Women Veterans Health Care

In a quick update to our last column, the Veterans Crisis Line has a new number: Dial 988 then Press 1. This option was added effective July 16, however, even after July 16, you may still call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255.

Women Veterans Health Care addresses the health care needs of women veterans, ensuring those needs are met in a timely, equitable, high-quality, comprehensive manner, while also ensuring that these services are provided in a sensitive and safe environment at the VA health facilities nationwide.

Women Veterans Health Care works to ensure that all eligible women veterans requesting care receive:

• Comprehensive primary care by a proficient and interested primary care provider;

• Cancer screenings, including breast, cervical, colon, lung and skin; and

• General health screenings.

These are a few of the offered services. For more in-depth information, visit: https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/index.asp.

The VA has also established the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC), which may be reached by calling 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636). The call center staff is trained to provide women veterans, their families and their caregivers information and assistance about VA services and resources. Hours of operation for the center are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

When your call is answered, all the representatives are women, many of them veterans themselves. They will provide information and, if needed, direct referrals to the Women Veteran Program Managers (WVPM) who are located at every VA medical center. They are there to assist in coordinating women veterans' services.

What to expect when you make the call to the WVCC:

• You will be connected to a trained VA woman staff member.

• Call center staff will conduct a brief screening to assess your needs.

• Women veterans will be provided personalized information regarding health services, VA benefits and services, and a package of information will be sent to their home.

• You can call for yourself or for a woman veteran you know.

• The call is free and confidential.

• Contact information will be requested so staff may follow up.

Ken Cruickshank, the Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County, is a retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer. Contact him at the Veterans Services Office at 3348 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia; by phone at (559) 713-2880; or by email at kcruicks@tularecounty.ca.gov