West Roxbury VA Medical Center

We diagnose and evaluate allergies and non-HIV immune deficiencies. Our services include:

• Allergy skin tests, blood tests and comprehensive exam to identify potential food, drug, chemical, stinging insect, other various environmental sensitivities
• Initially prescribing allergy medications to manage symptoms by reducing your immune system response to various environmental allergens which may contribute to your allergic reaction
• Administering of Allergy Immunotherapy injections to assist in managing allergy symptoms not controlled by medications alone
• Venom desensitization for anaphylaxis
• Availability of VA Video Connect and Telehealth visits
• Availability of allergy immunotherapy injections remotely within various VA community outpatient clinics and VA medical centers throughout New England
• Availability of allergy skin testing at Providence VA site through Telehealth at Boston
• Specialized treatments for your immune deficiency disorders
• Evaluation of biologic criteria for allergic and eosinophilic asthma, nasal polyps, chronic urticaria, and eosinophilic esophagitis

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral. 

If you’ve had a major limb removed, our specialists can create a health care plan to help you to live independently. 

Our mission:

• To provide state–of-the-art care to Veterans and service members with amputations across the VA system
• To maximize the health and independence of Veterans and service members through a team approach and coordination of care
• To be the provider of choice for Veterans with amputations

Our support services include:

• Weekly Amputation Care Clinic, takes place on Wednesdays, and the 2nd, 4th and 5th Thursdays of the month at the West Roxbury campus
• Telehealth Amputation Care Clinic available for Veterans who receive their primary care from other facilities in VA New England Healthcare System
• Monthly Amputation Support Group, which takes place the 1st Thursday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., occurring virtually for Veterans with limb loss, their family members and caregivers; please call  for additional information
• Amputation Peer Visitor Program for 1:1 visits, is available throughout your care; please call  for additional information
• Physical, occupational and recreational therapy
• Nutrition, wellness and mental health counseling
• Prosthetic and orthotic services to support mobility
• Specialty wheelchair clinics
• Limb loss education and training to help you with self-care and activities of daily living, such as coping techniques, mobility tips and driving skills 
• Medical and surgical consultations with other specialties
• Adaptive sports and recreational therapy programs

Outpatient Rehabilitation Services are available at the Brockton, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain Campuses by referral.

Learn more about the VA amputation system of care

Our Audiology and Speech Pathology clinic provides diagnostic and rehabilitative services, VA compensation and pension examinations, and screening for employee hearing conservation. We offer a full range of audiology and speech pathology services, such as:

• Hearing and balance evaluations
• Selection, management, and repair of hearing aids and assistive listening device assessments
• Evaluation, programming, and management of cochlear implants and bone-anchored implants
• Evaluation and treatment for auditory processing disorder
• Services that help with speech, language, fluency, voice, cognitive communication, swallowing, stuttering, and laryngectomy (surgical removal of the larynx, which contains your vocal cords)
• Dysphagia evaluation, including modified barium swallow (video swallow) and fiberoptic endoscopy
• Care of special populations in palliative care, or with neurogenic communication issues, head and neck cancer or spinal cord injury
• Compensation and Pension exams for VA benefits

For Veterans with VA issued hearing aids, there is a Hearing Aid Repair walk-in clinic at the Jamaica Plain Campus for hearing aid problems/repairs on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

You can also call  to request a postage page mailing label be sent to you for repair-by-mail or use one of our repair drop boxes:

• Jamaica Plain - Main building near screening station mounted on a stanchion
• Brockton - Building 3 lobby right hand side on the wall
• West Roxbury - Building 3 at patient main entrance, left side on the wall

Just  place device(s) in a labeled and sealed envelope or bag (not a box- it won't fit inside the drop slot), and include a note with the Veteran’s name, last four digits of SSN, phone number, return shipping address and a description of problem.

Learn more about VA hearing aids

We provide COVID-19 vaccinations to Veterans enrolled in VA health care.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at VA Boston and see clinic schedules.

