Des Moines VA Medical Center

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)

Learn more about VA hearing aids

• COVID-19 vaccines for eligible Veterans and staff

If you’re a caregiver for a Veteran, you can get support by contacting one of our caregiver support coordinators. If the Veteran you care for was injured post-9/11, you may be eligible for even more services, including a stipend to help with expenses, training, and medical coverage if you aren’t already covered. For all caregivers, we can:

• Help you get caregiver assistance available through VA
• Provide progressive needs planning to help you manage degenerative conditions
• Match you with services and benefits
• Connect you with local resources and programs
• Listen to you when you struggle

Learn more and connect with a support coordinator

If you’re eligible for VA dental care, we offer a full range of quality dental services such as:

• Routine exams and teeth cleaning
• Restorative procedures, including fillings and crowns
• Comprehensive surgical care, including extractions (pulling teeth) and oral cancer screening
• Routine and advanced prosthodontic care, including bridges, dentures, and dental implants
• Routine and advanced periodontal care, including root canals, gum treatments, and supporting bone care
• Oral and facial reconstruction surgery to repair damage from traumatic injury or serious illness

Diabetes care at VA Central Iowa health care

Diabetes Education Program

The benefits of this specialized diabetes education are numerous, but are frequently underutilized.

Studies suggest diabetes education and/or counseling yields a lower A1C and that these patients increased their use of primary and preventive services and decreased the use of acute, inpatient hospital services as compared to controls who did not receive education or counseling.

Diabetes education helps. And classes are available for you.

CLASSES: All classes are held on the main campus in the PCC Education Room, 1633, unless noted otherwise.

Diabetes Basics - 1st & 3rd Thursdays each month, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

•  A comprehensive session for Veterans newly diagnosed with diabetes or those who have never attended a diabetes education class.

Diabetes Prevention - 2nd Thursday each month, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• A class for Veterans with blood glucose levels in the pre-diabetes range of 100-125 mg/dl.

Diabetes Refresher - 4th Thursday each month, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• A course for Veterans who have had already attended a diabetes class and who have had diabetes for a number of years and need help managing their disease. 

CBOC Diabetes Group Class - A series of 4 classes, held the first four Wednesdays of each month (Clinical Video Telehealth), 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

*Individual appointments are also available and consults may be placed for any of these services.

Call for more information 515-699-5999 ext. 4255

Genomic testing looks at how your body works on a molecular level. We examine your genes to figure out your risk of illness, or to track the changes in your condition if you’re already ill. This allows us to:

• Predict your response to cholesterol-lowering drugs and other medications
• Diagnose and treat breast, ovarian, colon, lung, and other cancers
• Personalize your medication by customizing the right type and dosage for you

We offer a range of hematology and oncology services. You can arrange appointments and consultation through your primary care provider. Our hematology and oncology services include:

• Chemotherapy
• 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

We help Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, depression, or transition from jail. Contact one of our care coordinators to get help with:

• Immediate food and shelter needs, including both transitional and permanent housing
• Job training, life skills development, and education
• Justice system navigation and community reentry from jail
• Financial support to prevent homelessness
• Addiction and depression treatment
• Health and dental care 

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We promote the health, welfare, and dignity of Veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) or a related identity. We focus on ensuring a safe, welcoming, and affirmative environment when providing you with sensitive and high-quality health care services like:

• Hormone therapy
• Substance use and alcohol treatment
• Testing and treatment for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Mental health care
• Psychosocial assessments for gender-confirming surgeries and hormone therapy

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

Our Medical Center and clinics provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being. Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for:

• Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression
• Marriage and relationship problems
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety, addictive behaviors, and personality disorders
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We offer care for military sexual trauma in our mental (behavioral) health clinics. Military sexual trauma refers to sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other threatening, offensive, or unwanted sexual advances, activities, or remarks that you may have experienced in the military. Our goal is to help you improve your quality of life with strategies to manage emotions and memories related to your military sexual trauma. Our services include:

• Counseling
• Psychiatric care
• Walk-in care

Learn more about military sexual trauma

If you’re a minority Veteran, we can help you get the services and benefits you need. Our Minority Veterans Program serves all Veterans who are Black American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Island Americans). We work to:

• Help the medical center address minority Veterans’ needs
• Meet minority Veterans’ needs in the local community
• Identify barriers and create a more accessible environment for minority Veterans
• Inform minority Veterans of VA benefits, services, and programs

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We provide inpatient and outpatient services for chronic diseases and disorders that affect your brain, spine, and the nerves that connect them. Our neurologists read electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which measure the electrical impulses brain cells use to communicate with each other. We evaluate and treat many neurological illnesses and disorders such as:

