Health services

Our Nurse Advice Line provides free, confidential answers to you and your family's health care questions.

Call: .  We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We provide emergency medical care 24 hours a day, every day. Our emergency room staff can help you with:

• Life-threatening illnesses and injuries that require immediate attention
• Urgent medical issues that must be treated right away
• Mental health evaluations

Not sure if you need emergency care? Call our free, confidential Nurse Advice Line at , available 24/7. A VA nurse will help answer your questions and guide you on urgent or routine care decisions.

We work together with you to create a customized plan that focuses on what matters most to you. Together, we address common conditions that occur with age that can threated your independence. Our team of specialists include physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists and speech language pathologists who have advanced training and expertise in aging. Services include:

• Primary care for older adults
• Prevention and lifestyle interventions to help live better such as Gerofit
• Medication management and pharmacy consultation

Learn more about VA long-term care

Prescriptions may be refilled locally by phone or online.

An automated refill line is available for all patients of Madison VA Hospital and Clinics. Please call: 

608-280-7134 
or 
888-856-9039

If you are using this automated refill line, all refills should be ordered at least 10 (ten) days prior to when the refill is due to ensure there is enough time for the prescription to be mailed to you.

Prescriptions may also be filled online using VA's My HealtheVet program. 

Because of our patient workload, prescriptions cannot be refilled in person at our outpatient pharmacies.

Learn more about Pharmacy

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 offers eligible Veterans easy access to health care professionals who understand their needs. We provide long-term patient-provider relationships, coordinate care across different health services, and educate on disease prevention.

Primary care is your first contact point if you are enrolled in VHA health care. Contact your primary care physician for these services and more:

• Cancer screening (colon, breast, cervical, prostate, and others)
• High blood pressure and cholesterol screening and treatment
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment
• Diabetes prevention and treatment
• Flu and other recommended vaccines
• Mental health, drug and alcohol screening
• Lab tests and blood work

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.

Learn more about women Veteran care.  

We help Veterans recover with outpatient services and educational programs. Our Addictive Disorders Treatment Program (ADTP) provides a thorough, proven recovery plan for Veterans dealing with substance use and mental health issues.

ADTP also offers treatment at the following CBOCs via telehealth or video options:

• Freeport
• Baraboo
• Beaver Dam
• Janesville

Learn more about Addictive Disorders Treatment Program (ADTP)

Our mental health service offers consultation, evaluation, and treatment for various issues that affect emotional well-being.

Services include treatments for:

• Depression, sadness, grief
• Anxiety, worry, nervousness
• Addictive behaviors
• Relationship problems
• Stress from medical problems and/or pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Emotional issues like anger management

Services are available at all locations through video telehealth.

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Confidentiality

Our mental health services are confidential. We will not talk to anyone about information you share unless you give written consent. If you have questions, please ask your mental health provider.

Veterans are asked about experiences of sexual trauma because we know that any type of trauma can affect a person's physical and mental health, even many years later.

Both women and men can experience military sexual trauma during their service, and treatment is tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Our services include:

• Counseling
• Psychiatric care
• Walk-in care

Learn more about military sexual trauma.

If you have symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, we can help. We offer assessment and treatment support such as private counseling, group therapy and medication. It’s never too late to get help.

Our team understands the unique challenges Veterans face due to trauma. The PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) is here to help you feel more in control and satisfied with your life.

We provide personalized treatment, which can include educational group meetings, therapy support groups, and individual therapy to manage stress disorders like PTSD. We also connect Veterans with local resources like Vet Centers, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, or private therapists, especially for those who live far from our main hospital. 

Therapy is available through telehealth, either in your home or at one of our Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.

Learn more about treatments, resources, and research available on PTSD.  

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 at all Madison VA Hospital and Clinic locations via telephone and/or video connect.
• Education and training on Veteran suicide prevention for the community
• Gun safety locks

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We can create a personalized health care plan to support independent living after limb loss. Our services include: 

• Therapy, counseling and prosthetic support
• Education and training for daily living and mobility skills
• Medical and surgical consultations with other specialties

Learn more about VA amputation care

Our clinic provides Veterans diagnostic and rehabilitative services and screening for employee hearing conservation. We offer a full range of audiology services like:

• Hearing and balance evaluations
• Selection, management, and repair of hearing aids and assistive listening device assessments
• Implantation, evaluation, programming, and management of cochlear implants and bone-anchored implants
• Evaluation and treatment for auditory processing disorder 

While we only offer in-person services at the Madison VA Hospital and East Clinic, many of our services are offered through telehealth at our clinic locations in Rockford, Janesville, Freeport, Baraboo and Beaver Dam.  Please contact the location of your choice for more details and to schedule a telehealth appointment with our audiology clinic.