We perform noninvasive and minimally invasive tests and procedures that check, support and improve your heart and vascular health. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan and treat you with the most effective medications. Common procedures include:

• Evaluating you for coronary heart disease, heart-valve disease and heart defects, including stress testing, echocardiography and cardiac MR imaging
• Coronary angiography (looking for blockages in heart arteries)
• Determining causes and treatment of advanced heart failure
• Treating your heart vessels with nonsurgical or minimally invasive operations that open and support them through balloon angioplasty or stent placement (percutaneous coronary interventions)
• Noninvasively monitoring you for changes in heart rhythm, using electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs) and portable heart rhythm monitors
• Specialized treatments of abnormal heart rhythms, such as pacemaker implants and ablation procedures
• Minimally invasive heart valve procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve (e.g. Mitraclip)
• Left atrial appendage closure (e.g. Watchman) for atrial fibrillation
• Assessing and treating blockages in the peripheral vascular arteries (legs, arms, neck) with balloons and stents

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral or if you are an established Cardiology patient, call the outpatient clinic number 857-203-6004.

VA Boston Healthcare System cardiac surgeons treat disorders of the heart.  Our team of experts provides comprehensive care, using surgical approaches including minimally invasive surgery.  Common procedures include

• Surgical Coronary artery revascularization (CABG)
• Aortic aneurysm repair
• Aortic valve replacement (AVR) including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Mitral valve Repair and Replacement (MVR)
• Surgery for Atrial Fibrilation
• Minimally invasive coronary revascularization
• Minimally invasive valve surgery
• Initiation of Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• Closure of Interatrial or interventricular communications in the adult
• Sternal fixation with plates
• Pericardial striping

We treat the following conditions: 

• Coronary artery disease
• Aortic aneurysms
• Aortic and mitral valve disease including endocarditis
• Congenital cardiac anomalies in the adult
• Severe Cardiac and respiratory failure
• Unstable sternum
• Chronic pericarditis

Learn more about our Cardiac Surgery Staff

How to make an Appointment

If you aren't currently being seen by Cardiac surgery, you can be referred by your Primary Care Provider for an initial consultation. If you are already being followed by Cardiac  surgery, please call the clinic directly at .

Doctors in our medical intensive care units (ICUs) treat patients with serious illnesses or injuries, such as life-threatening infections, shock, respiratory failure, stroke, or other organ failure. Our critical care doctors (called intensivists), nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and consulting specialists provide you with a full range of services, including:

• 24/7, 365-day critical care service physician and nurse coverage
• Monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing with cardiac and oxygen telemetry
• Helping your lungs work using various types of mechanical ventilators and oxygen supply devices
• Providing nutrition through a feeding tube in your vein, nose or mouth
• Draining urine from your bladder using a catheter
• Giving fluids and medicine through your veins using an IV pump
• Providing inhaled medications for respiratory illnesses
• Helping prevent blood clots in your legs by using inflatable compression wraps or blood thinners
• Close communication with patients and families by the ICU team and specialists
• Comprehensive laboratory and radiologic services
• Comprehensive medical, surgical and radiologic consultation and services

We diagnose and treat medical conditions relating to the skin, hair and nails. Our care and services include:

• Medically necessary treatments for skin conditions, such as skin cancer or rashes
• Specialized treatments for acute (short-term) and chronic (long-lasting) skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, warts and fungal illnesses
• Evaluation, biopsy and treatment of cancerous or pre-cancerous skin conditions, like abnormal moles and lesions
• Laser procedures for vascular malformations, scar revisions and tattoo removal
• Other special dermatological procedures, such as photodynamic therapy, ultraviolet light treatment, and facial volume restoration in special patient populations
• Teledermatology (a telehealth resource), which gives patients quick access to expert opinions
• Referrals for complex conditions

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral.

During a medical emergency, if you believe your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away!

Emergency Medicine at VA Boston HCS  is composed of an Emergency Department and two Urgent Care centers.

