SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco VA Health Care System, or SFVAHCS, is committed to providing high-quality care while keeping veterans safe from COVID-19.

“Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our veterans, we are honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines,” said Tonya Heredia, chief of virtual care at the SFVAHCS. “Through VA’s virtual care tools, we are able to leverage available technology to make sure that our patients and staff are as safe as possible during this time.”

To help address veterans’ most-urgent needs first, SFVAHCS asks veterans to use our online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.

Here are some examples:

Telephone or video appointments: Veterans can receive care at home – either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets. To set up telephone or video appointments, veterans can send their providers a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting http://myhealth.va.gov . Veterans may also call, but VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time. To learn more about VA Video Connect, visit http://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect .

Prescription refills: Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at http://mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill .

Text message reminders: Veterans can use Annie’s Coronavirus Precautions protocol to send automated text messages with information about COVID-19. This VA application helps veterans monitor for symptoms and can assist if they need to contact their VA facility for care. Enroll at http://mobile.va.gov/annie .

Secure messaging: With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, veterans can send online secure messages to their VA health care teams to ask nonurgent health questions. Register at www.myhealth.va.gov .

SFVAHCS Telephone Linked Care Line, or TLC: TLC gives veterans direct access to a medical support assistant and an advice nurse, so they can receive personalized, timely attention for their health care concerns – without leaving their homes. To reach TLC, call 415-752-1212, or (toll free) 1-800-733-0502.

For more information about VA’s Connected Care technologies, visit http://connectedcare.va.gov .