ERIE — The Erie VA Medical Center is committed to providing high-quality care while keeping veterans safe from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

To help us address veterans’ most-urgent needs first, the Erie VA asks that veterans use the online tools for routine or non-urgent questions.

Here are some examples:

Telephone or Video Appointments — Have a routine doctor appointment that doesn’t require being face to face? You can make the appointment a phone call or video chat through VA Video Connect on your computer, smartphone, or tablet and still get any questions answered or medical guidance needed. View VA Video Connect instructions on YouTube.

Secure Messaging – With My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, veterans can send online secure messages to your VA health care team to ask them non-urgent health questions. Register at www.myhealth.va.gov or contact our MHV Coordinator at 814-860-2821 for more information.

Prescription Refills – Veterans can request prescription refills and order and ship medications to their homes using My HealtheVet or the Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app atmobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill.

For questions about and/or technical assistance regarding VA Video Connect, contact the VA National Telehealth Technology Help Desk at (866) 651-3180 or 703-234-4483 on Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. through 11 p.m.

Prescription Update: At this time, we are encouraging veterans to get all routine prescriptions mailed until further notice. Medications are not automatically refilled.

Visitor Update: Erie VAMC is asking that veterans only bring one visitor (no visitors under the age of 18 years, including infants) with them to their appointments to aid in social distancing while on-site. Only hospice and palliative care visitors are permitted in the Community Living Center. Visitors will continue to be actively screened prior to entering the unit.