A medical emergency is an injury, illness or symptom so severe that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be reasonably expected to be hazardous to life or health. The VA Boston Emergency Department is open 24/7 and located on the West Roxbury Campus, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132-4927

We also offer urgent care for injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, but which shouldn’t wait for an appointment, such as strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections. Urgent care services for eligible Veterans are available at our Brockton and Jamaica Plain campuses:

• Brockton Urgent Care, open 24/7, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301-5596
• Jamaica Plain Urgent Care, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-4817

Urgent care is also available from a VA Community Care Network (CCN) urgent care provider. Find a VA CCN urgent care clinic near you at https://www.va.gov/find-locations.

For more information on selecting the right type of care, visit Choosing Between Urgent And Emergency Care | Veterans Affairs (va.gov). 

We diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and other endocrine system problems that can create or complicate serious medical conditions, such as:

• Thyroid or parathyroid disorders
• Hyper- and hypo-calcemia
• Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease
• Pituitary disease
• Hypogonadism
• Adrenal disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Metabolic disorders

Our endocrinologists can:

• Measure the level of various hormones in your body
• Measure your blood glucose level
• Determine the cause and proper treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders
• Provide transgender hormone management

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral.

As a referral center for VA New England, we care for approximately 500 to 600 patients in our outpatient clinic each month, and perform in more than 2,500 endoscopic procedures annually. We treat a broad range of health concerns, including conditions in your esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon, and other parts of your digestive system. We can also test and treat other organs of the digestive system, like your liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Care and services we provide include:

• Colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which use an endoscope (a long, flexible tube with a small camera on the end) that lets us examine your digestive system
• Endoscopic ultrasound, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create images that help us diagnose and evaluate digestive and lung diseases
• Manometry study, which tests how well your esophagus is working
• Small bowel capsule endoscopy, which uses a tiny wireless camera that takes pictures as it moves through your digestive system
• 24-hour pH study, which measures how much stomach acid is flowing into your esophagus and helps us assess conditions like severe heartburn and acid reflux
• Evaluation of positive fecal occult blood testing
• Treatments for chronic liver disease and hepatitis C
• Management of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Management of irritable bowel syndrome, known as IBS

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral.

We assess your situation and condition to decide which outpatient geriatric services are right for you or a senior Veteran in your care, and coordinate that care. Our team of specialists provides geriatric services that include:

• Functional status assessment
• Cognitive impairment assessment
• Medication review
• Medicine and nursing
• Psychology, psychiatry and social work
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Caregiver education and support
• Community living center / nursing home placement
• Inpatient hospice and palliative care
• Home health aides
• Adult day care

Learn more about Geriatrics & Extended Care at VA Boston.

To access care, ask your primary care provider for a referral.

Please bring all medication bottles and pillboxes, a photo ID (such as your Veteran’s ID card or a driver’s license) and your health insurance information with you to your first Geriatrics appointment. We encourage you to bring a family member or caregiver, if applicable. If you are transferring from a health care provider outside the VA, it is helpful if you bring your medical records with you.

Learn more about VA long-term care.

The primary goal of the  our Cancer Center is to encourage and promote collaborative interactions and translational research that will lead to new approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Hematology and Oncology diagnose and treat cancers and blood-related disorders. At the VA Boston Healthcare System these specialty sections work closely together and share a treatment area. We offer an extensive program of patient care, education and research with a staff of physicians, fellows and nurse clinicians. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, patient referrals come from primary care providers at VA healthcare systems across the region. On average, we treat about 290 patients per month -- most  in an outpatient setting. Our hematology and oncology services include:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Blood and platelet transfusions
• Mediport flushes to clean and maintain the small medical appliance inserted under your skin, making it easier to inject drugs and draw blood
• Evaluation and treatment of blood disorders and cancer
• Dedicated outpatient infusion center, working closely with radiation oncology, interventional radiology, general surgery, diagnostics, palliative care and social services
• Bone marrow biopsies, to see whether your bone tissue is healthy and making a normal number of blood cells
• Treatment for all types of genitourinary cancers, including prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers
• A multiple myeloma program
• A Neuro-Oncology Treatment Center treating all types of brain tumors
• Treatment for all types of thoracic lung cancers

Additional available services include:

• Palliative care 
• Hospice care 
• Clinical psychology
• Social work 
• Huntington House outpatient lodging and travel services 

We offer outpatient clinics at the Brockton and Jamaica Plain campuses, and inpatient care at the West Roxbury campus.

