Pittsburgh VA Medical Center-University Drive

Our Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders (CTAD) offers both residential and outpatient treatment for substance use problems. Some of our services include:

• Alcohol screening
• Abuse counseling
• Outpatient detox
• Opiate abuse counseling, suboxone therapy, and polysubstance abuse counseling
• Pre-operative evaluations
• Management of care for patients who require opiate therapy for pain control and who need close follow-up and monitoring

• Hearing and balance evaluations
• Hearing aid selection, management, and repair, and assistive listening device assessments
• Evaluation, programming, and management for cochlear implants and bone-anchored implants
• Auditory processing evaluations and treatment
• Speech pathology services that help with speech, language, fluency, voice, cognitive communication, swallowing, stuttering, and laryngectomy

Learn more about VA hearing aids

• COVID-19 vaccines for eligible Veterans and staff

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at VA Pittsburgh health care

We perform non-invasive tests and minimally invasive cardiac catheterizations in state of the art lab facilities, and we treat you with the most effective medications. Our doctors can provide:

• Evaluation for coronary heart disease, heart valve disease, and heart defects
• Determining how well blood flows through heart vessels or the cause of heart failure
• Non-surgical or minimally invasive operations to open and support heart vessels, such as balloon angioplasty or stents
• Non-invasive monitoring to look for changes in heart rhythm

Learn more about cardiology at VA Pittsburgh

• Treatment for complications from surgery
• Treatment related to accidents or infections
• Care for severe breathing problems
• A Step Down Unit for patients recently discharged from critical care or who need greater care than a standard medical unit.

We offer regular clinic visits and dermatologic surgery for Veterans. Our three full-time and six part-time board-certified dermatologists provide:

• Treatment of medically necessary skin conditions, including skin cancer and rashes
• Referrals for complex conditions
• Teledermatology, which provides patients with quick access to expert opinions

We treat patients daily for a broad spectrum of emergencies. These include:

• Life-threatening illnesses and injuries that require immediate attention
• Mental health conditions

Staff in our gastroenterology department can provide the following treatments:

• Colonoscopy
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
• Manometry studies
• Endoscopic ultrasound and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Small bowel capsule endoscopy
• 24-hour pH studies

Our Geriatric Evaluation and Management Clinic (GEM) offers outpatient-based comprehensive geriatric assessments and care coordination for you or a senior Veteran in your care. We accept referrals from any doctor. Our team of specialists provides geriatric-specific:

• Medicine and nursing
• Psychology, psychiatry, and social work
• Physical and occupational therapy

We provide evaluation and treatment for:

• Abnormal Pap test
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Infertility
• Pelvic pain
• Gynecologic cancers

We offer compassionate care to patients living with HIV or hepatitis. Services we offer include: 

• Hepatitis C screenings
• HIV testing
• HIV counseling
• HIV treatment and prevention care, including PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)

The Veteran population is at greater risk for experiencing and/or using violence in their intimate relationships than the civilian population. Contact us for help with:

• Emotional intimate partner violence (IPV), which commonly begins before other types of IPV
• Physical IPV
• Sexual IPV, whether by physical force or by trying to convince a partner 
• Stalking, which includes continuous unwanted contact, following, talking, or sending things
• Threats of violence

Intimate Partner Violence can affect both men and women.  VAPHS has an IPVAP coordinator that can assist Veterans, significant others, and employees who use violence or who experience violence in their relationships connect with VA and community resources.  To connect with the IPVAP Coordinator, please call 412-822-2359

Our LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators can answer your questions, advocate for your right to quality care, handle complaints or concerns you have about your care, and help you get started with any of our services for LGBTQ+ Veterans. These include:

• Mental health services, including psychosocial assessments for hormone therapy and gender confirming surgeries
• Creative arts therapies
• Hormone therapy
• Gender-affirming prosthetics
• HIV and STI testing, counseling, and care, including PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for Veterans at risk for HIV
• Other prevention, screening, wellness, and testing services

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our comprehensive laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services. We offer:

• Analysis of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for disease management
• Testing for infectious diseases