Learn more about VA hearing aids

Our team of specialists and social workers  work with you to find the right aids and services. Services include:

• Comprehensive eye exams
• Visual skills assessments
• How to develop visual motor and perceptual skills
• Help managing daily activities with vision loss

If you’re diagnosed with cancer, our team works with you, your primary care doctor and other health care providers to develop a specialized treatment plan. We offer personal, compassionate and expert care, including:

• Surgical removal of tumors and other cancerous tissue
• Immunotherapy, which helps your body’s natural defenses destroy cancer cells
• Chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to fight cancer
• Radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors

We perform tests and procedures that help check, support and improve your heart health without surgery. We'll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan and provide you with the most effective medications. Our services include:

• Diagnosing and treating heart-related conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, arrhythmias and valve problems through physical exams and specialized tests
• Monitoring heart rhythm changes using electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs), portable Holter monitors or ultrasound

Services at specific locations include:

• Determining how well blood flows through your heart vessels
• Performing surgical treatments like pacemaker implants or cardiac catheterization (inserting a long, thin tube into an artery or vein)

If eligible for VA dental care, we offer:

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

Our gastroenterology department offers services like:

• Screening for colon cancer with tests such as stool-based test (FIT) or colonoscopy
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which uses an endoscope to examine your esophagus and colon for various GI problems
• Manometry study, which tests how well your esophagus is working
• Small bowel capsule endoscopy, which uses a tiny wireless camera to take pictures as it moves through your digestive system
• 24-hour pH study, which measures how much stomach acid flows into your esophagus and helps us assess conditions like severe heartburn and acid reflux

Our laboratory provides a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services. 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)

Laboratory and pathology testing is done primarily at Madison VA Hospital, but patient samples can be collected at all of our local clinics. 

Join our MOVE! Weight Management Program to live healthier, reach your health goals, and manage your weight. Losing 5%-10% of your weight can improve your health and boost your energy. MOVE! is more than just weight loss. We help you make lasting, practical changes to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and weight losses, based on the latest nutrition science.

You can sign up yourself or ask your provider for a referral. 

Veterans start with a MOVE! overview to see current options, which may include.

• In-person individual appointments with a registered dietitian are available at:
  • Madison VA Hospital
  • Madison VA East Clinic
  • Madison VA West Clinic
  • Rockford Clinic
• Individual appointments via telephone, VA Video Connect (VVC) or telehealth are available at all locations.
• Group classes (VVC and limited in-person)
  • Weekly- 16 week led by multidisciplinary team including a registered dietitian
  • Monthly Support Group- led by registered dietitian
• Home TeleMOVE!
  • A 90-day weight management program that aligns with the core MOVE! curriculum
  • Weight management support is provided by a registered dietitian

Learn more about MOVE!

We provide inpatient and outpatient services for chronic diseases and neurological disorders that affect your brain, spine and the nerves that connect them.

Learn more about epilepsy at the VA Epilepsy Center of Excellence.

Outpatient Nutrition Services

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
• Eating disorders and digestive health
• Pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
• Weight management (MOVE! Program)

Learn more about our Outpatient Nutrition Services.

Inpatient Nutrition Services

Healthy and nourishing food is important in recovery. Hospital patients may include a dietitian visiting to discuss food and nutrition, such as:

• Lack of appetite
• Nutrition related disease like diabetes and/or hypertension
• Weight loss/weight gain

Learn more about our Inpatient Nutrition Services.

Our optometrists provide many eye-related services like:

• Comprehensive ocular health and vision exams
• Teleretinal screening
• Low vision services
• Contact lens evaluations, if eligible

If you have trouble moving, feel pain when you move, or can't do daily tasks like you used to, you might need to see an orthopedist. We diagnose and treat many conditions, such as:

• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Sprains, strains, and tears

We provide education and care for Veterans in our outpatient orthopedics clinic, including:

• Teaching joint protection
• Teaching home exercise programs to improve strength and range of motion
• Manual therapies
• Use of treatments like heat, ice, and ultrasound both in our clinic and at home

We assess, diagnose and treat ear, nose and throat conditions such as:

• Nasal and sinus issues
• Voice and swallowing problems
• Facial nerve disorders and facial injuries
• Airway problems with inpatient and clinic-based care
• Ear problems including hearing issues

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

Based on the Veteran’s diagnosis, prognosis, and goals, therapists design and implement a customized and integrated plan of care in collaboration with the patient.