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral. A Hematology or Oncology specialist will then manage the your care.

We promote the health, welfare, and dignity of all Veterans and their families. We focus on ensuring a safe and welcoming environment when providing you with sensitive and high-quality health care services like:

• Hormone therapy in limited circumstances
• Substance use and alcohol treatment
• Testing and treatment for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Mental health care

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services. Our laboratory and pathology services include:

• Study of blood, urine and other bodily fluids for illness management
• Testing for infectious diseases
• Cytopathology (study of unusual cells) and surgical pathology (study of tissue removed during surgery)
• Autopsy services

Going to the lab for bloodwork?

When you visit one of our labs to have your blood drawn, you will be asked to present your VA identification card or other identification that has your full Social Security Number (SSN) on it. In addition, our phlebotomists are required to ask you to recite your full name and SSN as an extra measure of patient safety.

Please follow any dietary restrictions that your doctor may have requested -- such as fasting -- for your bloodwork.

Our team of kidney doctors (nephrologists) actively manage all aspects of adult kidney disease, kidney and bladder stones, renal hypertension (high blood pressure caused by kidney disease), and mineral and bone disorders. This specialty is also frequently known as renal services. We provide inpatient and outpatient care, including:

• Dialysis -- inpatient and outpatient
• Home patient monitoring
• Kidney transplant evaluation
• Kidney disease education

In addition, this service has been active in clinical research projects for more than 25 years. Its investigators currently participate in research areas of Chronic Renal Disease and High Blood Pressure.

To access care, ask your primary care team for a referral.

Our registered dietitians can help you maintain or improve your health with good nutrition tailored to your needs. Through group, individual and telehealth sessions, we provide nutrition education and counseling in areas such as:

• Cardiovascular and heart health
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes (including gestational diabetes)
• Eating disorders and digestive health
• Pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
• Weight management

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a consult or call the Nutrition Scheduler at .

Learn more about VA Boston's Nutrition and Food Service.

Care we provide at VA Boston health care

Comprehensive eye care with a focus on vision correction and screening for ocular disease.

We treat the following conditions

• Ocular inflammation
• Glaucoma
• Dry eye
• Near-sightedness/far-sightedness

Available at these locations

• Brockton VA Medical Center
• Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center
• Lowell CBOC
• West Roxbury VA Medical Center

How to Make an Appointment

If you aren't currently being seen by Optometry, you can be referred by your primary care provider for an initial consultation. If you are already being followed by Optometry, please call the clinic directly at .

Learn more about our Optometrists at VA Boston health care

Our palliative and hospice care services support you and your family as you cope with a life-threatening or terminal illness, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive lung disease, cancer, advanced kidney, lung, liver or heart disease, or progressive neurologic disease. Palliative care works to provide comfort, reduce suffering, and improve the quality of life for patients being treated for serious illnesses. Hospice care focuses on helping patients with terminal illnesses to manage the final stages of their lives. Our inpatient and outpatient palliative and hospice care services include:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support for you and your family
• Help with practical issues that include an advance directive (living will), health care power of attorney, funeral arrangements, and applying for VA death and burial benefits
• Education to help you and your family make informed health care decisions and know what to expect as your health declines
• Bereavement care to help surviving family members during the grieving process

To access care, ask your primary care provider, specialist provider or social worker for a referral. 

Learn more about inpatient palliative care consultation at the West Roxbury campus.

Learn more about our Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program.

Learn more about our hospice and palliative care inpatient unit. 

Frequently asked questions about hospice and palliative care -- National Institute on Aging

Our Patient Experience Coordinators work to ensure you receive the best possible care at our health care facilities. We work with all departments on your behalf to address your questions or concerns. If you, or a Veteran you care for has not been able to resolve important care issues through other means, please contact one of our highly-skilled patient experience coordinators, who can:

• Help you get answers or address concerns with all aspects of your health care
• Provide assistance navigating VA healthcare services
• Advocate for patient and family rights
   

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients

After your visit, you may receive a confidential questionnaire in the mail or by email asking you about your most recent outpatient or inpatient treatment at our medical center.

