VA Blue Button
What is the VA Blue Button?
The VA Blue Button is a feature that will let you view, save, download and/or print your information in My HealtheVet. You may be able to access specific VA Blue Button features based on your My HealtheVet account type. The three account types available are: Basic, Advanced and Premium. For more information about these accounts, select My HealtheVet Account Types.
Additionally, on the VA Blue Button landing page, those with a Premium* My HealtheVet account, may be able to download their VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD).
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. VA verifies a Veterans' identity by this process. This is done before allowing access to your VA health record.
2. What is the VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD)?
A CCD is an electronic document in an .xml file format*. It uses recognized standards to support the effective exchange of information between health care systems and/or providers.
The goal of a CCD is to:
- Provide a summary of a patient’s essential health and medical care information that can be used for the continued care of the patient.
- Allow for information about the patient in one health system to be exchanged with another health system that is providing care to the patient.
- Be used by patients within other computer applications or systems that can accept this type of file.
Note: .xml is a kind of file format that stands for Extensible Markup Language. It is only viewable to computer applications that have the capability to read or process .xml files.
The VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD), contains essential health and medical care information from your VA Electronic Health Record. The VA CCD was designed to allow you to share a summary of your VA health information with a non-VA health care system or provider.
At this time, the VA CCD can only be read by a computer application that has the capability to read or process an .xml file. Some computer application browsers (such as Firefox or Internet Explorer), may or may not allow the .xml file to be human-readable. To learn more, visit the VA CCD Frequently Asked Questions.
What is the difference between the VA Blue Button and the VA Continuity of Care Document?
VA Blue Button:
- Information is available in three file formats (.pdf file, .txt file and .bluebutton file)
- You are able to print, save and/or download your information
- May contain a combination of information:
- Self-entered information from your My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (all account types)
- VA medications (Advanced Account)
- Key portions of your VA electronic health record (Premium Account)
- DoD Military Service Information (for some Veterans with a Premium Account )
- You can customize the types of information to include and the date range of the information
VA Continuity of Care Document:
- Contains pre-selected patient information from your VA electronic health record
- Allows for information about the patient in one health system to be electronically exchanged with another health system that is providing care to the patient
- You can download and save the file; however you may not be able to read the file within your browser
- The file contains standardized information and cannot be customized
Note: For more information about VA CCD visit the Frequently Asked Questions.
What type of information can I view in VA Blue Button?
If you have a Basic account, you can print, download or save the following types of Self Reported information:
- Activity Journal, Self Reported
- Allergies, Self Reported
- Family Health History, Self Reported
- Food Journal, Self Reported
- Health Care Providers, Self Reported
- Health Insurance, Self Reported
- Immunizations, Self Reported
- Labs and Tests, Self Reported
- Medical Events, Self Reported
- Medications and Supplements, Self Reported
- Military Health History, Self Reported
- Treatment Facility, Self Reported
- Vitals and Readings, Self Reported
If you have an Advanced account it includes the features of a Basic account plus:
If you have a Premium account, it includes all the features of a Basic and Advanced account in addition to the following:
- VA Admissions and Discharges
- VA Allergies
- VA Appointments (future)
- VA Appointments (limited to past 2 years)
- VA Demographics
- VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- VA Immunizations
- VA Laboratory Results: Chemistry/Hematology/Microbiology
- VA Medication History
- VA Pathology Report: Surgical Pathology/Cytology/Electron Microscopy
- VA Problem List
- VA Notes (Initially VA Notes written on or after January 1, 2013 forward will be available. In the future more historical VA Notes will become available)
- VA Radiology
- VA Vitals and Readings
- VA Wellness Reminders
- VA electronic health record information such as VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD) and other information as it becomes available
- Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. VA verifies a Veterans’ identity by this process. This is done before allowing access to your VA health record.
Is there a difference between what I can view in the VA Blue Button and what I can find in My HealtheVet?
Yes, some information that comes from your VA health record has its own section in My HealtheVet, such as:
- VA Wellness Reminders
- VA Appointments
- VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions
- VA Chemistry/Hematology
- VA Medication History
Other information that comes from your VA health record or Department of Defense (DoD)* can only be viewed by going to the VA Blue Button and selecting the information from the Download My Selected Data page.
- VA Admissions and Discharges
- VA Allergies
- VA Appointments (future)
- VA Appointments (limited to past 2 years)
- VA Demographics
- VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- VA Immunizations
- VA Laboratory Results: Chemistry/Hematology/Microbiology
- VA Medication History
- VA Pathology Report: Surgical Pathology/Cytology/Electron Microscopy
- VA Problem List
- VA Notes (Initially VA Notes written on or after January 1, 2013 forward will be available. In the future more historical VA Notes will become available)
- VA Radiology
- VA Vitals and Readings
- VA Wellness Reminders
- VA electronic health record information such as VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD) and other information as it becomes available
- Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information
*To view information that comes from your VA health record requires you have a Premium My HealtheVet Account. To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. VA verifies a Veterans’ identity by this process. This is done before allowing access to their VA health record.
How will the VA Blue Button benefit me?
The benefit of using the VA Blue Button is to improve information sharing between you and your health care team. Shared information may improve how your health is managed by both VA and non-VA health care teams. Using the VA Blue Button, you can always have a copy of your health summary on hand. You have the ability to print or save your information to a computer, CD or thumb drive.
What is the VA Blue Button Personal Information Report?
