Press release from Charles George VA Medical Center:
Beginning June 6, 2016, Veterans enrolled at Charles George VA Medical Center (VAMC) can make appointments with their local VA Audiology and Optometry clinics without seeing their VA Primary Care physician first. The Direct Scheduling initiative is a major change in the way VA does business because, previously, enrolled Veterans had to visit their Primary Care Physician for a referral even if they had no other health care issues.
The improvement idea is a result of employee recommendations during interviews conducted across the country that the process change would save time for Veterans and free up Primary Care clinical appointments. Research confirmed that valuable Primary Care access was being used for routine Audiology and Optometry referrals.
This change is part of a nationwide VA rollout of Direct Scheduling to Audiology and Optometry clinics, which VA expects to complete by the end of 2016. Charles George VAMC was selected to participate in the first phase of the rollout.
“Direct Scheduling across all Audiology and Optometry clinics has the potential to decrease facility wait times by alleviating the case flow to Primary Care physicians, and would thereby improve the Veteran experience and access to services,” said Medical Center Director Cynthia Breyfogle. “We are honored to be a leader in this effort. Taking the lead in efforts like Direct Scheduling affirms Charles George VAMC’s commitment to fostering a Veteran-centric culture of care which honors Veterans’ service and empowers Veterans to achieve optimum health and well-being.”
For more information on Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling at Charles George VAMC, Veterans should contact the Audiology Clinic at 828-299-2541 and the Optometry Clinic at 828-298-7911, extension 5620. For Direct Scheduling appointment requests at the Hickory Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Veterans should call the Audiology Clinic at (828) 431-5600, extension 8008 and the Optometry Clinic at (828) 431-5600, extension 8011.
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