Please use the survey to let us know of any concerns, complaints or questions you have about your care, so we can resolve them. We also appreciate compliments about what we are doing right.

The VA Boston Healthcare System pharmacy provides Veterans with convenient, efficient service, making it easy to get your medications and medical supplies. You can:

• Pick up new prescriptions in person
• Refill prescriptions online and by phone or mail
• Safely dispose of medicines

At this time, Pharmacy is emphasizing a mail-order system, but you can pick up prescriptions in person at the medical center campuses:

• Outpatient Pharmacy will honor emergent prescription needs for in-person pick up, such as post-surgical, emergency department and discharge medication needs
• Other medications and supplies will normally be mailed

Veterans may request refills and renewals by:

• Contacting the prescription refill line at 1- and press 2
• Mailing in refill slips
• Requesting through My HealtheVet – www.myhealth.va.gov   

Please allow 10-14 days for prescription delivery by mail. Veterans may request expedited shipments and may request changing routine medications from 30 day fills to 90 day fills by contacting the prescription refill line at 1- and press 2.

Please visit MyHealtheVet for information about any prescription you may be taking.

Learn more about the Pharmacy at VA Boston Healthcare System.

Care we provide at VA Boston Healthcare System:

Our physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors and therapists focus on whole-body health to help improve physical function, increase independence, improve quality of life, and personalize care for rehabilitation based on patient goals.

Services include (depending on campus):

• Physiatry
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Chiropractic
• Massage Therapy
• Neuropsychology
• Kinesiotherapy
• Ergonomics

Some clinical services provided:

• Amputee Program – CARF* Accredited
• Aquatherapy
• Brace Clinic
• Cardiopulmonary
• Driving Rehabilitation
• Inpatient Rehabilitation CIIRP** – CARF Accredited
• Prosthetics
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI/D)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)/ Polytrauma
• Wheelchair Specialty Clinics
• Pelvic Health (Men’s and Women’s)

*Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

**Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Learn more...

Physical therapy, occupational therapy and kinesiotherapy can help restore movement and function if you have been disabled by injury or disease.

If you’re living with or recovering from an injury, illness or chronic condition that limits your mobility and independence, we can help. Our physical, occupational and movement therapists and assistants combine therapeutic exercise, counseling, education and training to help you improve your health and quality of life. Our services include:

• Pain relief and joint mobilization
• Movement and exercise therapies to improve your strength, endurance, balance, and coordination
• Mobility assessment and training with wheelchairs, scooters, and walking devices
• Life skills training and activities to help you maintain the highest level of independence and functionality
• Aquatic therapy to manage chronic pain
• Evaluation and treatment for a wide range of medical, orthopedic, psychosocial, and neurological conditions

Kinesiotherapy involves an evaluation and a program of exercise therapy and training to help improve a patient's strength, endurance and mobility.

Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation program that assists people to live life to its fullest by building skills for a better life.

Physical therapy helps people improve their movement and physical function, manage pain and other chronic conditions, and recover from and prevent injury and chronic disease.

Massage therapy provides clinical services that address a vast array of problems impacting the health and function of patients by promoting circulation of blood and lymph, reliving muscle tension, alleviating pain and anxiety, promoting sleep, reducing stress and enhancing the general sense of wellness. Learn more about massage therapy at VA Boston.

Some services may be available virtually through VA Video Connect. Ask your care team for details.

Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life, including immunizations and vaccinations. They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you.

Primary Care provides ongoing, routine medical care for patients, such as:

• Annual exams
• Initial diagnoses
• Preventive care
• Patient and family health education

Your primary care team also coordinates many other care and services you may receive, including:

• Labs and blood work
• Mental health care
• Women's health care
• Radiology and other diagnostic imagery
• Social services
• Telehealth
• Other specialty care and services

Except for medical emergencies, primary care is provided only through scheduled appointments.

Emergency Services are provided only by the Emergency Department on the West Roxbury campus. However, for urgent conditions that are appropriate to be treated on an outpatient basis in a primary care clinical setting, same-day or next-day appointments in primary care are available.

