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Traveling Veteran Coordinator

Planning to travel? Let your primary care team know 6-8 weeks before traveling within the United States and at least eight weeks for overseas travel to connect with the services needed.

Connect with a care coordinator

Judy Geissler

Judy Geissler NP

Traveling Veterans Coordinator

VA Madison health care

Phone:

How the Coordinator can Help

  • Setting up care at the other VA sites
  • Share data and care needs with other VA sites
  • Manage consults for care
  • Provide follow-up when care is ordered at community clinics that are not VA affiliated

Non-Urgent Outpatient Care

  • Call your home primary care provider for regular needs; they will set up a consult for you
  • The coordinator will arrange care for you at a VA site near your travel location

Ready to Travel?

For travel within the United States, inform your primary care provider 6-8 weeks before leaving. For overseas travel, let your primary care provider know eight weeks before leaving. Ask for a Traveling Veterans Coordinator Consult. 

We'll need your:  

  • Travel dates
  • Temporary address and phone number
  • Health issues and medical concerns

Contact your primary care team for regular health care questions or to connect with local resources. Services available at any VA site include:

  • Labs
  • Vaccines
  • Nurse’s visits
  • Prescription refills, except for pain medications 

If you have an emergency while traveling: 

  • Call 911
  • Go to the closest emergency room or urgent care
  • Tell the local provider that you are a Veteran
  • Veteran or family should notify VA within 72 hours using the 24/7 hotline,

Outpatient Pharmacy

Phone:

  • Veterans should check if they have enough medications before leaving for their trip
  • Veterans must give an address for the trip so medications can be delivered
  • Check with your home VA for refills first
  • VAs can give medications that have refills and are in stock
  • VAs you are traveling to can't provide controlled medication

Foreign Medical Program

  • Benefits program for U.S. Veterans living or traveling outside the United States
  • Must have a service-connected disability
  • Find out more information about the Foreign Medical Program

Locate VA or Community Care health care while traveling