VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System

Anne Sheerman, VA CWM HCS My HealtheVet coordinator explains the features of My HealtheVet to a Veteran at a VA open house. The Worcester outpatient clinic leads the nation in the precentage of Veterans who use the on-line program.

Link here for news story on the Worcester MyHealtheVet program that aired on Worcester News Tonight (CharterTV3)

WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 18, 2012 -- The Worcester Community-Based Outpatient Clinic became the first in the nation to hit an important milestone with an on-line program offered by the VA that allows Veterans to access their personal health records via the Internet.

The Worcester clinic reached an important benchmark with the “My HealtheVet” web-based program with 15 percent of all Worcester patients now using secure messaging to communicate with their VA health care providers.

About 25 percent of all Worcester-assigned Veterans, or about 1,000 Veterans, have upgraded their My HealtheVet status to an authenticated account.

“This is an important achievement because My HealtheVet enables Veterans to manage their healthcare decisions and improve their overall level of care via web-based tools, “ said Anne Sheerman, My HealtheVet coordinator for VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. “It really is the wave of the future, and the Worcester clinic is leading the way in encouraging Veterans to use this great resource.”

Known as “In-Person Authentication” or “IPA,” an authenticated account means the VA can verify a My HealtheVet (MHV) user’s identity. Before VA patients can view Chemistry and Hematology lab results, access VA wellness reminders, and participate in other features, Veterans need to complete the IPA process, which takes approximately 10 minutes as a security measure.

The purpose of the one-time IPA process is to verify the Veteran’s identity in-person.  This complies with VA policy and protects Veterans’ identities.
 
Before In-Person Authentication can occur, several requirements must be met. Veterans need to fill out a form available on-line in My HealtheVet. The form is then taken to a VA facility and a Veteran’s VA identification card is then verified with a VA staff member.

Veterans using My HealtheVet create a profile and emergency contact list. They can also add their insurance information, allergies and any medical conditions that may be important in case of an emergency.

Personal assessment tools for alcohol, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse screenings are also available.  Information on service-related conditions and common conditions can be accessed.

“It’s easy to register and you can begin to send messages with non-urgent questions to your healthcare team right away,” said Sheerman.  “These messages are secure; meaning only members of your team will have access to them.”

All services, including messaging, are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

One great feature is the Vitals and Readings Log, said Sheerman.  A Veteran using My HealtheVet can enter their blood pressure, body weight, and more, then print a Doctor Sheet that displays their vital sign measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight, and blood sugar. The Veteran is also able to view and print all of his or her lab results from home without having to come to the hospital and sign a release to see them.

“By supplying information to your healthcare provider, together you can create a plan for your care,” said Sheerman.  “It’s a great resource for Veterans and their families to begin taking more control of their healthcare."

As a result of its ongoing overhaul, My HealtheVet users can experience the odd technical glitch -- the most common of which is being bumped off the system or being unable to log on because of the volume of site traffic. However, the rewards far outweigh the odd moment of frustration, said Sheerman.

“You should be patient and stick with it,” says Ms. Sheerman. “The upgrade is a continuous process; the site gets better every day, and the problems will disappear soon.”

Plus, the site can be accessed anywhere there is an Internet connection, even wirelessly. Sheerman herself practices what she preaches. “I’m a veteran and I use it,” she said. “Even from my iPhone.”

Register Today
Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare can register for My HealtheVet by following these steps:
1. Type www.myhealth.va.gov in the address bar on your web browser, and then press Enter.  This takes you to VA’s My HealtheVet website.

2. On the right-hand side of the screen, click the Register Today button.  Complete the registration page, and review and accept the Terms & Conditions, and the Privacy Policy for using the My HealtheVet website.

3.  Log into your My HealtheVet account and begin to create your Personal Health Record, or PHR.

4. Begin using My HealtheVet to access VA health care and services at your convenience to better manage your health.  Also, if you are a VA patient, take some time to watch the In-Person Authentication (IPA) video online.

5. Bookmark www.myhealth.va.gov as a favorite.  If you are a VA patient, get an upgraded account during your next VA clinic visit to get the most out of your PHR.

Questions?
Contact Anne Sheerman, VA CWM HCS My HealtheVet coordinator, at (413) 584-4040 extension 2808.