What's New Archive
My HealtheVet's New Healthy Living Center: Emergency Preparedness
We are pleased to launch a new My HealtheVet Healthy Living Center called Emergency Preparedness. Disasters and emergencies can happen when we least expect it. The Emergency Preparedness Living Center will help you and your families prepare for a variety of unexpected events and assist you in learning how to respond and recover from disasters and emergencies. The Center will also provide information on how you can prepare your home, family, pet and car for in the event of a disaster. Visit the Emergency Preparedness Center by clicking on the RESEARCH HEALTH tab, then the Healthy Living Centers tab, and then select the Emergency Preparedness Center. Access to this important tool is quick, easy, and free!
Remember, My HealtheVet is your personal health record, and the beginning of your journey to better health and wellness.
Updated: September 2, 2008
My HealtheVet New Healthy Living Center: Caregiver Assistance
We are pleased to launch a new My HealtheVet Healthy Living Center called Caregiver Assistance.
Veterans requested this Center to provide information, support, and encouragement for their caregivers and loved ones. Visit the Caregiver Assistance Center by clicking on the RESEARCH HEALTH tab, then the Healthy Living Centers tab, and then select the Caregiver Assistance Center. Access to this important tool is quick, easy, and free!
Remember, My HealtheVet is your personal health record, and the beginning of your journey to better health and wellness.
Updated: July 9, 2008
Good News!
My HealtheVet updated two Healthy Living Centers with information on the end of co-payments for MOVE! weight management counseling. After June 16, there will be no co-payment charge! This is true whether you are seen in a clinic visit or in a group. MOVE! weight management counseling also offers a book and a DVD. If you are working on your weight, A Healthier You is a book full of useful and interesting information about healthy eating and physical activity. If you are working on increasing your physical activity, you can find great tips on the Get Fit for Life exercise DVD. To learn more, go to RESEARCH HEALTH, to HEALTHY LIVING CENTERS then click on the Healthy Eating or the Physical Activity center.
Updated: June, 2008
NEW FEATURE!
My HealtheVet released a new Healthy Living Center, Separation from Active Duty. This Center is designed for service members who are leaving active duty, to include veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Understanding that moving from military to civilian life can be difficult, this Separation from Active Duty Center offers information that can help the new veteran adjust to the changes. Included is a section which provides specific information for the caregiver, and tips on how family and friends can provide support to returning soldiers. The information found on My HealtheVet and the new Separation from Active Duty Center encourages healthy living by learning to adopt healthier behaviors that can last a life time! You can access this new Separation from Active Duty center by logging into My HealtheVet, go to RESEARCH HEALTH, to HEALTHY LIVING CENTERS then click on the SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY center. It's convenient, informative and just for you, our Veterans!
Updated: May 30, 2008
New Features!
My HealtheVet (MHV) continues to add enhancements. Accept the new Terms & Conditions to take advantage of the following:
Updated Forgot User ID and Password - Users can create a new password and log in within minutes
New Terms & Conditions - Terms and Conditions have been updated
My Complete Medications List - Registered users who have been In-Person Authenticated will have an integrated view of all medications and supplements
New Account Activity History - Registered users can monitor activities within their account
New Diseases & Condition Centers - Information on Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS has been added
Updated HealthWise® - Content and functionality have been updated
New Health Calendar - Improved features to track events and activities
Updated: November 27, 2007
Blended Medications
For those VA Patients who have completed In-Person Authentication, a new Blended Medication view of all VA prescribed medications, self-entered non-VA prescribed medications, Over-the-Counter (OTC), herbals and supplements will be available.
When this blended view is printed and given to your healthcare provider, it will provide important information for clinicians that might otherwise be overlooked. A list of all the medications and supplements you are taking has the potential to alert clinicians to a possible life-threatening drug interaction.
Calendar
The new, improved, user-friendly Calendar will provide veterans with features to track personal health information, health reminders, prescription refills, VHA local and national events and activities, holidays, and personal events.
Veterans who are registered as a VA Patient on My HealtheVet and who have completed In-Person Authentication (IPA), will have the ability to use the Appointments feature in their My HealtheVet calendar.
The new calendar will also provide support for individual veterans in tracking their healthcare goals which will improve collaboration between veterans and their VA healthcare team.
