Local Healthcare

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The Local VA Hospital System

The Lehigh Valley has two VA community based outpatient clinics, satellites of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center (VAMC).

  • The Allentown VA Outpatient Clinic is located at 3110 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18103. Its telephone number is 610-776-4304 or Toll Free 1-866-249-6472.
  • The Northampton County Outpatient Clinic (aka “Bangor” Clinic) is located at Phoebe Slate Belt Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, 701 Slate Belt Boulevard, Bangor, PA 18013-9341. Call 610-599-0127. It is not a full service primary clinic like Allentown’s.
  • The Wilkes-Barre VAMC is located at 1111 East End Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA  18711. Call 570-824-3521 or Toll Free: 1-877-928-2621 for medical center needs.

Suicide Prevention/Emotional Crisis Assistance

If you are or a veteran you know is experiencing an emotional crisis and need to talk with a trained professional, the primary way to get prompt VA service is to use the National Suicide Prevention toll-free hotline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 after the introduction to obtain a VA counselor (If you do not press 1, you will speak to a non-VA contact). The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service will later connect you with a local point of contact for follow-up. It really has worked in our area.

VA Veterans Center Local Outreach Station: VA Veterans Centers operate on an outpatient basis and are a mental health alternative conducted in a non-medical setting. The Scranton Veterans Center operates an outreach center at Nazareth twice a month. To arrange for counseling, contact Mike DeLuzio, tel:1-866-776-1516. For more information about this service visit www.vetcenter.va.gov/ .

Give an Hour: A nonprofit organization that provides mental health services down to the local area level of various kinds to those individuals who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan–and their families—who need help dealing with the effects of wartime service. Also leads to additional veterans services and other resources. Check “For Visitors.” You start from the web and get a live person to contact.

VA’s Five Year Combat Veteran Program

Here’s the information you need to know about the VA’s Five-Year Combat Veteran Program if you cannot find it elsewhere. Even if not considered combat veteran, you should apply under the regular program as early as possible. The earlier you enroll, the easier for you to establish a condition related to service.

OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager

For our area, the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OEF) Healthcare Program Manager is Colleen Kaskel, tel: 1-877-928-2621 ext 7803, at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center.  Although originally intended to assist the seriously injured, the program will help other returning veterans seeking assistance regarding healthcare or related to getting it.

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Patient Advocate

If you feel your concerns are not being addressed by your treatment team, you may contact a VA Patient Advocate.  A Patient Advocate is an employee who is specifically designated at each VHA facility to manage the feedback received from veterans, family members and friends.  The Patient Advocate works directly with management and employees to facilitate resolutions. The Patient Advocate for the Allentown Clinic is Iain Thompson, Supervisory Medical Administrative Specialist, Healthcare Admin Services, tel: 610-776-4373.

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Family Caregiver Program

On 9 May 2011, the VA finally rolled out its “Family Caregiver Program” required by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 2010. It provides for enhanced services to a family caregiver of a veteran who sustained a serious injury in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. The Act does not help veterans of other periods.

Aspects of the program are:

  • In-home and community-based care is to be provided. This includes skilled home health care, homemaker home health aide services, community adult day health care and Home Based Primary Care.
  • Respite care services are to be provided. These are designed to relieve the family caregiver, which can include can include in-home care, a short stay in one of VA’s community living centers (the new VA name for nursing homes on VA Medical Center grounds) or adult day health care.
  • Caregiver education and training programs are to be provided. The training includes pre-discharge care instruction and specialized caregiver training for severe traumas such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury or disorders, and blindness.
  • A special caregiver website has been created at www.caregiver.va.gov . It provides information, to include on VA and community resources.
  • Trained, Caregiver Support Coordinators are located at every VA Medical Center. You can use the general VHA number 1-877-222-8273 or the website to locate one … or use the support line (next bullet).  The designated Coordinator for the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Network, which supports us, is Ms. Janet Schmidt, who can be reached at  570-824-3521, ext.7527.
  • A National Caregiver Support Line has been created at 1-855-260-3274. Its purposes are counseling and information about resources and services.
  • Caregiver support groups are to be offered – either in a face-to-face setting or on the telephone (one day, web chatlines?)
  • Other caregiver support services are available. Examples are family counseling, spiritual and pastoral care, family leisure and recreational activities and temporary lodging in Fisher Houses.
  • Other existing services will continue – like durable medical equipment and prosthetic and sensory aides to improve function, financial assistance with home modification to improve access and mobility, and transportation assistance for some veterans to and from medical appointments.
  • And finally and at last, the “Primary Family Caregiver” will receive a monthly stipend in addition to other reimbursements (like transportation). The stipend will be received for each prior month’s participation and the amount will be determined by “the veteran’s level of dependency based upon the degree to which the eligible veteran is unable to perform one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) or the degree to which the eligible veteran is in need of supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury …”

The regulation and application is available on the above website and. The veteran must first be enrolled in the VA healthcare system and a separate application for this program is required. Assistance in filling out the form will be provided.

Sources:

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Last Updated: 2 June 2011

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