Services include:

• Personalized therapy for your rehabilitation
• Pain management
• Rehabilitation from injury: exercise progression, activity modification
• Improvement in functional mobility: gait training, adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment training, balance training, strengthening, prosthetics/orthotics, environmental modifications.
• Manual therapy, modalities, therapeutic exercise, dry needling, taping, prosthetics/orthotics.
• Management of age-related issues: balance training, falls assessment, vestibular testing/treatment, medication management, activities of daily living.

Our podiatry specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of injuries, diseases and disorders that affect your feet and ankles—from ingrown toenails to inflammation to diabetic foot ulcers.

After years of walking, running, marching, jumping, rappelling, and parachuting, many Veterans experience trouble with their feet and ankles. We can help treat those problems so you can continue to enjoy an active lifestyle. 

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 have trouble breathing or sleeping, our lung specialists can help. We provide:

• Oxygen therapy to help you stay active and breathe better
• Exercises to build your strength and improve your lung capacity
• Healthy diets to manage your weight and boost your energy
• Tips to help you feel more in control and confident
• Tests to check how well your lungs are working as well as measure your lung volume and blood gases

All exams must be scheduled and not all services are available at every location. Our services include:

• Fluoroscopy exams to see moving body parts like the digestive system
• Ultrasound (US) uses sound waves to examine organs and tissues
• Bone density (DEXA) measures the strength and density of bones
• Computed tomography (CT) uses computer-assisted X-rays to examine body parts
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves to examine the body
• Interventional radiology (IR) guides medical procedures using imaging tools
• General X-ray uses radiation to look inside the body

We deliver a wide variety of clinical services including specialized rehabilitation services for survivors of brain injury, stroke and amputation. Our program is composed of:

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Home and Community Care
• Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

Learn more about VA long-term care

If you are trying to quit smoking or want to stop using tobacco, we can help you with support, resources and programs.

You can quit or reduce your tobacco use. We provide services to support you including: 

• FDA-approved medications to manage nicotine withdrawal and the urge to use tobacco
• Counseling by phone, video, or secure messaging to help brainstorm strategies to break the habit of tobacco use
• Weekly support group sessions in person or over video
• Tobacco Quitline for individual counseling and strategies
• SmokefreeVET text message program for daily advice and interactive support
• Stay Quit Coach mobile app to help you quit smoking and stay smoke-free
• Referrals to additional support services like Whole Health and Outpatient Nutrition Services

Learn more about how to quit.  Call or message "Tobacco Treatment" via VA secure messaging to get started.

Speech-language pathologists are involved in the screening, evaluation, and treatment of a broad range of communication and swallowing disorders, including:

• Speech Disorders - Difficulty producing speech sounds precisely; accent modification.
• Language Disorders - Difficulty understanding spoken language and/or verbal expression.
• Cognitive Disorders - Difficulty with attention, memory, orientation, organization and problem-solving
• Voice Disorders/Voice Restoration - Disorders of pitch, loudness, nasal resonance
• Swallowing Difficulty - Difficulty eating and/or drinking
• Assistive Technology - Alternative communication devices such as text to speech devices or picture boards
   

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

Surgical services include: 

• Adult plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Cardiac surgery (heart)
• Colon and rectal surgery
• Esophageal and gastric surgery (throat and stomach)
• Hepato-biliary (liver, gall bladder, pancreas)
• Neurosurgery (brain)
• Ophthalmology (eyes)
• Orthopedics (bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves)
• Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
• Podiatry (feet)
• Thoracic surgery (lung)
• Transplant surgery (heart, lung, liver)
• Urology (prostate, bladder, kidneys, male reproductive systems)

Preoperative services (pre-surgery, during and post-surgery) are co-located, enhancing the continuity of care. 

At your screening, your health care provider will ask you if you think you were exposed to any of these hazards during your service:

• Agent orange
• Airborne hazards and open burn pits
• Gulf War exposures
• Ionizing radiation
• Depleted uranium
• Toxic embedded fragments

Ask about scheduling a screening at your next health care appointment and learn more about VA Health Registries.

We are experts in life-saving transplants, including kidney, liver, heart, lung, small bowel, bone marrow and stem cell.

An organ transplant offers new hope for Veterans with end-stage organ failure. We serve patients needing heart, liver, lung, or combined transplants while honoring donors. A transplant nurse coordinator manages care with our experts in transplant medicine, surgery, pharmacy, social work, nutrition, and physical therapy.