Everything You Want to Know about Hepatitis C
Whether you or someone you know has hepatitis C, you will find the information, advice, and support you need on the VA Hepatitis C website (
www.hepatitis.va.gov). This comprehensive site is designed to serve patients and the public, as well as health care providers.
What You will Find
The Patient Area presents information in a click-through format that makes it easy to access and understand. Start with Basics for an overview of how the liver works and what can damage it. Learn about the different types of hepatitis and what steps you can take to protect your liver.
Beyond the Basics
Deeper programs guide you through every aspect of the health care process:
- Getting Tested - Find out whether you should get tested, and what the results mean. Also, a positive screen test must be confirmed with another more specific test, so to get an accurate diagnosis, it is very important to ask your doctor if you've had "confirmatory" testing. Visit the website to find out more about what tests you need. If you're not sure about what hepatitis C tests you have had, ask your doctor to check your records.
- Just Diagnosed - Did you have a confirmed positive test result? Here are the steps you can take to understand your diagnosis and laboratory test results. You'll find questions to ask your doctor and advice on how to find support. Includes information for people infected with both hepatitis C and HIV.
- Living with Hepatitis C - Learn about alternative therapies, diet and nutrition, mental health, and sexual issues related to hepatitis C.
- Treatment Decisions - What you should know before, during, and after treatment for hepatitis C. Includes an extensive guide on treatment side effects and a section on challenges for people in drug and alcohol recovery.
For People with Liver Complications
Sometimes hepatitis C leads to permanent liver damage. For people experiencing liver complications, the site offers special information on:
- Cirrhosis - Learn what cirrhosis is, what the symptoms are, how you know whether you have it, what you can do about it, and when to go to the emergency room. Illustrations help to explain what happens to the liver.
- Liver Cancer - Find out how it's diagnosed and what treatments are available.
- Liver Transplants - Learn about the transplant process and life after transplant.
Treatment Tools
If you're getting treated with the hepatitis C drugs interferon (or peginterferon) and ribavirin, these charts can make it easier for you to follow your treatment.
- Treatment Tracking Chart - A blank chart where you can record dates of blood work, laboratory values, hepatitis C viral load levels, medication dosages, and side effects.
- Side Effects Chart - A handout listing possible treatment side effects, including headache, fatigue, and irritability, and ways to deal with them.
And There's More ...
- Frequently Asked Questions - Medical experts answer commonly asked patient questions.
- Healing Arts - Veterans whose lives have been touched by hepatitis C share their stories through their artwork.
- Glossary - Unsure what that lab test name means? Look it up in the hepatitis C glossary!
- Related Websites - Dozens of related websites, on everything from travel health to support organizations.
Great Features!
The site offers an "Enlarge Text Size" for easier reading. With one click, you can "Email This Page" to a friend or family member. A "Print Entire Lesson" button lets you print out an entire click-through tutorial on one page.
For Providers
In the Providers Area of the website, health care providers will find practical information on the treatment and care of patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as:
- VA policies & notifications
- Clinical tools
- Patient education materials
- Conferences & events
- Extensive list of related websites
Published: May 2, 2007
We Value What Veterans Tell Us
Veterans say they value the spiritual support that they receive from chaplains. Since spirituality is important to many veterans, My HealtheVet now offers information about the role of spirituality in health.
Spiritual Care information is available in the Research Health section, in all the Healthy Living Centers (Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation) under the Self-management link. Spiritual Care information is also available in the Diseases + Condition Centers, under Common Conditions in the Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Stroke centers under the Self-management link.
The My Health
eVet Clinical Advisory Board chartered a Spirituality group, which included chaplains, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and a social worker, to:
- Make available to patients and caregivers a variety of spiritual resources and tools through My HealtheVet
- Make available spiritual screening or spiritual assessment tools for use by patients and/or caregivers
- Educate patients and caregivers about how to seek further pastoral or spiritual care
- Provide education about spirituality and health in general, as well as spiritual issues and concerns commonly associated with a variety of conditions.
- Develop these spiritual tools within appropriate constitutional boundaries: a) by providing for the free exercise of religion for those who want to integrate their chosen faith into their medical treatment, and b) by avoiding any inference that the VA sponsors one religion or faith over others or that the VA promotes religious activity
The goal of this group is to make spiritual care available through My HealtheVet. Focus groups of veterans identified the kind of information that the Spirituality center will provide. Veterans told us that spirituality is related - and crucial - to emotional and physical health, and many agreed that they use spirituality as a tool for overall health. Most veterans agreed that spiritual growth is continuous and there is always room for more growth. VA chaplains then identified the kind of information that they provide to meet the spiritual needs of veterans. Working together, the Spirituality center will continue to grow in order to meet the needs of patients and their caregivers.
