Staff Sergeant Alexander W. Conrad Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic

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 like:

• 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

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

Dental care services offered:

• 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

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 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 physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors and therapists focus on whole-body health. They can help you manage your pain, increase your independence, and improve your quality of life with services like:

• Personalized therapy for your rehabilitation
• Medication, stretching, and massage for short-term pain relief
• Strengthening exercises and movement therapy to increase fitness and prevent future pain
• Recreation therapy to create coping and social skills
• Occupational therapy to improve coordination and balance, and help you manage life skills and everyday activities
• Assessment and treatment of speech, language, and swallowing disorders

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.

A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care. Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent, diagnose, and treat adult diseases. Doctors who specialize in family medicine provide primary health care to the entire family.

Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as:

• Labs and blood work
• Mental health care
• Women's health care
• Radiology
• Social services
• Telehealth

If you’re struggling with a mental health problem—or just need to talk with someone—we can help. We offer treatment and support such as therapy, alternative treatments  and medications when needed.

Good mental health is a vital part of your overall wellness. Our psychiatry teams offer consultation, evaluation, and treatment to help you with a range of mental and behavioral health problems, including:

• Depression (including sadness and grief), anxiety (including worry and nervousness), and personality disorders
• Addictive behaviors and substance abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat-related stress disorder
• Emotional issues like anger management and relationship challenges, confused thinking, memory problems, and invasive thoughts or ideas
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

If you’re struggling with a mental health problem—or just need to talk with someone—we can help. We offer treatment and support such as therapy, alternative treatments and medications when needed.

Our psychology teams offer consultation, evaluation, and treatment to help with a range of mental and behavioral health problems like:

• Depression (including sadness and grief), anxiety (including worry and nervousness), and personality disorders
• Addictive behaviors and substance abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat-related stress disorder
• Emotional issues like anger management and relationship challenges
• Confused thinking, memory problems, and invasive thoughts or ideas
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

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

• X-ray (diagnostic x-ray, barium, urologic examinations, arthrograms, pain injections)
• Ultrasound
• Breast Imaging  (mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI)
• Computer tomography (CT)
• Nuclear Medicine/Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Preparation for Imaging examinations

-CT Imaging Examinations-

The patient should have NOTHING to eat for 4 hours prior to a CT examination. Patients may only have clear liquids (water, apple juice). Patients should take their medications at the normal time with clear liquids only. Some patients may need to drink oral contrast. If the patient was dispensed oral contrast by the scheduling clinic, then the patient should drink the bottle 2 hours prior to their scheduled appointment. If the patient did not receive the contrast prior to his/her schedule appointment time, then he/she must arrive in Radiology 2 hours prior to their examination time.

CT Examination of Head/Neck/Chest – with Contrast only (No special prep necessary without contrast): Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the examination. If the patient has allergies to contrast, then the patient’s physician is responsible for prescribing necessary pre-medications. Take all medications as directed.

CT Examination of Pelvis – With or Without Contrast:  Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the examination. Drink first bottle of contrast 2 hours prior to the examination; drink the second bottle of contrast 60 minutes prior to the examination. If the patient has allergies to contrast, then the patient’s physician is responsible for prescribing necessary pre-medications. For diabetic patients having a CT examination with IV contrast, please follow instructions given by your provider. Take all medications as directed.

CT Examination of Abdomen and Abdomen/Pelvis with or Without Contrast: Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the examination. Drink first bottle of contrast 2 hours prior to the examination; drink the second bottle of contrast 60 minutes prior to the examination. If the patient has allergies to contrast, then the patient’s physician is responsible for prescribing necessary pre-medications. For diabetic patients having a CT examination with IV contrast, please see the instructions above. Take all medications as directed.

CT Examination Without Contrast: No preparation is required.

-Fluoroscopy-

Upper GI or Esophagram: Allow up to 1 hour for this examination. The patient should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight, or 6 hours prior to the imaging study.

Small Bowel Series: Allow 2-4 hours for this examination. The patient should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight, or 6 hours prior to the imaging study.

Barium Enema or Air Contrast Enema: Allow 2 hours for this examination. Follow instructions given with the barium enema prep kit.

Pain/Steroid/Stem Injections: No prep necessary.

Mammography: If your last mammogram was NOT done at Phoenix VA, then you MUST bring a copy of your most recent imaging studies with you. Radiology must have a copy of your previous images for comparison purposes in order to allow for an accurate read.

