MANILA VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS 04/2022

Allen “Pop” Reeves American Legion Post 123
MANILA VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

April 2022

UPDATE FROM THE CLINIC MANAGER:

April seems to have arrived quickly this year, and with it,  the hot temperatures of summer in the Philippines. Please remember to keep yourself healthy and well during the hottest temperatures of the year and stay hydrated. It is always best to limit outdoor activities to the extent possible, especially during the hottest hours of the day between 11AM and 2PM.

The Philippines remains at Alert Level 1 throughout much of Luzon and Metro Manila for the next two weeks. Obviously, this is subject to rapid change, so please continue to stay abreast on the latest COVID-19 information from the Government of the Philippines and your provincial and local governments. Based on current COVID-19 trends in the Philippines, I’m pleased to announce we will continue operating at the Manila Clinic at our current levels. We have not seen any uptick in cases or illnesses among our staff since we removed our screening table, so I appreciate the Veteran community’s support with keeping our staff and employees safe. If you have an in-person appointment at VA Manila but don’t feel well, or have you have symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and work with your local government to get a COVID-19 test. Contact VA Manila and let us know so we can work to offer virtual care appointments in the event you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

I also just wanted to remind Veterans about the restrictions of brining laptops or other large electronic devices to the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic. We have had several Veterans in the last few weeks who have had these items with them and who we have had to turn away. Since the VA Clinic is located on the grounds of the US Embassy, they oversee our security and entrance restrictions, and their policies do not allow for electronic devices larger than cell phones to be brought into US Embassy facilities. We do not have a way to offer storage of these items during your appointment, so please either do not bring these devices with you or make other storage arrangements before coming to VA for your appointment. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Lastly, its nearly that time of year for regular, non-COVID influenza season in the Philippines. Some newly arriving Veterans may not realize that the influenza season in the Philippines is different than in the United States. In the Philippines, flu season generally corresponds to our rainy season, and is most active between June and November. Additionally, the Philippines sees different strains of influenza than are commonly observed in the United States. VA Manila administers the Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine, as this version of vaccine more closely aligns with the common flu strains which circulate in the Philippines. As we have done in the past, the Clinic will be able to provide influenza vaccines to Veterans with scheduled appointments at the Manila OPC during their regularly scheduled appointments. Please ask your care team nurse during your next appointment if you would like more information or would like to receive the flu vaccine.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I hope you and your family have a safe Holy Week, Passover, or Ramadan.

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES:

Last week, the VA approved the implementation of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation to provide a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination for some as-risk individuals, including those who:

-Are at least 50 years old, or

-Are moderately to severely immunocompromised, or

-Had the Janssen (J&J) vaccine for both your primary vaccine and your booster (shouldn’t be applicable to many VA Manila patients).

VA and CDC are recommending a four-month gap between your first booster and receiving your second booster.

Based on these criteria, VA Manila ordered an additional supply of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines from our vaccine distribution network in the United States. We anticipate that this shipment will be delivered in the next two weeks. VA Manila Clinic Leadership are developing plans to administer COVID-19 booster doses to eligible Veterans at weekend mass vaccination clinics and are targeting weekends between late April and late May. These vaccine clinics will operate in similar fashion to other weekend clinics that VA Manila has conducted in the past. As we get additional details about the anticipated arrival of our shipment, we will keep the Veteran community apprised.

Please note that we will strictly adhere to the CDC’s recommendations and will not be able to provide 2nd COVID-19 booster doses to individuals who do not fall into one of the three categories above. As with our last booster campaign, we can only provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to Veterans with VBA adjudicated, service-connected conditions. We will not be able to provide vaccines or boosters to non-service-connected Veterans, or to spouses, caregivers, or other family members. If you would like additional information on COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters, please see the US CDC website: CDC Recommends Additional Boosters for Certain Individuals | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC, or contact your VA Manila provider.

VA Manila will provide additional details in the next few weeks about dates, clinic times, and any other special instructions for those wishing to receive a booster shot. At this time, these Veterans do not need to take any action and should await further guidance via email. If you are interested in second booster dose, there is no need to call or email the clinic currently.

In addition to providing second booster doses, with this arriving vaccine shipment, VA Manila will be able to resume providing all service-connected Veterans with their primary 2 dose vaccine series. If you are a service-connected Veteran in the Philippines and have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine or a first booster dose and would like one, please email: ManilaCOVIDVaccine@va.gov with your name, address, contact information, and include that you would like to be scheduled for your first COVID-19 vaccine / booster. A member of the Manila Clinic Staff with reach out to you.

As I have said many times in previous messages, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Thank you in advance for doing your part to protect yourselves and your communities.

VA MANILA REGIONAL BENEFITS OFFICE – UPDATES

Attached to this update is a PDF from the VA Manila Regional Benefits Office (VA Manila RO) with information about their current operation status and how you can schedule appointments. The RO is currently open for in-person interviews and document drop off, but Veterans need to utilize the Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA) to schedule a time. Walk in appointments are not currently available.

UPCOMING CLINIC CLOSURES: 

The U.S. Embassy, along with the VA Manila Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic, will be closed in recognition of the following public holidays:

PH – Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 14, 2022

PH – Good Friday – Friday, April 15, 2022

PH – Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Ramadan) – TBD: Anticipated on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

** Subject to the announcement from Malacañang Palace.

US – Memorial Day – Monday, May 30, 2022

With the Easter Holiday coming up in April 17, please ensure any needed medication refills are ordered NLT April 1, 2022. Air21 and LBC will likely not deliver any prescriptions during the holidays leading up to Easter.

