Release from Dole VA Center
WICHITA, Kan. — To make access to health care easier, the Dole VA Center in Wichita uses Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) across Kansas, including one in Hutchinson. These clinics provide the most common outpatient services without long drives to Wichita.
While Primary Care has been the focus of CBOCs, the Dole VA has added a host of specialty care services using telehealth technology.
Dr. Zubair Hassan is Chief of Medicine and Chief of the Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep Medicine Department, and he said many procedures once requiring in visits now can be handled virtually.
“Through the VA Video Connect app and other telemedicine devices, Veterans can meet with a specialty care provider through live video on any computer, tablet, or mobile device with an Internet connection,” Dr. Hassan said.
A good example of this convenience is sleep apnea testing. Sleep studies once requiring an overnight stay in a VA facility now can be conducted in the Veteran’s home with equipment provided to them.
“Once the Veteran sends the testing device back to the VA, experts interpret the results and make recommendations for further health care,” Dr. Hassan said.
Dermatological conditions can be examined in the CBOCs and sent digitally to specialty care providers on the main Dole VA campus for examination. Vital signs such as blood pressure, body temperature, pulse,
and weight also can be measured with Internet-connected peripherals the Veteran uses at home.
“Our goal is to shorten wait times for services and reduce the need for trips back and forth between CBOCs and the main campus,” Dr. Hassan said. “We want to empower rural Veterans to keep their high-quality health care within the VA system.”
The CBOC in Hutchinson is located at 1625 East 30th.