Learn more and connect with a coordinator

Our caregiver support coordinators can:

• Provide progressive needs planning to help you manage degenerative conditions
• Match you with services and benefits
• Connect you with local resources and programs

Contact our caregiver support coordinators

Caring, competent and respectful spiritual care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you wish to contact your personal religious leader, we are happy to help if needed. Our department is committed to a culture of caring and committed to helping patients utilize their spirituality as part of the healing process. We work with all people without regard to spiritual belief and/or religious tradition. Learn more about our chaplain service. 

VA’s specialized programs for homeless Veterans serve hundreds of local homeless and at-risk Veterans each year. Learn more about these programs at VA’s Programs for At-Risk Veterans and Their Families or connect with a local coordinator.

 The Veteran population is at greater risk for experiencing and/or using violence in their intimate relationships than the civilian population. To help build relationship health & safety our Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) offers:

• Assessment & consultation with routine screening, safety planning and consultation for providers. 
• Education of the risks and impact on physical and mental health, awareness and prevention resources. 
• Intervention with case management, individual and group treatment, and/ or couples counseling.
• Care coordination through referrals for VA services and/ or community resources. 
• Group program for people who struggle with conflict in relationships.
• Trauma informed therapy program for VA patients who have experienced IPV.
   

Additional Resources

Our Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) invites Veterans, caregivers, employees, and the community to learn about IPVAP and other VA programs that intersect with Intimate Partner Violence. 

• VHA Social Work IPVAP
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233): Call for 24-hour confidential support, local referrals, safety planning, housing options, and legal resources.

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

If you’re a minority Veteran, we can help you get the services and benefits you need. Our Minority Veterans Program serves Veterans that are Black American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American and Indigenous people in the United States. We work to:

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

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our patient advocates work to make sure you receive the best possible care. They:

• Get answers or address concerns with your care
• Advocate for patient and family rights
• Serve as advocates for minority Veterans, women Veterans and Veterans with disabilities
• Assist former prisoners of war and Veterans transitioning from post 9/11 military duties

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

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.

Talk to one of our care coordinators about how to best use your health care benefits.

Learn more and connect with a coordinator

Social workers can help Veterans and their families with referrals for:

• assistance in the home
• caregiver support
• transportation
• housing
• community services

Social work offers counseling:

• to veterans with drug, alcohol, and emotional problems
• to help veterans and their families understand and adjust to an illness or disability
• to veterans and family members who want to prepare advance directives for health care
• to help veterans and their families cope with terminal illness

Counseling is conducted through:

• one-on-one discussions
• family conferences
• group classes

My HealtheVet allows you to manage your VA care from a computer or mobile device:  

• Exchange secure messages with your VA health care team
• Check lab and test results
• Refill your prescriptions, track delivery and view a list of your medications
• Keep track of medical appointments and get email reminders
• View, download or print a copy of your VA medical records
• Enter or update personal information

Learn more and register for My HealtheVet

We use secure digital technology to offer remote visits with our health care providers through onsite video conferencing and home telehealth services, allowing you to share your health information with VA experts. Telehealth visits are available with providers in:

• Primary care
• Mental health
• Rehabilitation
• Outpatient nutrition services
• Audiology
• Geriatrics
• Dermatology
• Hematology
• Teleretinal imaging
• Caregiver support
• Spirometry
• Neurology
• Palliative care
• Sleep medicine
• Cardiology

Learn more about telehealth

Veteran travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to our medical centers, mileage reimbursement or special mode transport. 

Find out about your travel pay reimbursement benefits.

Learn more about our local transportation services.

We help Veterans with physical and mental health challenges find and keep jobs through our partnerships with business, industry and government agencies. Services include: 

• Matching Veteran’s skills with a job and providing supervision to help gain work experience.
• Helping Veterans with serious mental illnesses or physical disabilities compete for jobs in their communities.
• Providing job search, placement and support to Veterans interested in competitive employment.
• Assisting Veterans with a focus based on transitioning to successful independent community living.
• Supporting Veterans entering or currently pursuing educational settings in order to choose, get and keep an education goal.
• Assistance with job search process and job search skills development.
• Computer lab for Veterans by appointment. 

Learn more about the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program

Whole Health empowers individuals to take charge of their health and well-being, focusing on what matters most to each person. It emphasizes mindful awareness, self-care, and the importance of nutrition, activity, sleep, relationships, and surroundings.

Whole Health supports person-centered, proactive care by integrating conventional treatment with Complementary & Integrative Health approaches, promoting self-empowerment, self-healing, and self-care.

Learn more about Whole Health.