Do not use any deodorant, perfume, powder, ointment, or any other skin products on your chest, breast, or under arms on the day of the appointment. To achieve diagnostic images of the breast, the breast must be firmly compressed. Most women find this compression acceptable. If your breasts are especially tender, then we suggest that you schedule your appointment when your breasts are the least sensitive (usually during the first 10 days of your menstrual cycle). Results will be reported to your clinician who will then communicate the findings to you.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Federal law requires our facility to give/send you a letter with your mammography results within 30 days. Please be advised that children are not allowed in our examination rooms and make arrangements for their care prior to your appointment with us. 

MRI Examinations: Important MRI Examination Risks Patients with metallic implants, pacemakers, metal clips, or stents must notify Radiology prior to the MRI appointment. The items listed below may interfere with MRI studies, or they may be hazardous to your study. If you have any of the following, please contact Radiology’s MRI section at 602.277.5551 x 5041 and relay to them the make and model of the device prior to your scheduled appointment time.

Cardiac Pacemaker, Pregnancy Insulin Pump, Shrapnel, Bone Stimulator, Brain or Aneurysm Clips, Neuro Stimulator, IUD, Breast Tissue Expanders

Claustrophobia Management: If you are claustrophobic, then please ask your physician to prescribe anti-anxiety medications to take prior to the MRI study on the day of your examination. For your own safety if you have taken an anti-anxiety medication, then you will be required to have a designated driver to drive you home once the study is complete.

Cardiac MRI: No coffee (decaf or regular), caffeine, tea, or chocolate for 24 hours prior to the examination.

MRI Enterography: You must arrive in Radiology and be registered 1 hour prior to the examination so that oral contrast can be administered. No food or drink for 4 hours prior to the examination. You may have water only.

MRCP: No food or drink for 6 hours prior to the examination. You may have water only.

MRI Abdomen or MRI Pelvis (non-muckuloskeletal): No food or drink for 4 hours prior to the examination, if possible. This will aid the radiologist in distinguishing the anatomy of the area of interest during your examination.

MRI Breast: Please schedule your breast MRI within 7-10 days of your menstrual cycle. If the MRI breast order is urgent, then this preparation will not be enforced.

Whole Body Bone Scan: Allow 3-5 hours for this bone scan; it will take approximately 15 minutes to receive an injection of the radioactive tracer.  You will be given a return time as it will take 3-4 hours for the tracer to circulate.  There are no dietary restrictions, you may eat and drink during this time.   Imaging will be performed when you return.  The imaging will take approximately 1 hour. 

Nuclear Stress Test: This examination is typically a same day, 3-part procedure. Please allow 3-4 hours for this test. You should have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the imaging study and no caffeine for 12 hours prior to the study. If your BMI (Body Mass Index) is calculated to be 40 or greater, the study is performed on 2 separate days, then you should allow for 2 hours on the first day and 1 hour on the second day for this examination. You should have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the examination on both days and no caffeine for 12 hours prior to the first day of the study.

DXA - Bone Densitometry Study: Allow 30 minutes for this imaging study. There are no restrictions on food or drink.

-Ultrasound-

Renal or Kidney Ultrasound: No prep for when you are just evaluating the kidneys.

Female Pelvis: GYN Only. Pregnant female will have ultrasound performed in an outside facility: Drink 32oz. glass of water. You must finish drinking all of the water 1 hour prior to arriving for your imaging study. DO NOT empty your bladder. NOTE: These imaging studies require a full urinary bladder in order to be able to obtain a successful imaging. If your bladder is not full at the time of your appointment, then your appointment may be postponed/rescheduled.

Male or Female bladder evaluation: Drink 24oz. glass of water. You must finish drinking all of the water 1 hour prior to arriving for your imaging study. DO NOT empty your bladder. NOTE: These imaging studies require a full urinary bladder in order to be able to obtain a successful imaging. If your bladder is not full at the time of your appointment, then your appointment may be postponed/rescheduled

Upper Abdomen, General Survey Ultrasound Study (Aorta, gall bladder, inferior vena cava, liver, pancreas, renal stenosis, retro-peritoneal, spleen): Nothing to eat or drink 5 hours prior to your US appointment. Medications maybe taken with small amounts of water. No candy, chewing gum or smoking before exam.

Renal Transplant, Thyroid, and Vascular Ultrasound Studies: No preparation is necessary

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.

Programs offered include:

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

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:

• 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