Accessing TeleHealth Through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) Booths

However, a big focus as also been placed on that care being available where the Veteran lives, thus sparing them travel which may be very hard on them if they have medical conditions. Primary Care and Specialty providers such as Rehabilitative Services, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Gastroenterology, are accessible to the Veteran via Telehealth.  Providers who are specialists in fields like Podiatry, Pulmonary and Cardiology do travel to the outer islands, but sometimes you want to talk with a doctor right away. Telehealth can help.

“I used telehealth before when I had a dermatology concern,” said Veteran and Health Systems Specialist for the Deputy Chief of Staff Sedra Graves. “I was able to send some pictures to a dermatologist and have them review the images and let me know if I needed to be seen in person. It was very convenient.”

Dermatology consults and many other types of care are available through Telehealth. One program that hopes to greatly advance Veterans access to care where they live is the Accessing Telehealth Through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) program. This program involves using a room in a community center or other non-government area with an internet connection and camera. Veterans can do everything from medication reconciliation with Pharmacy to a regular doctor’s appointment.

“ATLAS booths can be used by so many of our services at VAPIHCS,” said Facility Telehealth Coordinator Colette Kon. “More importantly, it’s creating a place that Veterans know they have access to care in rural areas. The ATLAS is part of the VA’s Anywhere to Anywhere initiative, and we hope it will be a key way that Veterans connect with us.”

Veterans in rural parts of VAPIHCS have often felt left behind. Islands like Tinian, Rota, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa have limited access to health care. On some of the smallest islands like Rota, there are no health care facilities at all. Installing ATLAS sites in very rural areas can give Veterans a place to go for a mental health appointment, a checkup, or other services without having to leave their own island.

“There can be challenges sometimes when working with potential locations,” Kon said. “There are strict guidelines for what is required to host an ATLAS booth, and we need to make sure that our contacts understand what is needed, and that they will be able to meet those needs.”

While many Veterans prefer face-to-face appointments, there is a large population of Veterans who prefer Telehealth and are excited to see it expand. If you are one of those Veterans, then call 1-800-214-1306, and ask about using an ATLAS booth for your next appointment. 

A list of ATLAS sites in place now:


•  Kagman (Tinian) Community Health Center – Sharon Seivers Sharon.seivers@kagmanchc.org  (670) 433-4750/2

 

•  Rota Health Center – Rica Mendiola rica.mendiola@chcc.health   (670) 532-9461/62

 

•  Kagman Isla Community Health – Norma Borja norma.borja@kagmanchc.org  (670) 287-5242

 

•  Tinian Isla Community Health – Sydney Biton Sydney.biton@chcc.health  (670) 433-9233/9263

 

•  Saipan Community Guidance Center – Tyra Santos Tyra.Santos@chcc.health Jesse Aguon jesse.aguon@chcc.health  (670) 323-6560/1