NOTE: Plan and order your refills 10 workdays in advance of holiday closures.  Air21 is also closed on these holidays so medications will be delayed if you fail to request refills 10 days in advance. If you run out of medications for a service-connected condition, you can buy a short-term supply of needed medicine and file a claim for reimbursement from the FMP.

VA MANILA REGIONAL OFFICE AND OUTPATIENT CLINIC TELEPHONE NUMBERS

VA Manila Main Line +63 (02) 8550-3888

VA Manila Toll Free Phone: +63 1 (800) 1888-5252;  or

#MyVA (#6982)

AudioCare (Pharmacy Refills): +63 (02) 8556-8387

Clinical Fax (Medical Records): +63 (02) 8550-3964

Patient Advocate: +63 (02) 8396-3716

Clinic Manager: +63 (02) 8396-3735

Option 1 – Regional Office

Option 2 – Outpatient Clinic

Option 3 – Transfer to Veterans Evaluation Services (VES)

Option 4 – Transfer to the Foreign Medical Program’s Hotline

Option 5 – Transfer to VBA Offices in the United States

Option 6 – Transfer to the VA MISSION Act Hotline

Option 7 – Transfer to the Veteran’s Crisis Line

Option 8 – Transfer to VA Manila’s AudioCare Line (Pharmacy Refills)

PLEASE DON’T NO-SHOW!!! REMINDER TO CANCEL APPOINTMENTS

This serves as a friendly reminder to all Veterans who use the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic for their medical care, please cancel any appointments that you will not be able to keep. When Veterans do not cancel appointments, VA loses an opportunity to provide medical services to your fellow Veterans, decreases provider productivity, and requires additional administrative time from our staff to reschedule appointments. Ideally, we ask that Veterans notify the VA Outpatient Clinic at least 48 hours in advance of their appointment if you determine you have a scheduling conflict. This allows the Clinic’s Advanced Medical Support Assistants (AMSAs) to reach out to other Veterans waiting for care to offer them the new time slot. Veterans should also receive a confirmation text 7 days and 2 days before a scheduled appointment.

Please be considerate to your fellow Veterans and do your part if you have a scheduled appointment that you won’t be able to keep. You can reach the clinic at +63 (2) 8550-3888, Option 2, or toll free at #MyVA (#6982) from any mobile phone.

COMPLETION OF VA AND NON-VA MEDICAL FORMS

VHA privacy and release of information policies and procedures are applied to releasing any VA or Non-VA Medical statements or medical forms completed on behalf of the Veteran.

VA Providers can complete medical statements/forms with respect to a Veteran‘s medical condition and functionality, to the best of their ability based on their scope, clinical expertise and available historical evidence.

Complete a VA Form 10-5345 and leave it together with the medical statement/form you want completed with the Office of Release of Information. Here is a link to the form on VA’s webpage: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-5345.pdf.

Expect a VA Manila response within 20 working days.

Veterans requesting assistance with submitting a VA disability benefits claim should access the VBA Internet website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation or call +63 (02) 8550-3888 and press 1 for additional assistance or check in at the VBA Reception Desk

PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES?

Veterans planning to travel to the United States and want to continue medical treatment should contact the clinic’s Traveling Veteran Coordinator (TVC) via SecureMessenger/MyHealtheVet. Our TVC can facilitate your care with her counterpart in the United States. Your VA Manila provider will recommend coordination when needed care with an alternate VA facility near you is required.  Please allow 4 to 6 weeks lead time to ensure appointments can be prearranged upon your arrival.

VETERANS CRISIS LINE

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified and caring Department of Veteran Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text.  Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. In the Philippines you can also dial the Manila Outpatient Clinic (#MyVA or 02-8550-3888), and press option 7 to be transferred to the Crisis Line.  To learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line or to chat online, go to https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ and click on the appropriate link.

NO VALID GOVERNMENT ID/NO ENTRY/NO EXCEPTIONS:

The U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office no longer permit employees, Veterans, attendants, and family members to enter a U.S. Embassy facility to include the VA Manila Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic without a valid government picture ID.  Family members and attendants over the age of 14 will also need to provide a valid government ID.

COMPUTER LAPTOPS PROHIBITED:

The U.S. Embassy, including VA Manila, no longer permits Veterans, attendants and family members to enter a U.S. Embassy facility with a computer laptop.  Do not bring any large electronic device as the U.S. Embassy guards nor VA staff are permitted to accept or store the device.

OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS:

Visitors, attendants and family members are rohibited from bringing into a U.S. Embassy facility, including VA Manila, weapons of any kind to include pocket knives, cameras, recording devices, and large electronic devices.  Veterans, attendants, family members and visitors are prohibited from taking photos inside the facility and are prohibited from leaving their personal belongings in the reception lobby.

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Daniel  Gutkoski, MHA
Clinic Manager
VA Manila Outpatient Clinic
US Embassy to the Philippines, Seafront Compound
1501 Roxas Boulevard, 1302 Pasay City, Metro Manila
+63 (02) 8396-3735 – Direct Dial
#MyVA (#6982) – Toll Free