By Larry Dandridge
Recently, I have received dozens of inquiries about veterans’ benefits and services. Most of those inquiries were about VA geriatrics (elderly veteran care) and extended care, most of which are best addressed by a VA social worker. This underscores the VA social worker’s crucial role in providing comprehensive and unwavering support to veterans and their immediate family members, making them feel supported and cared for.
Social workers find ways to help
I have over 22 years of experience working closely with social workers in Hospice and with VA social workers at the five-star rated Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (RHJVAMC) in Charleston. I can sum up that experience with the following statement.
VA social workers are not just passive caregivers; they are proactive and innovative in finding ways to help their patients and their patient’s family members. Their kindness, compassion, understanding, politeness, enthusiasm, and determination to never give up ensure that veterans feel reassured and secure. If a veteran, veteran’s family member, caregiver, or survivor has questions or problems, the social worker can help or refer you to the right person for help.
Veterans need to apply for VA health care
Before I discuss VA social workers further, veterans and their dependents must understand that they must sign up for VA health care before being assigned a VA primary care provider (doctor, physician’s assistant-PA or nurse practitioner-NP) and a patient-aligned care team (PACT).
How to sign up for VA health care
Veterans should read the information on the VA “How to Apply for VA Health Care” webpage at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/ and sign up either online, by phone, by mail, in person at your local VA medical center or CBOC, or with the help of a VA-accredited veterans service officer.
Learn more about “Eligibility for VA Health Care” at https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/. Read about “How to Sign UP (Apply) for VA Health Care” at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/ and by reading The Island News article titled “Reasons all veterans should enroll in VA healthcare,” dated January 3, 2024, found at https://yourislandnews.com/reasons-all-veterans-should-enroll-in-va-healthcare/.
PACT team
The VA webpage titled “Your VA Primary Care Provider and PACT Team,” found at https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/your-care-team/, says that after a veteran signs up for VA health care and chooses their main VA-supporting medical facility (see https://www.va.gov/find-locations/), the VA will assign the veteran to a healthcare multi-functional care team called a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).
A veteran’s PACT Team will include:
- A primary care provider (doctor, NP, or PA).
- A clinical pharmacist (A pharmacist who works with the veteran and his or her primary care provider to ensure the veteran is taking the right medicines for the veteran and overall health).
- A registered nurse (RN) care manager (A nurse who makes sure the veteran’s care is coordinated across all providers (primary and specialty providers) and services and meets the veteran’s health goals and plan of care).
- A licensed practical nurse (LPN) or medical assistant and clerk (Team members who help to support the veteran and other healthcare providers on the veteran’s team).
- A social worker (Social workers provide comprehensive support to veterans by assessing and assisting in care coordination areas like home health, Fisher House referrals, and many other VA services.
- Other specialists as needed (physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.).
About VA social workers
For veterans seeking comprehensive information about their VA Social Worker, I recommend reading:
- The “VA Social Work” homepage at https://www.socialwork.va.gov.
- The Island News article, “Veterans Should Know Their VA Social Worker!” published on July 21, 2021. This article is available online at https://yourislandnews.com/veterans-should-know-their-va-social-worker/.
Social workers can help veterans in various settings, including the primary care clinic, during hospitalization, emergency department visits, mental health-rehabilitation units, when a Fisher House is needed, and upon enrollment in specialty medical programs.
Social workers connect veterans with resources, services, and programs to meet their current needs and address issues related to access to care, psychological status, economics, functional status, housing, and social support.
The VA is the largest employer of social workers in the nation, with more than 17,300 master’s-prepared social workers. VA also trains more social work graduate students than any other agency.
Social Workers provide a variety of clinical interventions and programming within the VA System and the community. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Information linkage and referral, discharge planning, and homeless outreach.
- Counseling and psychotherapy, case management, and financial assistance.
- Housing living options and assessment treatment of substance abuse.
- Advanced care planning, mental health preferences, and long-term care.
- Refer family members to local Fisher Houses supporting the Veterans’ Medical Center.
Find your social worker, confirm your enrollment in VA health care
If you do not know who your Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) social worker is, you can call and ask the following points of contact and ask for the name, phone number, and email address of your social worker:
- The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Health Care System (RHJVAMC&HCS) Social Services Department at 843-577-5011, Ext. 207635. The RHJVAMC Social Services Director is Debra King.
- The VA Medical Center Operator at 843-577-5011 (if you have your VA primary care physician’s name).
- Your VA Primary Care Provider Team (provider, RN, LPN, etc.).
- Your Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC addresses and phone numbers are found at https://www.va.gov/charleston-health-care/locations/).
- The RHJVAMC Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) Office at 843-789-7008 or if all else fails,
- The RHJVAMC&HCS Advocate Office at 843-789-6066.
Keep your VA health care enrollment active
To remain active in the VA health care program, a veteran must be enrolled and seen by their VA primary care physician at least once every 30 months. If veterans wait more than 30 months after their last visit with their primary care provider, they will have to reactive their enrollment. Learn more about this at https://yourislandnews.com/reasons-all-veterans-should-enroll-in-va-healthcare/.
The bottom line
Remember, the best persons to provide you with advice on Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) benefits and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) benefits and services are your local VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and the VA subject matter expert (VBA Regional Office, PACT team, social worker, patient advocate, eligibility and enrollment, etc.). Learn about VSOs in my article found at https://yourislandnews.com/things-you-need-to-know-about-veteran-service-officers/, dated September 4, 2024, titled “Things you need to know about Veteran Service Officers”
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
