Mobile Health: Expanding Care For Veterans Beyond The Medical Center

Health care in the 21st century. What does this mean to you? When you think of your health care now, do you often feel rushed through visits with your primary care provider? Do you have to plan ahead to travel to the medical center for your appointments? Are you struggling to keep track of all of your medications?  These are common concerns I often hear from my patients.

As a physician at the Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, I am excited to be a part of VA’s Mobile Health project, which is changing the way we provide care to our Veterans.

I see Veterans almost every day who seek to improve their care through greater participation and access to what they need – access to me, access to their electronic medical records, access to more information about how to stay healthy.  A recent study found that the more access Veterans have to their health records, the more in control they feel when it comes to their health. Access to more information gives Veterans a better understanding of their own individual health needs, a closer connection to their VA care teams and assistance for self-care.