Published: April 2, 2007
Help for People with HIV/AIDS
Launched in 2006, the VA HIV/AIDS website offers information, practical advice, and support to people infected with HIV, as well as their friends and family members. This comprehensive site serves a broad audience, including patients and the public, as well as health care providers.
What You will Find
The Patient Area presents information in a click-through format that makes it easy to access and understand. Start with Basics for an overview: What is HIV? What is AIDS? Why should I get tested? What are the symptoms? How is HIV treated? What are the long-term effects? Learn all this and more.
Beyond the Basics
Deeper programs guide you through every aspect of the health care process:
- Getting Tested - Find out what the HIV test measures, and what your results mean. About one in four people who are HIV-positive don't even know they are infected-that means they don't get the help they need to stay healthy.
- Just Diagnosed - Tested positive? Here are the steps you can take to understand your diagnosis and laboratory test results. Includes sections on body shape changes and HIV-related infections and cancers.
- Treatment Decisions - What you should know before, during, and after treatment. Includes a guide on treatment side effects.
- Living with HIV/AIDS - Learn about drugs and alcohol, diet and nutrition, exercise, mental health, and sexual issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Online Tools
- Tips for Using Condoms and Dental Dams - Yes, there really is an art to using condoms. Find out here!
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor - Print out these lists of questions--about your diagnosis, HIV drugs, and combination therapy--and take them with you to your medical appointments.
And There's More ...
- Daily News - Updates on HIV policy and research from a variety of news sources.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Medical experts answer commonly asked patient questions.
- Healing Arts - Veterans whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS share their stories through their artwork.
(At right: A painting by Robert Sikes)
- Related Websites - Dozens of related websites, on everything from hotlines to travel health.
Great Features!
The site offers an "Enlarge Text Size" option for easier reading. With one click, you can "Email This Page" to a friend or family member. A "Print Entire Lesson" button lets you print out an entire click-through tutorial on one page. And there's a "Rate This Resource" button that makes it easy for you to tell the site authors what you like or don't like about the programs, and what you would want to see in the future. Let your voice be heard!
For Providers
In the Providers Area of the Website, health care providers will find practical information on the treatment and care of patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as:
- Daily news
- VA policies & notifications
- Clinical tools
- Patient education materials
- Conferences & events
- Extensive list of related websites
Published: April 2, 2007
Personal Health Record News
Beginning in January 2007, VA patients can upgrade their My HealtheVet account by going to their VA Medical Centers and being "in-person authenticated". The In-Person Authentication process is a way to securely verify your identity and be sure that we only release your personal health information to you. We ask that you be physically proofed, watch a video and sign a release form one time. That's it......you're done.
New Year, New You, New My HealtheVet.
To stay informed of our Personal Health Record changes, come and visit with us often.
To your health!
Published: December 12, 2006
Three New Health Journals Now Available on My HealtheVet!
In honor of Veterans Day and My HealtheVet's 2nd Anniversary, we have released three new health journals: Food Journal, Activity Journal, and Pulse Oximetry! This adds three new ways for you to monitor your health with your own Personal Health Journal.
- Food Journal is where you can record your daily food intake. Perhaps you have been told by your doctor to eat specific types of foods to help lower blood pressure, control diabetes, and/or to control weight – you can record and track what you eat here.
- Activity Journal helps you keep track of your daily exercise routine. Record how far you walk every day, how many sit-ups you do, and how many reps you complete on the bench press.
- Pulse Oximetry tracks readings of oxygen levels taken from a pulse oximeter. Monitor the usefulness of oxygen therapy by recording your pulse oximetry readings.
Monitor and maintain a healthier lifestyle with new health journals and My HealtheVet. If you are a registered user, log in and click on the My Care tab. Select HealtheLogs from the left menu. Then choose the health journal provided for the information you want to record. If you have never registered with MyHealtheVet, register here.
Learn how to use the Food Journal
Learn how to use the Activity Journal
Published: December 7, 2005
Attention all VA Patients: Refill your Prescriptions Online!