• Neuropathy (nerve damage), myelopathy and other spinal cord injuries, and radiculopathy (pinched nerves)
• Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis
• Stroke, dementia, and degenerative diseases
• Other neurological conditions

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

Our optometrists provide many eye-related services and treatments like:

• Vision services and eye exams
• Treatment for diseases and injuries of the retina, cornea, and other parts of your eye
• Low-vision services for conditions like macular degeneration that can’t be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication
• Special eye exams for diabetic patients

Palliative and Hospice Care Clinic

Building 12, Community Living Center, Floor 1

Clinic phone: 515-242-4404

Our patient advocates work hard to make sure you receive the best possible care at our health care facilities. They can:

• Help you get answers or address concerns with your care team
• Advocate for patient and family rights
• Serve as advocates for minority Veterans, women Veterans, and Veterans with disabilities
• Offer specialized help to former prisoners of war and Veterans transitioning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND)

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

Our pharmacy provides Veterans with convenient, efficient service to make 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

Learn more about our pharmacy

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

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• Mammography (mammograms)
• Computer tomography (CT)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

We offer a wide range of activities (arts and crafts, games, sports, exercise) that we can adapt to your needs.

Our therapies promote your independence and enhance your health and well-being if you’re a Veteran with an injury, chronic (long-lasting) illness, or disabling condition. After your primary health care provider gives you a referral, a recreation therapist will develop treatment goals for you.

• Recreation and creative arts therapy provides services and activities that include:
• Animal interaction
• Music, art, and crafts
• Community outings
• Exercise, sports, and games
• Gardening and leisure education

Extended Care and Rehabilitation

About the Program

The Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service Line promotes innovative Veteran-centered care that provides the right care, at the right time and in the right setting. 

We continue to transform the culture of our Community Living Center (CLC) to improve Veteran’s quality of life and to provide support to their families while allowing patients to return to prior living arrangements.

We provide innovative home and community-based care programs that promote Veteran health care in their homes or in their communities.

We strive to improve access and quality of care of hospice and palliative care for Veterans in the advanced stages of illness and at end of life.

We promote the support of families and caregivers through education, respite services and bereavement care. 

The Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service Lines have been innovative in meeting the needs of Veterans by spearheading program development for several special population groups such as: Polytrauma; Spinal Cord Injury; Visual Impairment Services; Amputee; and Geriatrics.  The VA provides value to our Veterans, their families and our employees through continual improvements and innovations in the delivery of health care services throughout the rehabilitation continuum.

Services Offered

• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Kinesiotherapy
• Speech Therapy
• Recreation Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Visual Impairment and Low Vision Services
• Home Based Primary Care
• Home Tele-Health
• Spinal Cord Injury Clinic
• Geriatric Problem Focus Clinic and GeriPACT Clinic
• Polytrauma Support/Traumatic Brain Injury Services

The CARF Inpatient Rehabilitation program individualizes treatment frequency based on the therapy needs of the Veteran.  Therapy will include a combination of Physical, Occupational, and/or Speech Therapy.

Accreditations/Certifications

• The Joint Commission (TJC) since 2004
• Commission on the Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) since 1999
• External Monitoring of Quality of Services through the Long Term Care Institute, Inc, since 2008

Learn more about VA long-term care

If you’re returning from military service, we can help you readjust to civilian life and get started with VA health care. We can also help connect you with programs like mental health services and education and career counseling.

We can help you readjust to civilian life if you’re returning from military service, on active duty, or an activated National Guard or Reserve member. Talk to one of our care coordinators about how to best use your health care benefits.

• Polytrauma care (if you have multiple traumatic injuries)
• Counseling and rehabilitation
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Family benefits counseling and assistance
• Referral assistance

Learn more and connect with a coordinator

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 community resources to meet your needs like:

• Home health services
• Legal services
• Transportation
• Community living

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.

VA has the nation’s largest system of care for spinal cord injuries and disorders. We provide a convenient, connected network of experts to care for you during each phase of your life. Our experienced primary care providers are trained to check for problems unique to spinal cord injuries.

• Pressure ulcers
• Pneumonia
• Blood clots
• Bladder and sexual issues
• Constipation and other gastrointestinal problems
• Sexual issues

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

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 

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We use the latest in secure digital technology to arrange 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:  Mental health

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

Learn more about telehealth

Our whole health approach empowers and equips you to take charge of your health, well-being, and quality of life.

Whole health goes beyond illnesses, injuries, or disabilities, to focus on your values, goals, and overall health. It includes self-care and complementary therapies along with conventional medical care. Our whole health program includes:

• Acupuncture to help you manage pain without drugs
• Meditation and mindfulness training
• Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong classes
• Massage and manual therapy

Learn more about VA whole health

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. They 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 a Women Veterans Program Manager