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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
Hospital Services
Veterans Service Center (VSC)
The Veterans Service Center is located in Buffalo
on the first floor, E-Wing. The VSC provides onestop
service for veterans who need to update their
insurance, home address, financial information,
means-testing etc. If you have a question about
inpatient or outpatient co-payment billing, the
VSC will help answer your questions. Benefits
counseling is available. The Patient Representative
and the TRICARE Coordinator can be reached
through the VSC.
At Batavia, the VSC is located on the 1st floor,
building #1.
To reach the VSC, call toll free 1-888-823-9656.
Pharmacy Services
Inpatient Pharmacy.
Pharmacy service is part of your health care team. It
is available to all hospitalized patients. Pharmacists
are available to provide medication counseling to
you, your doctor, and hospital staff. Pharmacists will
provide medication information such as dosage and
possible side effects or make suggestions for different
drugs to best treat your condition. They are
available to review your medications with you
before you are discharged from the hospital. Tell
your health care team if you need to speak with a
pharmacist.
Outpatient Pharmacy. The outpatient pharmacy service is only available to
veteran patients with prescriptions written by VA doctors. TRICARE Health Plan patients must use a
TRICARE pharmacy. The VA is not a TRICARE
pharmacy.
Buffalo
First floor: E-Wing (near the Emergency Department)
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sunday and government holidays:
only for emergency situations.
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Batavia
Ground floor in Building #1
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday and government holidays: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. only for emergency situations.
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Mail refills are highly encouraged. You can order
refills by:
- Calling (716) 862-7933, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Auto refill by calling (716) 862-6581 anytime, or
toll-free 1-800-532-8387, seven days a week. You
will need to have your social security number and
prescription number ready.
- Mailing the prescription renewal form to the VA
Western New York Healthcare System, 3495 Bailey
Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14215. Prescription
will be mailed back to you.
- Drop your refill requests in the pharmacy mailbox
any time you are in the hospital.
- Order online through My HealtheVet at www.myhealth.va.gov. You must be a registered user to utilize this service.
You may check on the status of any prescription or
refill by dialing the automated number (716) 862-6581.
Your health care provider will decide how many times you can
refill a prescription. Medications are not automatically
refilled. Plan ahead and request your refill
early so you do not run out.
Pastoral Care and Services
VA Chaplains provide religious care to all
patients and their families. The service includes
Catholic, Jewish and Protestant chaplains. The
chaplain motivates through religious guidance and
counseling, meaningful use of the patient’s beliefs
attitudes in the management of his/her illness. Patient
care takes a holistic approach, which includes
support for the seriously ill, pre-surgery patients, the
dying patient and family, as well as bereavement
counseling.
Chaplains visit the ward regularly and are available
for private consultation.
Patients can ask for written materials from the
chaplain to assist them during their stay at the
Medical Center. The chapel is open Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., all day
Saturday, and after 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
The chaplains’ offices in Buffalo are located on the
third floor, A-Wing. The chapel is located on the
third floor, D-Wing, room 324D. For chaplain
information or to request a visit:
Chaplain Protestant
Catholic
Jewish
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Room 305A extension 8653
Room 305A2 extension 8654
Room 305A2 extension 8653
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A Musallah Room is available 24 hours/day in room
321A. A prayer rug and Qu’ran are available in the
Musallah Room.
In Batavia, the chapel is located on the first floor,
building #2, across from the library. The chaplain’s
office is located in building #1, first floor, room 113
or by calling ext. 7238.
Voluntary Service
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Voluntary
Service (VAVS) program includes individuals and
community groups who voluntarily give their time
and resources to benefit veterans in the inpatient and
outpatient areas.
You’ll know the voluntary staff by the gold jackets
and gold badges that they wear. VAVS volunteers
visit the wards daily. They assist with transportation
to tests, shopping, letter writing, and other personal
services. In special circumstances, VAVS will provide
toiletries and comfort items to patients in need. The
goal of the VAVS is to provide these and other services
to you to make your hospital stay more comfortable.
In Buffalo, call (716) 862-8672 to request a
visit, book cart or other items. In Batavia, call (585) 297-1196.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call the
above number in your area for more information.
DAV Transportation
The DAV Volunteer Transportation Network provides transportation for veterans to VA appointments. You must be a veteran to use the service. Pick-up time is 7:30 a.m. for appointments between 8:30 a.m. and noon. No transportation is available for afternoon appointments. A two-week notification is requested for this volunteer service. Without prior notice, drivers and/or vehicles may not be available.
The DAV Volunteer Transportation Network at Buffalo is located at the outpatient care entrance. The phone number is (716) 862-6544. Report back to the travel desk as soon as your medical appointment is complete and your prescriptions are filled. You must call ahead to schedule a pick-up. For return trip arrangements use extension 6544. In Batavia, call (585) 297-1170 or go to building #1, first floor. For more information contact our DAV Volunteer Hospital Service Coordinator.
Food Court
The Buffalo Food Court is located in the basement.
It is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00
p.m., Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and closed on
Sundays and holidays. Inpatients are asked not to
visit the Food Court weekdays between 11:00 a.m. -
1:00 p.m.
In Batavia, the Food Court is located on the ground
floor, building #1. It is open 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday and closed Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays.
