Important Contact Information for Emergent or Urgent Care

If you are with a veteran who needs to be evaluated immediately, please bring them to the Charles George VA Medical Center Emergency Department (ED) located at 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville NC 28805.

Calling ahead is a great way to provide important information to VA providers, nurses, law enforcement, or administrative staff.

• Nurses station in VA Emergency Dept.: 828-298-7911 ext. 4053
• Emergency Dept. Administrator On Duty: 828-298-7911  ext.2505 or ext.2506
  • Administrators On Duty are the staff that check veterans into the ED. They can relay information to the medical staff in the ED and confirm a veteran’s eligibility.
• VA Police – 828-298-7911 x. 5310 
  • Direct line: 828-296-4493

If you cannot bring the veteran to the VA ED and have taken the veteran to a community hospital for emergency mental health care, please report this to the VA Emergency Care Reporting system:  844-724-7842 or complete the online report at Veterans Health Administration - Community Care (va.gov).

Veterans can present to the Hope and Recovery Center, Building 9, on Riceville Rd., to be seen at the Walk-in Clinic for mental health and substance use disorder assistance.

The Walk-in clinic hours:

Monday- 8 am to 3 pm
Tuesday- 8 am to 3 pm 
Wednesday- 10 am – 3 pm 
Thursday- 8 am to 3 pm 
Friday- 8 am to 3 pm

There are multiple ways to receive assistance when a Veteran is experiencing a mental health crisis. Community partners can also learn about suicide preventing through S.A.V.E. Trainings. 

• Veterans Crisis Line - 988, Press 1
• Suicide Prevention Coordinator – or x. 2836 or x. 5033 
• Information on Emergency care before, during, and after a suicidal crisis in the community:
  • Starting January 17, 2023, VA will pay for, provide or reimburse emergency care for certain Veterans and individuals – including ambulance transportation costs – and follow-on inpatient or residential care related to the event for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to 90 days, including social work.
  • COMPACT Act Information and Resources: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/providers/info-EmergencyCare.asp
  • If you or a veteran you know is receiving care at a non-VA facility for a mental health crisis, please alert the Emergency Care Reporting system to request VA pay for care:  844-72HRVHA (844-724-7842) or complete the online report at Veterans Health Administration - Community Care (va.gov)

Veterans Justice Programs provides assistance to veterans with pending charges by connecting them to Veterans Treatment Courts or treatment options and communicating with the Veteran’s lawyer. Veterans can also receive assistance with reentry needs if they have recently released from prison. Veterans can contact VJP Specialists for assistance:

• Kay Holtzinger, LCSW 828-774-7621
• Katherine Houghton, LCSW 828-713-8356

Veterans can meet with social workers from HCHV for housing assistance by contacting: 

Walk-In Clinic – 828-298-7911 x. 1198

Walk-in clinic available Monday – Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Check-in at VA ED.

VA Homeless Hotline - 877-424-3838

Available 24 hrs., 7 days per week

If a veteran has never received care at the Asheville VA, they should contact the Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) Office for assistance with signing up for primary care and other health care services by calling 828-298-7911 x. 2509 or by presenting to E&E window on the right side of the main hospital lobby.

To notify the VA of a death of a veteran, please contact at Decedent Affairs – 828-298-7911 x. 5234.