Health Care Happenings

          Are you a veteran enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care system?

          Are you registered with “My Healthe Vet?”

If not, the VA would like you to make some New Year’s resolutions to help you get active in your health care, online.

If you are registered, VA would like to help you upgrade your account so you can be even more active in your care.

Here’s what they’d like you to know:

#1: Improve Yourself: The VA offers Veterans, active duty Service members, their dependents and caregivers the gift of My HealtheVet, VA’s award-winning online Personal Health Record. Access is easy and convenient anywhere the Internet is available. With My HealtheVet, users access trusted and secure VA health information to better manage their health care and facts about other VA benefits and services. My HealtheVet helps Veterans partner with their health care teams and provides them opportunities and tools to make informed decisions. Simply follow the directions to register today .

#2: Improve Your Access: If you are already a My HealtheVet user and a VA patient, get an upgraded account! An upgraded account allows Veterans enrolled at a VA health care facility access to advanced features of My HealtheVet and links their Personal Health Record with information from their VA electronic health record. To access advanced features, Veterans must complete a one-time process called In-Person Authentication or “IPA.” This includes making a visit to their VA facility to verify their identity in person. After completing the IPA, VA patients can use My HealtheVet to:

o Refill VA prescriptions by name, not just by the prescription number
o Access a blended view of their VA and non-VA medications
o Receive VA Wellness Reminders
o Access new features as they become available

#3: Improve Your Online Activity with VA: Expected in 2010, VA patients that have completed the IPA process will view their VA appointments, VA lab test results, and VA list of allergies. They also may communicate electronically with their health care teams through “Secure Messaging” as this feature becomes available at their VA facility.

So register today on My HealtheVet, complete In-Person Authentication, and make your 2010 a healthy, happy and active year with your VA.

After all, it’s quick, easy and it’s for you!