Patient Call Center

The Patient Call Center is a very important part of primary care, providing ready access to the primary care team. Patients may use this system to communicate with the team, receive clinical advice or answers to questions, request renewal of medications, and to make or change a clinic appointment. All patients enrolled in primary care have access to this service.

To reach the Patient Call Center, dial 1- -- available 24 hours per day.

We provide and help you use medical aids, hearing aids, state-of-the-art adaptive home equipment and other equipment to help you preserve and increase your mobility and independence.

VA is the world’s largest and most comprehensive provider of sensory aides and prosthetic devices. Veterans enrolled in the VA Boston Healthcare System and referred by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician can receive the full range of services and equipment, including:

• Artificial limbs and surgical implants, including artificial joints and pacemakers
• Wheelchairs and other medical devices
• Aids for Veterans who are blind, have low vision, or are hearing impaired
• Adaptive equipment and modifications to make your vehicle or home more accessible
• Other devices and services to help increase your mobility, dignity, and independence
• Clothing allowance for Veterans with devices that damage their clothing

Here are some useful links for more information:

Automotive adaptive equipment 

Clothing Allowance

Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA)

Our pulmonary medicine team treats diseases and conditions that affect the lungs and breathing, including asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sleep apnea.

If you find it difficult to breathe or sleep, our pulmonary (lung) specialists can help! At the VA Boston Healthcare System, we offer inpatient and outpatient consultative services, pulmonary procedures -- including advanced bronchoscopy -- pulmonary function tests, sleep and allergy evaluations and treatment, and respiratory therapy. We provide education, pulmonary rehabilitation and treatments, including:

• Oxygen therapy, when needed, to help you stay active and breathe better
• In person and virtual pulmonary rehabilitation to increase your exercise capacity, reduce respiratory symptoms, and increase your feelings of optimism and accomplishment. Watch this video on Facebook to learn more...
• Treatments and comprehensive recommendations to help you manage your respiratory symptoms, other conditions that may affect your breathing, weight, and potentially improve energy level
• Tests to measure your lung function, lung volume and blood gas

We work closely with our Allergy/Immunology team in the same location. Our sleep specialists diagnose and treat sleep apnea and sleep disorders.

To access care, ask your Primary Care team for a referral.

We offer radiology and imaging services to diagnose and treat many medical conditions. Our services* include:

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• Mammography (mammograms)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Nuclear medicine
• Bone density testing
• Fluoroscopy
• Angiography

VA Boston is equipped with the most advanced imaging technology available, and offers advanced interventional radiology services with many highly specialized procedures.

The radiology team consists of both technologists and radiologists. Each technologist is trained specifically for the test performed. The radiologists are medical doctors who interpret the resulting images. After they review your images and medical history, the radiologists send a report of the findings to your doctor who ordered the test. Usually you will not meet with a radiologist during your appointment. He or she will speak with your doctor about any significant findings or to learn more about you.

As we are an affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School, teaching is an important part of our mission. Our radiologists are regularly involved in teaching and supervising medical residents.

*Not all services are available at all campuses. 

Our doctors treat inflammation, stiffness or pain in your muscles, joints and tendons. Common rheumatic illnesses include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
• Lupus, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome
• Gout and pseudogout
• Osteoarthritis
• Vasculitis and myositis
• Other chronic regional musculoskeletal problems, such as tendonitis or bursitis

When Should You See a Rheumatologist?

Watch this video for more information.

How to Make an Appointment

Appointments with the department of Rheumatology require a referral by your primary care physician.

Patient Education Material Links

Here are some useful patient education resources, both from VA and from other credible sources. VA does not endorse or maintain non-VA materials or websites. We are continually expanding resources, so check for new materials...

PTSD tied to autoimmune disorders

About arthritis

American College of Rheumatology

Arthritis Organization

The sleep medicine service diagnoses and treats your sleep problems, including trouble sleeping, breathing difficulties while sleeping, snoring, teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

At various points in our lives, all of us suffer from a lack of sleep. But, if you are spending enough time in bed and still wake up tired or feel very sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder. We can help. Our sleep specialists can:

• Diagnose and treat sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
• Perform sleep testing either at home or in a specialized Sleep Laboratory

For more information, ask your VA Primary Care team or call the Sleep Clinic at during regular business hours.  

