05/14/2026

Veterans Affairs Corner

Dr. Glennon Park, MD, Theresa Sicker, MA, MPS, and Dr. Neil Patel, MD

Glennon Park, MD, Director of Clinical Programs, VHA NEMO

Theresa Sicker, MA, MPS, Health System Specialist, VHA NEMO

Neil Patel, MD, Acting Executive Director, VHA NEMO

 

Advancing Emergency Care for Veterans: Innovation, Integration, and Impact

Emergency medicine within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is evolving – driven by innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to meeting the unique needs of those who served. From leveraging telehealth to expanding specialized programs for aging Veterans and those in mental health crisis, VA is setting standards for timely, high-quality emergency care across the nation. These advancements not only improve outcomes for Veterans but also create opportunities for clinicians to practice at the forefront of modern emergency medicine.

Advancing Emergency Care for Veterans

VA operates the largest integrated health care delivery system in the United States. Within this system, VA Emergency Medicine provides approximately 2.4 million emergency care visits annually through 111 hospital-based emergency departments and 39 urgent care clinics across 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Our mission is clear, to ensure Veterans have access to timely, high-quality, on-demand emergency care. To achieve this, we focus on all aspects of emergency medicine with special emphasis on two areas important to our Veteran population:

• Geriatric Emergency Care: With more than half of our patients aged 65 or older, VA leads the nation with the largest number of accredited geriatric emergency care sites within a single health system.
• Mental Health Crisis Care: We work closely with mental health partners to ensure acute mental health care and suicide safety planning resources are available 24/7 and delivered safely in emergency settings. 

These priorities reflect VA’s commitment to addressing the most pressing needs of Veterans while setting a benchmark for emergency care nationwide. 

Improving Access Through Innovation

Innovation is essential to overcoming geographic barriers and ensuring Veterans receive care when and where they need it most. Two programs exemplify VA’s commitment to innovation:

• Tele-Emergency Care: This national program expands access for Veterans who lack immediate walk-in services, reducing delays and improving outcomes. In its first year, Tele-Emergency Care connected 144,000 Veteran visits to emergency care providers, enabling informed recommendations and virtual treatment plans when appropriate. The program is available to Veterans through VA Health Connect Clinical Contact Center (https://www.va.gov/initiatives/va-health-connect/), a private and secure virtual care service available 24/7 to Veterans enrolled in VA health care. Tele-Emergency Care improves the Veteran experience by providing rapid clinical assessment by video or phone, supporting timely triage decisions, and ensuring Veterans – particularly those in rural or resource limited areas – receive the right level of care without unnecessary travel or wait times. It also enhances safety by connecting Veterans to emergency trained clinicians earlier in their care journey, helping prevent delays in care and avoidable emergency department utilization.
• Emergency Ambulance Services: Managing 22 facility-based programs, this initiative standardizes patient transfers between facilities through national guidance, protocols, and best practices – ensuring continuity of care. In ambulance service deserts and areas with limited ambulance resources, such as rural VA medical centers, facility-based emergency ambulance services help Veterans receive timely, appropriate transport to the most clinically suitable facility – enhancing safety, reducing transfer delays, and supporting better clinical outcomes.

These innovations reflect VA’s dedication to leveraging technology and collaboration to deliver timely, high-quality emergency care nationwide.

Looking Ahead

The future of emergency care for Veterans is built on innovation and integration. Providing emergency care is a critical responsibility, and VA is committed to supporting Veterans when they need care most urgently. As VA transitions to a standardized electronic health record and explores artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, these advancements will streamline workflows, improve clinical decision-making, and strengthen patient safety.

For health care professionals seeking a career where innovation meets purpose, these initiatives also represent an opportunity to be part of a system leading the way in emergency medicine transformation.

By building on our strengths and embracing innovation, VA Emergency Medicine will continue to ensure Veterans receive the timely, high-quality emergency care they have earned – setting a national standard for excellence.