The Behavioral Health Department offers both inpatient and outpatient services, including telehealth appointments. We provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a variety of issues impacting emotional well-being. Our services are confidential and include:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Homeless Veterans services
• Tobacco cessation
• Treatment for addictive disorders, including residential rehabilitation treatment programs
• Transition and care management for returning Veterans (OIF/OEF/OND)

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We provide care for military sexual trauma in our mental (behavioral) health clinics. Our services include: 

• Counseling
• Psychiatric care
• Walk-in care

Learn more about military sexual trauma

Our Minority Veterans Program serves all Veterans, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Island Americans. We focus on: 

• Management of the medical center in their efforts to address the needs of minority Veterans
• The needs of minority Veterans in the local community
• Identifying barriers and creating a more accessible environment for minority Veterans
• Informing Veterans of VA benefits, services, and programs

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator 

Care we provide at VA Pittsburgh health care

My HealtheVet coordinators provide assistance with My HealtheVet by phone or in person. They can give you:

• Answers to your questions about My HealtheVet
• Help with in-person authentication (IPA), which is required for some features of My HealtheVet (also available in person)
• Help resolving issues with your account

• Pre End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) education
• Onsite dialysis (inpatient and outpatient) and home dialysis and training (Peritoneal and Hemodialysis)
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
• Home patient monitoring
• Kidney transplant evaluation and post-transplant care

Care we provide at VA Pittsburgh health care

We offer information, resources, and counseling on:

• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Heart disease
• Weight gain or loss
• High or low blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal surgery

We offer comprehensive evaluation of ocular diseases, including subspecialty services, such as the evaluation and treatment for issues related to:

• Retina
• Cornea
• Glaucoma
• Oculoplastics

• Comprehensive evaluation of ocular diseases
• Subspecialty services such as retina, cornea, and glaucoma evaluation and treatment
• Low vision services
• Diabetic eye exams

Our orthopedics specialists use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Conditions they address include:

• Musculoskeletal trauma
• Degenerative diseases
• Sports injuries

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.

You can access these treatment options in at least one of our two medical centers:

• Psychiatry (outpatient & inpatient) and psychology
• Homeless Veterans services
• Treatment for Addictive Disorders, including residential rehabilitation treatment program
• Psychiatric residential rehabilitation treatment program
• OIF/OEF/OND services

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

• Patient concerns with the care team
• Advocating for patient and family rights
• Specialist advocacy for Former Prisoners of War, Minority Veterans, and OEF/OIF/OND transitioning Veterans

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

• New prescriptions available for in-person pick up
• Refills online and by phone or mail
• Safe disposal of medicines

Learn more about pharmacy services

• Outpatient physical and occupational therapy
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Blind and low vision services
• Traumatic brain injury/polytrauma services
• Geriatric evaluation & management
• Wheelchair and power mobility services

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.

• Arthritis care; foot and ankle fracture care
• Repair of cartilage and torn tendons and ligaments
• Injections to reduce pain and swelling
• Joint arthroplasty and replacement
• Minimally invasive surgery; rehabilitation
• Foot health maintenance, including bunion removal, resurfacing, and nail trimming

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 is offered at all VA Pittsburgh health care facilities. Your primary care team can help coordinate many other services as part of your care, including:

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

We provide and help you use medical aids, hearing aids, state-of-the-art adaptive home equipment and other equipment to help you preserve and increase your mobility and independence.

 Our prosthetics and sensory aids services include the following: 

• Artificial limbs
• Wheelchairs
• Aids for the blind and hearing impaired
• Adaptive equipment for vehicles; modifications to make the home handicapped accessible
• Surgical implants
• Other devices and services for mobility, dignity, and independence

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 psychiatry teams offer consultation, evaluation and treatment for Veterans dealing with:

• Depression (including sadness and grief) and/or anxiety (including worry and nervousness)
• Addictive behaviors
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and combat related stress disorder
• Emotional problems, such as managing anger, and relationship problems
• Confused thinking, memory problems, and troublesome 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 for Veterans dealing with:

• Depression (including sadness and grief) and/or anxiety (including worry and nervousness)
• Addictive behaviors
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and combat related stress disorder
• Emotional problems, such as managing anger, and relationship problems
• Confused thinking, memory problems, and troublesome thoughts or ideas
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

• Xrays
• Ultrasounds
• 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.