For information on insomnia and how you can manage it, visit Path to Better Sleep - Veteran Training (va.gov).

Services available by location...

Physician services available at:

• Brockton VA Medical Center
• West Roxbury VA Medical Center
• Via telehealth -- VA Video Connect -- in your home

Sleep technologist services available at:

• Brockton VA Medical Center
• West Roxbury VA Medical Center
• Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center
• VA Bedford Healthcare System

In-laboratory sleep testing available at:

• Brockton VA Medical Center

Services we provide at VA Boston health care

Social work is integral to health care. We can help you and your family manage stress-related problems due to injury or illness, and find VA and community-based resources to meet your needs, such as:

• Case management
• Community living
• Counseling
• Discharge Planning
• Home health services
• Independent living
• Legal services
• Transportation

If you have a spinal cord injury or disorder, our specialists provide coordinated care throughout your life. We work to help you achieve your goals for independence, productivity and quality of life.

Our mission is to promote the health, independence, quality of life, and productivity of Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) throughout their lives. Click the links below for more information:

• Our SCI system of care
• Eligibility, referral, fees and payer source information
• Persons served
• Team approach
• Services provided
• Specific program information and outcomes
• Spinal cord injury fellowship and training programs
• Contact us
• SCI/D resources and education material

Learn more about the Spinal Cord Injury Center

Learn more about the VA spinal cord injuries and disorders care system

Here are some helpful links for VA Boston Veteran patients and their caregivers:

• VA National SCI Home Page
• SCI/D Educational Information

We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis. We offer:

• Suicide prevention care coordinators
• Suicide prevention case managers
• Gun safety locks

Mental health services at VA Boston offer same-day access to mental health care for Veterans who need it. Our emergency department on the West Roxbury campus is also open 24/7 for Veterans with urgent mental health care needs outside of regular business hours.

Additionally, VA offers mobile apps that support many aspects of mental health and wellness. Visit https://mobile.va.gov/appstore/mental-health to learn more. 

Veterans and their loved ones can always call VA’s Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, chat at www.veteranscrisisline.net, or text 838255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

If you are having surgery, we make sure that your procedure and follow-up care are safe and high-quality.

Surgery, otherwise known as General Surgery  is a surgical specialty that focuses on alimentary canal [GI Tract] and abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland.  We also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast, and hernias and perform endoscopic procedures such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

We treat the following conditions

• Anti-reflux- laparoscopic, robotic, and open procedures for reflux and hiatal hernia management.
• Breast- male breast care
• Colon and Rectal Surgery- laparoscopic and open colon/rectal resection
• Endocrine- parathyroidectomy, thyroidectomy, adrenalectomy
• Gallbladder-benign and malignant disease including cholecystitis, gallstones, polyps
• Spleen – laparoscopic and open splenectomy
• Liver, pancreas, and bile duct benign and cancer surgery
• Hernia- laparoscopic and open incisional, inguinal, umbilical, ventral
• Surgical Oncology- dealing with cancer of all portions of the gastrointestinal tract and para-thyroid; thyroid glands

Learn more about of General surgery surgeons at VA Boston health care

How to Make an Appointment

If you aren't currently being seen by General surgery, you can be referred by your Primary Care Provider for an initial consultation. If you are already being followed by General Surgery, please call the clinic directly at

Telehealth is just one of the virtual care technologies we offer. Click here  to learn more about Connected Care resources, which offer greater convenience and empower you to take charge of your health care from the comfort of your home. 

