Veterans to use telemedicine for care

BOSTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs providers will care for veterans using telemedicine for behavioral health, oncology and perioperative care, officials say.

The VA and American Well today announced the initiative to bring telehealth services to U.S. veterans in their homes, workplaces and other convenient locations, following an award from the VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) Industry Innovation Competition.

The initiative focuses on using American Well's Online Care system to make needed care more accessible, convenient and efficacious for veterans, particularly those remotely located from VA medical centers.

"VA is dedicated to providing veterans with the highest quality, most patient-centric care possible -- and we see technology as a critical enabler in our mission," Jonah Czerwinski, director of VAi2, said in a statement. "This initiative with American Well will allow VA to use telehealth to deliver needed care directly into the homes of veterans, who might otherwise struggle with barriers such as distance, mobility or the need to take time away from work or family."

Veterans will be able to have online visits with their own providers, as well as multi-disciplinary care teams when needed, via the Internet. Using two-way video, secure text chat and/or phone, providers will be able to review patients' clinical information, discuss symptoms, provide medical advice and diagnose and prescribe medications as appropriate, Czerwinski said.