer or telephone
• Respite care for family caregivers who need a break
• Daily living assistance with bathing, dressing, and cooking
• Skilled nursing and medical care

If you’re returning from military service, we can help you readjust to civilian life and get started with VA health care. We can also help connect you with programs like mental health services and education and career counseling.

We can help you readjust to civilian life if you’re returning from military service, on active duty, or an activated National Guard or Reserve member. Talk to one of our care coordinators about how to best use your health care benefits.

• Polytrauma care (if you have multiple traumatic injuries)
• Counseling and rehabilitation            
• Mental and behavioral health services                                               
• Family benefits counseling and assistance    
• Referral assistance    

Learn more about health care benefits for returning service members

If you are trying to quit smoking or want to stop using tobacco, we can help you with support, resources and programs.

When you quit smoking or chewing tobacco, you lower your blood pressure, improve lung function, and reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Quitting isn’t easy, but more than half of adult smokers have quit successfully. You can, too, with these resources:

• Medication. We can provide FDA-approved medications to manage nicotine withdrawal and the urge to smoke.
• Counseling. Medication combined with counseling, in person or over the phone, offers you the best chance to quit smoking and stay tobacco-free.
• Tobacco Cessation Quitline. Call to make your quit plan, get individual counseling, and develop strategies to stay off tobacco.
• SmokefreeVET. This text message program offers you daily advice and interactive support.
• Stay Quit Coach. This mobile app helps you to quit smoking and stay smoke-free.

Social work is integral to health care. We can help you and your family manage stress-related problems due to injury or illness, and find VA community resources to meet your needs like:

• Home health services     
• Legal services    
• Transportation     
• Community living     

Our one-on-one counseling, family conferences, and group classes can also help you and your family:

• Manage drug, alcohol, and emotional problems
• Understand and adjust to chronic (long-lasting) illness or disability
• Prepare advance directives and durable powers of attorney for health care or finances
• Cope with a terminal illness
• Make informed decisions about legal issues including commitment and guardianship

We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis. We offer:

• Suicide prevention care coordinators
• Suicide prevention case managers
• Gun safety locks

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

If you are having surgery, we make sure that your procedure and follow-up care are safe and high-quality.

We provide a wide range of surgical services, like:

• General surgery          
• Anesthesia      
• Cardiac surgery (heart and major blood vessels)
• Neurosurgery (brain, spinal column, and nerves)
• Orthopedic surgery (bones, muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons)

We use the latest in secure digital technology to set up remote visits with our health care providers. We offer video conferencing, home telehealth services, and store-and-forward telehealth that lets you securely send your health information to experts at VA facilities. We offer telehealth visits with providers in:                            

• Mental health                   
• Retinal care (eye)                           
• Bariatric surgery (visit remotely with your weight-loss surgery team before and after your operation)       
• Dermatology                     
• Rehabilitation   
• Primary care

We provide a quick screening to identify any potential exposures to toxins during your military service. The screening takes 5 to 10 minutes. We’ll inform you and your VA health care team of any possible exposures. We’ll also connect you to more resources if you have any concerns.

If you’re traveling for VA-approved care, we can repay you for the cost of using regular transportation that includes cars, planes, trains, buses, taxis, rideshare, or light rail. You may also be eligible for repayment when using ambulances, wheelchair vans, or ambulettes (non-emergency medical transportation).

Learn more about VA  travel program

We provide immediate, walk-in care for minor injuries and non-emergency illnesses that are not life-threatening but need early attention.

Our urgent care clinic offers walk-in health care when you need help right away, but it isn't an emergency. Urgent care doesn’t replace your primary care doctor, but we can help you when your doctor’s office is closed and you need to see a health care professional right away. Medical conditions treated include:

• Colds, flu, and strep throat
• Sinus, ear, and eye infections
• Minor injuries and muscle strains
• Rashes and skin infections

Learn more about urgent care services

We evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of urology diseases and conditions that include kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, prostate cancer, and more. We provide you with medical care, surgery, and minimally invasive procedures for health issues that affect:

• Kidneys
• Bladder
• Ureter and urethra
• Male reproductive organs 

We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings, mental health treatment, recovery from military sexual trauma, maternity care and female-specific medical equipment.

Our women's health program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages. Our primary care providers specialize in women’s health. They work closely with specialists in gynecology, obstetrics, female urology, oncology, medicine, radiology, surgery, and breast illness. Our services for women Veterans include:                           

• Maternity care during pregnancy, childbirth education classes, and postpartum support after your child is born     
• Ultrasounds, mammograms, Pap, and HPV screening
• Mental health care and counseling
• Lifestyle wellness services
• Menopause treatment, including hormonal therapy
• Family planning, contraceptive care, and infertility evaluation

Learn more and connect with a Women Veterans Program Manager

We provide thoughtful, compassionate diagnosis and treatment for Veterans with acute or chronic wounds or those who need ostomy care.

We offer self-management classes for Veterans undergoing ostomy surgery, which makes a hole in the abdomen to allow feces or urine to leave the body. Our wound care clinic also specializes in treating non-healing and complex wounds caused by problems such as:

• Diabetes
• Poor circulation
• Surgical incisions
• Amputation
• Pressure wounds caused by spending too much time in one position