Care we provide at VA Pittsburgh health care

Recreation and Creative Arts Therapists (Art, Dance Movement, Drama, Music) conduct consult-driven assessments and provide inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth therapeutic interventions with Veterans. Therapist and Veterans collaborate on therapeutic goals to maintain/improve quality of life by identifying core problems, managing symptoms, and rehabilitating to the greatest extent possible. Our services include: 

• Dance Movement Therapy for eating disorders, trauma including military sexual trauma, moral injury, pain & mood management
• Drama Therapy for memory care, gender transition, behavioral challenges, pain & mood management
• Music Therapy for hospice/palliative care, memory care, substance abuse, aphasia, sleep disorders, pain & mood management, adaptive music instruction
• Recreation Therapy including adaptive sports, leisure education counseling, life skills management, social skills counseling, community integration/reintegration
• Meaning recreation activities including cognitive skills maintenance, creative arts expression, physical exercise, and social activities

If you were exposed to toxic chemicals or other hazards during your military service, we offer you a free exam. This exam helps you identify potential health risks and helps us monitor issues so we can better serve you.

Care we provide at VA Pittsburgh health care

Registry exams, services, and care coordination for Veterans exposed to environmental hazards such as:

• Ionizing radiation
• Agent Orange
• Gulf War hazards
• Depleted Uranium (DU)
• Toxic Embedded Fragment (shrapnel)
• Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits

• Suicide prevention care coordinators
• Suicide prevention case managers
• Gun safety locks

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

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

Care we provide at VA Pittsburgh

• General surgery services
• Anesthesia
• Cardiac surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Transplantation

Learn more about surgery at VA Pittsburgh

We use the latest in secure digital technology to provide remote visits with health care providers. Our telehealth technologies include video conferencing, home telehealth (which lets you send us vital health information, like blood pressure readings, over the phone or internet), and store-and-forward telehealth (which helps you send your health information to experts at VA facilities using secure technology). We offer telehealth visits with providers in these fields:

• Mental health 
• Retinal care 
• Dermatology 
• Rehabilitation 
• Primary care

Get your toxic exposure screening 

All Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive a toxic exposure screening at an upcoming appointment or sooner by contacting a Toxic Exposure Screening Navigator. All enrolled Veterans should receive the screening at least once every five years.

It’s a quick 5-10 minute screening to identify any potential exposures to toxins during your military service.  Depending on your response, you may be connected to support and resources, including a review by your primary care team. .

Potential exposures could include:

• Open Burn Pits/Airborne Hazards. Learn more:  Air Pollutants - Public Health (va.gov)
• Gulf War-related exposures. Learn more: Gulf War Exposures - Public Health (va.gov)
• Agent Orange. Learn more:  Agent Orange - Public Health (va.gov)
• Radiation. Learn more:   Radiation - Public Health (va.gov)

• Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure. Learn more: Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination - Public Health (va.gov) 
• Other exposures. Learn more: Military Exposures - Public Health (va.gov)

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

• Liver transplants
• Kidney (renal) transplants
• Referrals to other transplant centers

You can sign up for a travel reimbursement service by visiting the agent cashier at the University Drive or Heinz campus, or at the check-in desk at our outpatient clinics. Our travel reimbursement services include:

• Round-trip transportation services from your home to our facility (beneficiary travel)
• Mileage reimbursement debit card

Learn more about whether you qualify for the VA Beneficiary Travel program

We offer various urology procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic procedures for diseases affecting:

• The kidneys
• The bladder
• The urethra 
• The male reproductive organs

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 women Veterans comprehensive care, including: 

• Primary care
• Gynecology
• Maternity care, childbirth education classes, and postpartum support
• Ultrasounds and mammograms
• Mental health care and counseling
• Lifestyle wellness services

Learn more and connect with a Women Veterans Program Manager