You will be assigned a provider for your medical care. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants work closely with a team of other clinic staff to insure you receive the best care available. Specialists are available by referral.

• Allergy Clinic
• Nutrition Counseling
• Pharmacy Services
• Women’s Health Services
• Social Work Services
• Patient Education Programs
• Mental Health Outpatient Services
• Compensation and Pension Program
• Eye Clinic
• Dental Clinic
• Audiology

Your primary care provider, nurse, or the health benefits advisor can answer any questions about these programs.

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SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• Gulf War Registry

• Agent Orange Program

• Ex-Prisoner of War Program

• Ionizing Radiation Program

• Homeless Program

Please contact the health benefits advisor (699-2133) for information regarding these or other special programs available to veterans.

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VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

• Veterans Service Center: 699-2323
• VA Loan Guaranty (Home Loans): 699-2300
• Veterans Benefits Counselors:  1-800-827-1000
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Counseling:  699-2328
• Texas Veterans Commission:  699-2356
• Disabled American Veterans:  699-2359

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AFTER HOURS CARE

If you need urgent medical care whenever the clinic is closed, please report to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital’s Urgent Care Center where you can be seen by a physician 24- hours-a-day.

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EMERGENCY CARE

This is not an emergency facility. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or your local medical emergency system.

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APPOINTMENTS

Clinic visits are by scheduled appointment.  We recommend that you report 15 minutes before your appointment time.  If you are late for your scheduled appointment, you may be asked to reschedule.

Please call the clinic at 699-2100 if you need to cancel or change appointments.  If possible, please reschedule at that time.  Scheduling hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you become ill between appointments, we want to help.  Please call the clinic (699-2100) between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak to a nurse.

Calling ahead will decrease waiting times and we may be able to take care of the problem over the telephone. 

If for any reason you are unable to contact the clinic nurse, please feel free to use the South Texas Veterans Health Care System’s TeleCare number 949-3994.

Telephone calls concerning medications and health related matters are welcomed. Your call will be taken by trained personnel who will ask for the name of the person calling, the name of the patient, the last four numbers of the social security number, symptoms and duration of illness and a telephone call back number.

This information will be given to your nurse and/or primary care provider who will then call you back.  Telephone calls will be returned as soon as possible.  If your problem or concerns cannot be handled over the telephone, you will be:

1. Told to call 911 if it is an emergency.
2. Told to report to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital’s Urgent Care Center.
3. Told to come to the clinic on that day.

4. Given an appointment in the next few days.

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TELECARE

After hours, weekends, and holidays TeleCare provides telephone medical advice to veterans.  Our service has bilingual capability and provides prompt, reliable, and courteous answers to patients’ questions.

Veterans and their family members can contact the VA’s toll free number at 1-888-686-6350 to discuss medical concerns, access to care, medications or any health problem.

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MEDICATIONS

All refills are obtained through the mail.  You are responsible for requesting your refills at least 10-14 days before your last dose is taken.  Refill requests are made by using our 24 hour TeleMed refill service.  A touch tone telephone is required.  The TeleMed local telephone number is 210-617-5290.  The toll free long distance number is 1-800-209-7377.

The pharmacy hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m.- Noon and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 9:15 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

After hours emergency prescriptions can be filled 24-hours-a-day at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital.

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RIGHTS OF PATIENTS

You have the right to:

• Respectful care

• Complete information

•  Informed consent

• Refuse treatment

• Privacy

• Confidentiality

• Acceptance for treatment

• Information about affiliation

• Refuse experimental treatment

• Knowledge of hospital regulations

• Information about continuing care

• Information about billing

 

For more detailed information, contact the health benefits advisor at 699-3005.