UPDATES ON VA MANILA OPERATIONS – OCTOBER 2021

MANILA VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

October 8, 2021

UPDATES ON VA MANILA OPERATIONS – OCTOBER 2021

VA Manila continues to press forward with expanding our face-to-face appointment availability at the Clinic. With this, we continue to see an increasing number of Veterans scheduled for and coming to in-person appointments, and I must admit, it’s great to see so many familiar faces again after the long absence due to the pandemic. We had a nice crowd in our lobby today, and if this keeps up, I will plan to resume my Friday Town Halls with Veterans soon.

I am also happy to report that we have placed an order for delivery of additional COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines, and are anticipating delivery over the next few weeks. This supply of vaccine will be targeted to Veterans who received their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at the Clinic during April/May 2021. We are planning to administer booster doses for eligible Veterans starting in November. Only those Veterans who received both doses of their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at VA Manila will be contacted for booster doses. VA is following CDC guidelines with administering booster doses. Please note, at this time, CDC has only authorized booster doses for individuals who received the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine more than 6 months ago. Booster doses for recipients of the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or who were locally vaccinated in the Philippines with Sinovac, Astra-Zeneca, or Gameyla have not yet been approved by the US CDC or FDA to receive booster doses at this time. We are closely following approvals and guidance as it is made available to healthcare providers, and we will continue to keep the Veteran community apprised. Veterans with questions about COVID-19 vaccines can continue to email us at: ManilaCOVIDVaccine@va.gov.

I wanted to take a moment also to remind all Veterans that VA Manila is not a COVID-19 treatment facility. We do not offer COVID-19 testing capabilities and have very limited capabilities to provide urgent medical care. We have been strictly enforcing health and screening protocols for the safety of our staff and visitors to the Clinic. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms (including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, body/headache, and/or nausea/vomiting), please do not come to the VA Manila Clinic. Also, if you have had close contact with a known or suspected individual with COVID-19, please follow Philippine guidelines and isolate yourself. In the event you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are a close contact, VA Manila can try to reschedule your appointment to one of our virtual care options (such as telephone or Virtual Video Connect – VVC), or we can reschedule your appointment to a later date.

We are redoubling our screening efforts for all Veterans and visitors who are coming to the Clinic. I know many of us have become fatigued from the constant temperature checks and health status questions when going anywhere in public in the Philippines, but I would please ask for your help ensure the continued health and safety of our staff and visitors to the Clinic. We are counting on you to please do your part to help keep our frontline workers and your fellow Veterans healthy.

ACCESSING YOUR OWN MEDICAL RECORDS VIA MY HEALTHEVET

An informational brochure on MHV is available online: https://connectedcare.va.gov/…/MHV_Trifold-Brochure.pdf

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Veterans have reported it can be difficult to copies of their medical records from the Outpatient Clinic. Our Release of Information department has been working diligently to turn around requests for medical records as quickly as possible. For many Veterans, accessing their health records online is a faster and more secure method, and can provide all your needed information with just a few clicks of a mouse or taps of your finger on your smartphone.

Manage Your Health Records

Two women sitting at a computer using My HealtheVet

Forgot the name of a prescription medicine? Can’t remember the date of a surgery? Use My HealtheVet to access your VA medical records and organize your personal health information. Members registered in My HealtheVet can manage their health by using My HealtheVet’s Blue Button feature to customize a report or access their VA Health Summary. The VA Blue Button feature helps you better manage your health care needs and communicate with your health care team. With the VA Blue Button feature, you can:

Customize and download a report (as a PDF or text file) to share with your VA and non-VA providers

Print a report or summary to take a copy to your next appointment

Send an electronic version of your self-entered information in Secure Message to your VA health care team

Build your Personal Health Record (PHR) by self-entering your personal information or data that you have tracked

Start building your PHR by self-entering your personal information, such as your health history, emergency contacts and medications. You can monitor your vital signs and use the journals to track your diet and physical activity. Even if you are not a Veteran, you can take advantage of this convenient way to organize your information.

If you are a Veteran who receives care from VA, you can access your VA medical records and create a customized report that can also include your self-entered data. Many Veterans can also include a copy of their military service information from the Department of Defense (DoD).

