VA telehealth lets enrolled veterans see their VA care team without driving to a medical center. For an older veteran who is homebound, lives far from the nearest VA facility, or simply finds travel exhausting, that can be the difference between getting care and going without it. A video visit from the kitchen table, a monitoring device that sends vitals to the care team, or a private appointment room a few minutes down the road all do the same job: bring VA care closer.

This guide walks through how VA telehealth works, the three main ways veterans use it, what care is available this way, and how to get started.

In This Guide

VA Video Connect

VA Video Connect is VA's secure videoconferencing app, and it is the most common way veterans use telehealth. It lets veterans, and their caregivers, meet with their VA care team through live video on nearly any internet-connected device that has a camera, microphone, and speakers. That includes smartphones, tablets, and computers.

On Apple (iOS) devices, you download the free VA Video Connect app to join your appointment. On other devices, you open the appointment link in a web browser, with no separate app to install.

For an older veteran, this often means a daughter or spouse can sit alongside during the visit, help with the device, and hear the care team's instructions firsthand. The appointment runs much like an in-person visit: you talk with your provider, they can see you, and you can ask questions and review your plan together.

Not sure whether a video visit fits your loved one's situation? Chat with Brevy to think through the options.

Home Telehealth and Remote Monitoring

Home Telehealth is built for veterans living with chronic conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes, or high blood pressure, where steady tracking matters. Through VA Home Telehealth, also called remote patient monitoring, the veteran gets a device and training so the care team can collect and review health data such as vital signs from home.

An assigned Home Telehealth care coordinator supports the veteran, watches the incoming data, and follows up when something needs attention. That ongoing visibility can catch a problem early, before it turns into an emergency room trip.

Health data is never collected without the veteran's informed consent, so the veteran stays in control of what is shared and when.

ATLAS: Telehealth Close to Home

Not every veteran has reliable internet at home, and that is especially true in rural areas. The VA ATLAS program, short for Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations, is built for exactly that situation.

ATLAS places private telehealth rooms in community locations, equipped with internet access, telehealth technology, and an on-site attendant who helps the veteran get connected. These rooms are set up in places such as select Walmart stores, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, and American Legion posts.

ATLAS sites handle care that does not require a hands-on physical exam, such as primary care, mental health counseling, clinical pharmacy, nutrition, and social work. For a veteran who would otherwise drive hours to a VA medical center, a short trip to a nearby post or store can replace a long, tiring day on the road.

What Care Is Available by Telehealth

VA telehealth spans many specialties. The most common are primary care and mental health, along with some specialty care, and at ATLAS sites that extends to clinical pharmacy, nutrition, and social work.

That covers a lot of what an older veteran needs day to day: routine check-ins, medication questions, counseling, and help managing a chronic condition. What it does not cover is anything requiring a hands-on physical exam or in-person procedure.

The key point to hold onto is that telehealth complements, and does not replace, in-person VA care. It is one more way to reach your care team, not a substitute for the visits that have to happen face to face.

Wondering which of your loved one's appointments could happen by telehealth? Chat with Brevy for a plain-language walkthrough.

How to Get Started

The simplest first step is to talk with your VA care team about whether telehealth fits your needs. They can tell you which of your appointments are good candidates for a video visit, whether Home Telehealth monitoring makes sense for a chronic condition, and where the nearest ATLAS site is if home internet is a barrier.

You can also use the VA Health Chat app to message VA staff to ask non-emergency health questions, schedule appointments, or refill prescriptions. It is a low-pressure way to start the conversation without waiting for your next scheduled visit.

If you are comfortable online, the VA app and VA Video Connect let you manage and join appointments directly from a phone, tablet, or computer. When in doubt, your VA care team is the right place to begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

No special device is required. VA Video Connect works on nearly any internet-connected device with a camera, microphone, and speakers, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. On Apple (iOS) devices you download the free app, and on other devices you simply open the appointment link in a web browser.

Home Telehealth, also called remote patient monitoring, is for veterans with chronic conditions. VA provides a device and training so the care team can collect and review health data such as vital signs from home, with an assigned Home Telehealth care coordinator supporting the veteran. Health data is not collected without the veteran's informed consent.

The VA ATLAS program is designed for that. ATLAS places private telehealth rooms with internet access, telehealth equipment, and an on-site attendant in community locations such as select Walmart stores, VFW posts, and American Legion posts, particularly in rural areas. These sites handle care that does not need a hands-on exam, including primary care, mental health, clinical pharmacy, nutrition, and social work.

No. VA telehealth complements, and does not replace, in-person VA care. It is another way to reach your care team for things like primary care, mental health, and some specialty services, but care that requires a hands-on physical exam still happens in person.

Learn More

Find personalized help understanding VA health benefits at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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