Dublin VA Medical Center opens Health Resource Center to help veterans navigate telehealth

The Dublin VA’s new Health Resource Center offers hands-on help for veterans learning how to use telehealth and digital care tools.

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Dublin VA Medical Center has opened a new Health Resource Center aimed at helping veterans better understand how virtual services, cyber tools and telehealth can enhance their healthcare experience.

With advancing technology, Telehealth Registered Nurse Betsy Brown says the Dublin VA wanted to help veterans learn how to use the digital resources available at their fingertips.

“About a year ago our telehealth team undertook a project to open up a virtual health resource center for veterans,” she said. “The VA’s very good about telehealth and promoting telehealth, and we learned a lot through COVID on that, but we also learned that veterans have problems getting started.”

Brown says healthcare modalities are helpful and convenient.

“It’s a hands-on place for veterans to come and get information, assistance with their iPad, information about virtual health apps, VVCs and CVTs,” she said. “And so, we wanted to do that and open that here in Dublin, and so about a year ago we started working on that, and today was our grand open ribbon cutting, but we have been serving veterans since February 25.”

Melissa Johnson, acting deputy at the Dublin VA Medical Center says during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, veterans were able to use telehealth, but some still don’t understand how to use the technology.

“Some of our [veterans] are not used to technology, and they’re not aware that care can be delivered through virtual modalities,” she said. “So, this will help increase our access to care, and just our veterans being able to meet with their nurse or provider and get that care that they need.”

Veteran Daniel Mace says having this new center is a huge relief for him.

“I’m a frequent visitor here to telehealth, and all the staff here is really helpful to me,” he said. “They’re very kind and always prepared to offer me any assistance. I’ve got questions sometimes—it’s the same question I asked just a week earlier—but they never groan or give me any hard time. They’re just happy to help.”