The Food Court offers a variety of hot and cold items.
Retail Store
The Retail Store in Buffalo offers a wide variety of
services and merchandise. It is open Monday
through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday 7:30
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The
Retail Store is closed on Sundays and holidays. It
is located in the basement, right of the elevator
core area.
At Batavia, the store is located in building #1 on
the ground floor. It is open 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, and closed on Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays.
Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)
In Buffalo, an automatic teller machine is located in
the front lobby (Bailey Avenue entrance). Batavia
does not have an ATM.
Barber Service
The barbershop in Buffalo is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The barbershop
is located in the basement, A-Wing. The barbershop
can be reached by calling extension 5516.
At Batavia, the barbershop is located in building #1, on the ground floor. It is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or by calling (585) 297-1000 ext. 72912. Barber- Mike Deni.
Canteen Books
Canteen books are available for patients to use
during their hospital stay. They can be purchased in
the Retail Store and used at the food court, Retail
Store and for barber services. Patients and families
are encouraged to purchase these books instead of
keeping money at the bedside. Should an inpatient
require extra financial assistance, the Voluntary
Service Office can be contacted in Buffalo at (716)
862-8677 or in Batavia at (585) 297-1197.
Newspapers
Newspapers can be purchased in the Buffalo Food
Court and Retail Store.
In Batavia, newspapers can be purchased from the
machines located by the patio entrance, building #4.
Newspapers are also available in the library at
each facility.
Vending Machines
Vending machines are available 24 hours a day. In
Buffalo, machines are in the basement, first floor E-Wing
lobby, fourth floor core and the sixth floor between A and D Wings. In Batavia,
vending machines are located in building #1, ground
floor. Change machines are also available in the
vending areas.
Shuttle Services
Shuttle services are available for veteran patients.
The shuttle operates Monday through Friday
between Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester. The
schedule is posted in the outpatient area. Complete
a request form for this service.
Patient Education Skills Center – Buffalo
The Skills Center is open Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
It is also open Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
It is located on the third floor, A-Wing, room 309A.
The phone number is (716) 862-8645. The Center has two
New York State certified teachers who can help you
with reading, writing, math, and language skills.
You can prepare for your high school equivalency
exam, get help with college work, learn how to type,
work on the computer, or surf the internet. If you
need help with a resume or practicing your interviewing
skills, come to the Basic Skills Center. All
work is individualized.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).
CCTV is available to all clinics and at each bedside
at Buffalo and Batavia. In addition to regular TV
programming, a movie channel is available to you 24 hours a day.
On-Demand Television Health Information Programming
See health information videos by “dialing” them up at your bedside
or in your primary care waiting area at the Buffalo
VA. This video information is available by tuning
your television to channels 25 through 30 and dialing
5018 on your phone. If you need assistance, ask a
member of your health care team. In Batavia, tune
your TV to channel 15 or 16 and dial **777.
Health Touch Kiosks
Health Touch is an interactive education center. It
provides current information on medications, disease
topics, lifestyle issues, wellness, and nutrition. The
system features a unique, interactive, touch system
that is easy-to-use. Information is available in
English and Spanish. In Buffalo, Health Touch is
located outpatient pharmacy area.
Patient Education Resource Center.
The Buffalo Patient Education Resource Center (PERC) is open 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located on fourth floor core. The entire center is devoted to patient health education and general resources. You can read/consult health reference books and materials, view videos about your health and wellness concerns, get written information to take home with you, and use the computers to access the world wide web. The PERC is staffed by volunteers from “Us Too of Western New York,” prostate cancer information and support group.
In Batavia, there is a patient library located in
building #1, first floor by calling ext. 7306.
Roll ‘n Scroll
Check the TV screens located throughout the Buffalo
and Batavia sites for information concerning
special veteran events and other services.
Absentee Voting
Veterans who are registered voters and expect to
be hospitalized for an extended time
can request the social worker's assistance to contact your County's Board of Elections for an application for an absentee ballot. The procedure must
be completed a few weeks prior to Election Day.
Release of Information/Correspondence
Release of all medical information (labs, x-rays, hospital records, disability and/or insurance forms) must first be referred through the Correspondence Office. In Buffalo, the office is located on the first floor C-Wing and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You can contact the office directly at (716) 862-6304 or extension 6305.
In Batavia, the Release of Information Office is
located in building #1, ground floor near the
admission area. It is open Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You can contact the office
directly at (585) 297-2925.
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
VA Western New York Healthcare System is
equipped with Telecommunications Devices for the
Deaf. There is one TDD telephone, number (716)
862-8985. In Buffalo, it is located at the main
switchboard office on the first floor.
In Batavia, there is a TDD pay phone available in building
#1 ground floor, outpatient area near the pharmacy window. Additional devices are located in rooms 114 and 115.
Interpreter Services
Interpreter services for deaf and speech-impaired
veterans can be arranged through your health
care team.
Guide Dogs and Service Dogs
Guide dogs and service dogs are raised and trained
to assist the blind and physically disabled. Individuals
depend on these dogs for security and
confidence. If you have a working dog and require
its assistance during your stay, please contact the
nurse manager who will discuss your request with
the Visual Impairment Services Team and make
appropriate arrangements.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: August 23, 2007 |
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