Several smartphone apps are also available through a variety of non-VA sources. While VA does not endorse specific apps, there are now creative, secure and easy-to-use ways of viewing Blue Button data. Search for Blue Button in your smartphone apps library to learn more.

The VA Health Summary:

Is a Continuity of Care Document (CCD) that contains specific information?

Provides a summary of your health information that can be used to review your medical record and to share essential information with your health care providers

Allows health information that is in one health care system to be electronically exchanged with another health care system that is providing care

You can get your VA Health Summary information in two file formats: An easy to read and print PDF and an XML format that can be read by computer systems.

To use the VA Blue Button feature and access the VA Health Summary, you must be registered on My HealtheVet as a VA Patient and have a Premium account. A Premium account can be obtained by a My HealtheVet member who has an Advanced account. Learn more about upgrading your My HealtheVet account through Upgrading to a Premium My HealtheVet Account.

If you do not have a My HealtheVet account, take time and register today.

Look for the VA Blue Button icon Blue Button iconon the My HealtheVet home page after you log in to customize a report or health summary.

OTHER VA MANILA OUTPATIENT CLINIC UPDATES

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AT VA MANILA

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

US Columbus Day – Monday, October 11, 2021

PH All Saints Day – Monday, November 1, 2021

PH All Souls Day – Tuesday, November 2, 2021

US Veterans Day – Thursday, November 11, 2021

US Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 25, 2021

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 the medicine from a community pharmacy and file a claim for reimbursement from the FMP.

VIRTUAL VETERANS DAY EVENT PLANNED FOR 11/11/2021

VA Manila is working with our colleagues at the US Embassy to finalize plans for our annual Veterans Day Commemoration to honor the service of all Veterans. While COVID-19 will again keep us from gathering, this virtual program will be available through a variety of social media accounts and streaming services. We will share the final details of the event in the next few weeks. However, you may want to consider being connected with the US Embassy on social media now to stay up-to-date on information for American Citizens in the Philippines. Here are a few recommended adds/follows:

@USEmbassyPH    US Embassy in the Philippines (Twitter)

@USAmbPH            Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Heather Variava (Twitter)

USEmbassyPH        US Embassy in the Philippines (Facebook)

FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM UPDATES

VA’s Foreign Medical Program has been making progress at improving the timeliness of claims processing. As of today, FMP is processing claims received on July 15, 2021, and opening mail received on October 4, 2021. Veterans with questions about their claims’ status are welcomed to contact FMP directly:

VHA Office of Community Care

Foreign Medical Program (FMP)

PO Box 469061

Denver, CO 80246-9061

USA

Toll-free phone: +1 (877) 345-8179

Fax: +1 (303) 331-7803

Email: Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS)

Email: hac.fmp@va.gov

Veterans in the Philippines can also contact VA Manila’s local telephone numbers and transfer to FMP phone numbers in the United States without international long-distance charges.

VA Manila Main Telephone Number:       +63 (02) 8550-3888

VA Manila Toll Free Number:                    #MyVA (#6982) – any mobile in the PH

FMP can be reached by selecting option 4. Their hours of operation in Denver, Colorado when converted to Philippine Standard Time are 8:05 pm to 6:45AM Monday evening to Saturday Morning.

PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES?

Veterans planning to travel to the United States and want to continue medical treatment should call the clinic’s traveling coordinator +63-02-8550-3888, and press option 2. VA Manila has a traveling Veteran coordinator, and we can  facilitate your care with her counterpart at the VA Medical Center of your choice 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 are 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.  To learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line or to chat online, go to https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ and click on the appropriate link.

REMINDERS ABOUT CLINIC POLICIES / PROCEDURES:

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 permit 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 prohibited 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.

LIMITING COMPANIONS

VA Manila continues to request that Veterans with appointments only bring companions / spouses to the Clinic when it is necessary, and that this is limited to one companion per Veteran. As our Clinic sees more Veterans in person, we are finding some extremely busy times when our lobby seating area may be at capacity. To follow physical distancing recommendations from the US CDC, we have reduced our seating in the lobby by close to 40%. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

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Daniel Gutkoski, MHAClinic 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