You can now use My HealtheVet to refill your VA prescriptions and view your VA prescription history online! Online prescription refill was the most popular request for My HealtheVet. So, you asked for it, and now it's here! This service is designed exclusively for VA patients to manage medications prescribed by VA doctors. To access Prescription Refill, you need to be a registered user of My HealtheVet. As a registered user, you will also have access to Personal Health Journal where you can record and track your health statistics online. If you are not a registered user, register now.
Learn how to use Rx Refill, it's easy!
My HealtheVet made some changes on Friday, July 8, 2005.
There are three major changes:
My HealtheVet changed its consumer health information providers on July 8, 2005
Healthwise® replaced Healthgate as the new commercial health education resource. There are now three (3) trusted sources of health information available in the Health Info section:
- VA-developed Health Information
- MedlinePlus® - A government resource
- Healthwise® - A commercial resource
In addition, you no longer have to log in to access these valuable health education resources. The biggest noticeable difference is that the Tools tab will not appear after you are logged in.
We have identified some health education resources that are similar to the information you are used to finding on the Tools and Health Info sections.
Social Security Number is now optional to new users registering on My HealtheVet.
This is in direct response to help desk comments that some of you are uncomfortable providing your SSN over the Internet. Additionally, many of you do not need to access VA healthcare data since you are not a VA patient.
Starting July 8:
- Registrants can choose whether or not to divulge their personal information.
- SSNs will not be required for those who are not VA patients or who opt not to access data from the VA
- Existing registrants can add, edit, or delete their SSN via the Manage My Account page.
- Registrants who opt not to include their SSN during registration can add this data later via the Manage My Account page.
A My HealtheVet ID Number will be assigned to all registrants.
The MHV ID has been added as an additional security measure to protect your personal information. The MHV ID provides a secure and private online way for MHV users to identify themselves to help desk personnel and to request assistance without compromising the security of their username and password. It is critical to safeguard access to your records and other personal information.
Starting July 8:
- Each registrant will receive a MHV ID that is a randomly generated and unique code that will have 4 letters-2 numbers-4 numbers, for example MDPM-06-7597
- The MHV ID will be assigned at registration for users creating new accounts.
- Previously registered users will also be assigned an MHV ID to use with existing accounts.
- You can see your MHV ID at the top of Manage My Account.
- When you use Contact Us while logged in, your contact form will automatically be filled out with your First Name, Last Name and MHV ID,
Published: July 8, 2005
My HealtheVet provides a convenient and centralized place to securely record your personal health information online. Since it's online you can access it anywhere there is an internet connection: home, local library, or most VA facilities. You can manage and keep track of such personal records as health insurance providers, medical events and emergency contacts. Record important health metrics including blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar and much more.
We have recently added two new health journals:
- Immunizations - Record and track your personal immunization history. Have it at your fingertips when you need to reference.
- Treatment Locations - Record facility and physician information where you received treatment.
Here are some great new features coming later this year:
- Record and track daily food and beverage consumption using an online Food Journal.
- Record your daily exercise activity in the new Activity Log.
- Refill your VA prescriptions with Prescription Refill.
- Also, you will be able to document your family health history in a printable, online record.
Look for these new features in the future:
- View VA co-pay balances.
- View scheduled appointments at VA Clinics.
- Request portions of your VA health information electronically.
Published: June 30, 2005
My HealtheVet was launched on Veterans Day, November 11, 2003, and began providing veterans with an online environment to register, and begin to access VHA-developed health information, and a health library full of information.
My HealtheVet Phase 2 is being rolled out in a steady stream between Veterans Day 2004 and Fall 2005. Over time, veterans will be able to do more to manage their health. This past Veterans Day, our first birthday, we added an easier registration wizard, enhanced navigation, and the ability to record and manage self-entered health information, helping veterans keep all of their important medical information in one place, and allowing them to print wallet cards
Veterans Day, November 11, 2004, is My HealtheVet's one-year anniversary. Join My HealtheVet and celebrate this anniversary with many new features.
- Col. William L. Sharp (Ret.) introduces My HealtheVet
Video (13MB WMV file) | Transcript (52KB PDF file)
- Learn From the Sergeant Major as he shares some neighborly advice about My HealtheVet
Video (9.3MB WMV file) | Transcript (28KB PDF file)
Published: January 13, 2005
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Reviewed/Updated: September 30, 2008