We use the latest in secure digital technology to set up remote visits with our health care providers. We offer video conferencing, home telehealth services, and store-and-forward telehealth that lets you securely send your health information to experts at VA facilities. We offer telehealth visits with providers in specialties such as:

• Mental health
• Retinal care (eye)
• Bariatric surgery (visit remotely with your weight-loss surgery team before and after your operation)
• Dermatology
• Rehabilitation
• Primary care

We evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of urology diseases and conditions that include kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, prostate cancer and more. We provide you with medical care, surgery, and minimally invasive procedures for health issues that affect:

• Bladder
• Female urogynecologic health
• Infertility
• Kidneys
• Male reproductive organs
• Ureter and urethra

Learn more about our Urology Surgical Staff

How to Make an Appointment 

If you aren't currently being seen by Urology, you can be referred by your Primary Care Provider for an initial consultation. If you are already being followed by Urology, please call the clinic directly.

Note: Please bring any applicable non-VA records or X-Rays with you when coming to your Urology appointment.

Our expert team diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions that affect arteries, veins and blood circulation.

VA Boston Healthcare System vascular surgeons treat illnesses of your arteries and veins.  Our team of experts provides comprehensive care, using surgical and endovascular (minimally invasive) approaches.  Surgical procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art hybrid OR suite at the West Roxbury VA campus.  Common procedures include

• Lower extremity bypass surgery
• Endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease (angioplasty/stent)
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Trans-carotid artery revascularization (TCAR)
• Aortic aneurysm repair including endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), thoracic aneurysm repair (TEVAR), and complex fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR)
• Hemodialysis access
• Treatment of varicose veins and other venous disease (including office-based sclerotherapy treatment)

How to Make an Appointment

If you aren't currently being seen by Vascular surgery, you can be referred by your Primary Care Provider for an initial consultation. If you are already being followed by Vascular Surgery, please call the clinic directly at .

Learn more about your Vascular surgeons at VA Boston healthcare system

Learn more about Vascular surgery at VA Boston healthcare

We provide support and assistive devices, including wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes, to help you preserve and increase your mobility.

Our team works with you to:

• Assess your individual need for mobility, which may include lightweight manual and sports or power wheelchairs
• Optimize seating positioning
• Achieve maximum function and independence
• Promote good posture, breathing, digestion and tissue health
• Prevent complications and additional injuries, such as pressure ulcers

VA Boston Wheelchair and Seating Clinics provide lifelong service. Our program will repair damaged equipment or replace equipment when it is beyond repair, or when it is due for replacement.

Virtual care:

If the Veteran or caregiver has access to Veteran Video Connect on their smartphone, tablet or computer, there is a possibility that a portion of the wheelchair and seating visit could be conducted virtually. The program encourages Veterans to inquire about this virtual clinic option at time of scheduling.

How to schedule with Wheelchair and Seating clinics:

• Veterans can call the clinic and self-refer if they feel an evaluation is indicated

• Veterans can obtain a referral from their primary care doctor or another specialty provider

Partner with your healthcare team to explore what matters most to you and develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs and goals. 

Explore the services offered by the Whole Health Team:

• Attend a Veteran-led “Introduction to Whole Health” class to learn how Whole Health can support your health goals
• Participate in a “Taking Charge of Your Life & Health” group to explore the areas of life where you can set goals
• Explore “what matters most to you” with a Whole Health peer partner
• Partner with a Whole Health coach to explore different aspects of your life that can affect health and well-being
• Join Ompractice for live virtual Tai Chi, Yoga and other wellness classes

Learn more about whole health at VA Boston HCS.

VA Boston Whole Health Flyer

Additional resources about Whole Health

Ask your healthcare team for a referral or call 857-203-4876.

We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings, mental health treatment, recovery from military sexual trauma, maternity care and female-specific medical equipment.

Our women's health program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages. Our primary care providers specialize in women’s health and work closely with specialists in gynecology, obstetrics, female urology, oncology, medicine, radiology, surgery and breast illness. Our services for women Veterans include:

• Ultrasounds, mammograms, Pap and HPV tests
• Mental health care and counseling
• Lifestyle wellness services
• Menopause treatment, including hormonal therapy
• Family planning, contraceptive care and infertility evaluation

Learn more and connect with the Women Veterans Program Manager. 

Women Veterans Call Center

The Women Veterans Call Center provides women Veterans information about VA services and resources, benefits and eligibility. The toll-free line is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time and on Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Please see the Women Veterans Call Center website or call 855-VA-WOMEN -- . Call, chat or text are all available.