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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
Outpatient Care Services
Access to VA Care
Information about VA health care is available from the Veterans Service Center in Buffalo (first floor E Wing) and Batavia (G31) or by calling 1-888-823-9656.
Outpatient Primary Care
Every patient who enrolls with a VA health care facility is assigned to a primary care provider. This provider is part of a Primary Care Team designed to coordinate all of the services you need to meet your health care needs. Whether that team is located in a VA medical center or in one of our community based outpatient clinics, your primary care visit will be set up and scheduled at your convenience.
During your visit:
- You will meet your assigned primary care provider
- You will have a physical examination.
- Your primary care provider will determine if you need any additional diagnostic testing, which may include blood/lab work, X-ray, EKG, etc.
- A complete medical history will be obtained. Bring a list of your current medications.
- Initial screenings may be done regarding your use of tobacco, alcohol, risk factors for Hepatitis C, and any history of military sexual trauma.
- Appropriate referrals for specialists will be made as necessary.
Preventive health maintenance is a strong emphasis within primary care at VA. Primary care providers provide annual physical examinations and screenings. This aids in finding any health changes and the early start of appropriate medical treatment. This may prevent or lessen major medical problems for you in the future. You can expect your primary care provider to discuss preventive health activities such as:
- Vaccines: flu, tetanus, pneumonia
- Depression screening
- Women's health issues: regular Pap smears and mammograms
- Education on prostate cancer screening for men over 50
- Colon cancer screening for anyone over 50
- Regular exercise and good nutrition to keep you healthy
Primary care providers and teams also evaluate any emergency medical needs between scheduled visits, arrange medication refills, answer questions about medications and order consultation by specialists.
Our goal in primary care is to improve the coordination of your health care needs. This will allow our health care professionals to provide the best care possible.
Summary of basic medical care services provided
at the Buffalo and Batavia facilities:
- Primary Care
- Ophthalmology
- Social Work
- Pharmacy
- Dietetic Support
- Neurology*
- Optometry
- Diabetic Support
- Radiology
- Podiatry
- Pain Management (Chronic)*
- Spinal Cord Injury Care (SCI)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Dermatology
- Substance Abuse Program*
- Nuclear Medicine*
- GI Services
- Physical Therapy
- Home Based Primary Care
- Dental
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Occupational Therapy
- EKG/Stress Testing
- Women's Health Services
- Surgery (in and out patient)*
- Medical Laboratory Service
- Recreational Therapy
- Respiratory Therapy
- Audiology and Speech Therapy
- Residential Treatment Program for Substance Abuse
- Position Emission Tomography
- Sigmoidoscopy Screening (Batavia Only)
* Buffalo Only
These services are available Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some services have extended
hours that vary between facilities, such as the
outpatient blood (Phlebotomy) lab - Monday
through Friday 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. * If the service
you are interested in is not listed, call the Veterans
Service Center at (716) 862-8888 regarding its
availability.
*Buffalo only
Telcare
Telcare is an expanded telephone care program for enrolled Upstate New York veterans that can be used wherever you are, whenever you need help, by dialing toll-free 1-888-838-7890. A VA representative is available
24 hours a day to assist you with any medical,
eligibility, or appointment scheduling question
you may have. If you require emergency care, you
will be instructed on where to receive immediate
attention. If you need to be seen for non-emergent
care, you will be given a prompt appointment.
Emergency Care Services
In Buffalo, medical personnel are available in our
Emergency Department 24 hours a day, seven days
a week to treat patients with medically urgent needs.
The Emergency Department is located on the first
floor, D-Wing. Patients will be seen according to the
severity of their illness.
Clinic Appointments
Buffalo: To schedule an appointment call your primary care team 1 at (716) 862-3231 and primary care 2 at (716) 862-8796.
Batavia: To schedule an appointment call (585) 297-1050.
Please help us provide timely care to all veterans. If you cannot keep your appointment, notify your primary health care team or specialty clinic as soon as possible so we can schedule another veteran at that time and reschedule an appointment for you.
When reporting for a clinic appointment, we ask
that you check in no earlier than 15 minutes before
your scheduled appointment time. Every effort will
be made to see patients at their scheduled time; in
some cases this may not always be possible.
Community/Satellite Based Outpatient Clinics
VA Western New York Healthcare System
has VA staffed and contracted services in other communities
throughout this area to provide easy access for all
veterans. These clinics are affiliated with the
Medical Center and are committed to helping you
meet your health care needs. A health care team of
licensed providers, nurses and clerical staff will
provide primary care by monitoring your health
and educating you about preventive medicine.
VA satellite clinics are in place at various locations
and are staffed by VA personnel. Services vary at
each clinic. Call the Veterans Service Center at
1-888-823-9656 for more information.
Changing Your Provider
If your health care provider is no longer a member of the VA
Western New York Healthcare System, a letter will
be sent to you with the name of your new provider.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: August 23, 2007 |
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