Instead of traveling to meet their primary care provider face-to-face, veterans can now receive health care consultations closer to home, using a video connection that is similar to Skype and FaceTime
The Times
The Bucks County Commissioners joined with Daniel Hendee, director of the Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, to officially open the new Bucks County VA Telehealth Clinic at the Lower Bucks County Government Services Center, 7321 New Falls Road in Levittown. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Bucks County Military and Veterans Affairs Director Daniel Fraley were also on hand to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Telehealth Clinic, which is a partnership between the county and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is open on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Think about the military today, the technology, and how different it is today, the wars and how they are fought. And yet here we are today being able to use that same technology to benefit the men and women who served our country,” said Commissioner Robert Loughery. “I argue that you will probably find no other county, certainly in the commonwealth, maybe in the country, that’s as committed to working with their veterans as Bucks County.”
The new Telehealth Clinic aids veterans by allowing them to stay close to home for routine office visits. Instead of traveling to meet their primary care provider face-to-face, veterans can now receive health care consultations closer to home, using a video connection that is similar to Skype and FaceTime.
This clinic will be strictly Telehealth, with patients presenting to the clinic and having a video appointment with their provider. A technician is stationed at the site to facilitate the connection with a primary care doctor and potential follow up.
“This Telehealth Clinic is an innovative concept that allows us to handle many routine visits without the veteran needing to travel to Philadelphia or another outpatient clinic,” Hendee said. “Telemedicine is the next step in care, allowing a virtual visit, using technology similar to Skype, with the patient and the provider in two different locations. The future is now, and it is right here in Levittown.”
When the Levittown clinic began on June 1, there was a list of veterans with upcoming appointments. This new initiative serves veterans in Bucks County who would formerly need to travel to the main VA medical center, located at 3900 Woodland Ave. in Philadelphia, or to one of the smaller outpatient clinics in Horsham for their primary care appointments.
“I want to compliment the VA for working with Bucks County so well over the years,” said Commissioner Charles Martin. “I know, nationally, the VA gets a bad rap, but here locally, Dan (Fraley) has had a wonderful relationship with the local VA office, and we appreciate all the things that they have done to be helpful with our veterans.”
Appointments are required and can be made by calling 215–823–5800, Ext. 7415 or 267–372–1899. ••
