Women Veterans
We offer comprehensive primary and gender-specific health care for the female Veteran in a sensitive and safe environment provided by proficient and interested primary care clinicians. Our emphasis is on health promotion and women’s wellness. We offer health screening, education and treatment for eligible women Veterans. We are a full-time clinic, currently staffed with two female physicians, both primary care practitioners with additional expertise and experience in women’s health. In addition, we have a Women Veterans Program Manager, RNs, an LPN, a health tech and medical support assistants. Our clinic is housed in a separate, exclusive clinical area within the larger facility to provide a safe environment for gender-specific patient care.
Services Offered
- Management of chronic disease (diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid disorders, COPfD, and CVD)
- Management of acute illness
- Preventive services – age-appropriate cancer screenings (clinical breast exams, mammograms, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening)
- Primary care (vaccines, bone density testing, nutrition counseling, and weight management)
- Management of gender-specific issues - family planning and contraceptive counseling including availability of IUDs and diaphragms, preconception counseling, pharmacologic issues related to pregnancy and lactation, sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment, vaginal infections, treatment of menopausal symptoms, abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic and abdominal pain, initial infertility work-up, PCOS, urinary incontinence/pelvic floor disorders, including pessary fitting.
- Osteoporosis treatment and management.
- Mental health services – military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
We refer patients to community based OB/GYN specialists, on as needed basis, for outpatient and inpatient surgical procedures such as colposcopy, LEEP, D&C, hysterectomy, sterilization procedures, and incontinence procedures.
For more information, please call Stephanie Blades, LISW-S, CCM at 614-257-5562.
For Women Veterans, VA is Here
Women Veteran Program Managers are available at each VA Medical Center nationwide to assist women Veterans and coordinate services. Women Veterans who are interested in receiving care at VA should contact the nearest VA Medical Center.
Women Veterans are assigned to a designated Women’s Health Primary Care Provider who can provide general primary care and is specially trained or experienced in women’s care.
Whole Health - It's All About You
VA’s Whole Health System offers women Veterans proactive and personalized health care—empowering you to achieve your greatest level of health and well-being. Whole Health means the Whole You. From integrative health approaches like stress reduction, nutrition, and health coaching, to traditional clinical care and complementary health approaches—your journey to Whole Health starts here.
Well-Being Programs
Proactive, integrative health approaches such as:
- Health coaching
- Mind-body therapies and stress reduction
- Mindfulness
- Nutrition and weight management
- Peer support and community resources
- Programs to stop smoking
- Physical therapy and chiropractic services
General Health
You will be at the center of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). A provider, nurse, and others will engage with you to manage your health care.
- Primary care: includes general medical care for acute and chronic conditions, such as chronic pain, high blood pressure, and diabetes
- Preventive care: includes immunizations and cancer screenings, such as mammogram, Pap, and colonoscopy
- Gender-specific care
- Birth control
- Family planning and preconception counseling
- Maternity and newborn care (first 7 days after birth)
- Osteoporosis screening and management
Gynecology Health Services
Evaluation and treatment for:
- Abnormal Pap test
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Infertility
- Pelvic pain
- Gynecologic cancers
Mental Health
Evaluation, counseling, and treatment for:
- Depression, mood, and anxiety disorders
- Alcohol and drug use and addiction
- Coping with illness
- Intimate partner violence/sexual and domestic abuse
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Parenting and caregiver concerns
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Stress adjustment from deployment
Specialty Care
- Management of chronic or complex conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and fibromyalgia, as well as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
- Surgery programs available at most Medical Centers
- Rehabilitation, homebound, and long-term care VA referrals are given to those in need of rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy
VA referrals are given to those in need of rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, exercise therapy, recreational therapy, and vocational therapy.