Information you selected in the VA Blue Button is provided to you as a Personal Information Report. This report is a copy of information from your My HealtheVet Personal Health Record. It may include:
- Self Reported - Information that you self-entered in your My HealtheVet personal health record
- VA - Information that comes from your VA health record
- DoD - Your Military Service Information that comes from the Department of Defense (DoD)
Note: Your health care team may not have all of the information from your Personal Health Record unless you share it with them. Contact your health care team if you have questions about your health information.
*To view information that comes from your VA health record or Department of Defense, requires you have a Premium My HealtheVet Account. To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. VA verifies a Veterans’ identity by this process. This is done before allowing access to your VA health record.
Are there computer requirements to use the VA Blue Button?
Your computer should have an Internet browser (See My HealtheVet Browser Compatibility). You also need access to the Internet. Some people have Internet access in their home. Public libraries and Internet cafes also provide Internet access. If you want to download your health information, you can save your information to your computer, CD or thumb drive. You need a printer connected to your computer in order to print your health information.
How do I access the VA Blue Button?
After you Register on My HealtheVet, you can access VA Blue Button:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select Download My Data
- Select Continue
On the Download My Selected Data page:
- Select a Date Range
- In the Select Types of Information section, choose the information you would like to view and/or download
- Select Submit
Download if you want an electronic copy and/or select View/Print if you want a printed list, then select Print
If I use the VA Blue Button, can other people see my information?
No. You are the only one who sees your information in My HealtheVet. You decide how to share that information. If you want someone else to see your information, you must personally give it to them.
Important: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish.
How can I customize my download?
On the Download My Selected Data page there are two ways you can customize your download. This can be done by date range and/or by selecting the type of information you would like to view.
- To choose a date range, go to Select Date Range and check one of the following:
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
- Or you can choose Select Date Range to enter a specific time period
- Enter a Start Date
- Enter an End Date
- To choose the type of information you would like to download, under Type of Information check one of the following:
- All Types of Information
- Self Reported Information Only
- VA and DoD Information Only
- Or you can customize your download by selecting One or More Types of Information
How will I know if my download was customized by either Date Range and/or Type of Information?
You will see the Date Range and Types of Information at the top of the VA Blue Button information report in your Download Request Summary.
Can I update or change my information in the VA Blue Button?
To change or update your self-entered information, log into your My HealtheVet account and make your updates. However, information that comes from VA and/or DoD cannot be changed in My HealtheVet. To change information that comes from your VA health record, please contact the Release of Information clerk at your VA facility.
What should I do if I think someone downloaded my information?
First check your Account Activity History. This provides a record of every download of your information available in your My HealtheVet account. If there is activity you do not understand, please contact the My HealtheVet Help Desk by selecting Contact MHV
To access your Account Activity History:
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Select - Personal Information Tab
- Select - Account Sub-tab
- Select - Account Activity History
What is Account Activity History?
The Account Activity History lets you know what actions were taken on your account, when they were taken, and by whom. To access:
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Select - Personal Information Tab
- Select - Account Sub-tab
- Select - Account Activity History
When you go to this page, you will see a table with the type of activity, who did it, the date and time it was done, action and result.
Note: My HealtheVet guards your privacy in accordance with the Privacy & Security statement on the bottom of each My HealtheVet page.
How is a download shown in my Account Activity History?
The Account Activity History shows the type of download that was done. For example, if you chose Select Date Range or Select Types of Information to download, your Account Activity History will display Custom Download Requested. Downloads you may see in your Account Activity History can include:
- Custom Download Requested
- Download My Custom Data
- Download Requested
- Download My Data pdf
- Download My Custom Data pdf
- Download My Data bluebutton
- Download My Custom Data bluebutton
- Print My Custom Data
- Print My Data
- View My Custom Data
- View My Data
How do I know when I last used VA Blue Button to download my information?
A record of every download of your information is available in your My HealtheVet Account Activity History. To check this:
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Select - Personal Information Tab
- Select - Account Sub-tab
- Select - Account Activity History
When you go to this page, you will see a table with the type of activity, who did it, the date and time it was done, and the action and result.
What if I have questions about using the VA Blue Button?
The VA Blue Button was created with Veterans in mind. To use the VA Blue Button, no training is needed, but you may have questions. You can select the VA Blue Button User Guide to see how the VA Blue Button works.
If you have questions, please use the Contact MHV tab at the top of any page on My HealtheVet. You may also contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your local VA Medical Center.
What is a file format?
A file format specifies how the information is organized in a computer file and which programs the file is used with. On My HealtheVet, you can get your VA Blue Button information in three file formats.
What file format is available to view and/or download my VA Blue Button report?
You can get your VA Blue Button in three file formats. You can download it in a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file) or as a simple text format (.txt file), or as a custom VA Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file). You may wish to review the information in your account first to be sure it is up to date before you download it.
What is a PDF File?
PDF File stands for Portable Document Format. It is a file that keeps your data in the original form. Your information looks the same on the screen and in print regardless of what kind of computer you have. It is a simple, easy way to download your files.
What is a Txt File?
Txt stands for text file. It is a file that presents your data in a line-by-line format. As a result, your print out or download may look different from what you see on the computer screen.
What is a .bluebutton file?
The .bluebutton file is a custom text file for the VA Blue Button. This file may make it easier to do more with your information. It will enable you to access and use your personal health information with other VA Blue Button compatible programs and services as they become available. The goal is to create a common file format for VA Blue Button output. This makes it easier for you to use your information with programs and services that are specifically designed for VA Blue Button downloads from different sources.
What is a CD?
A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is a round shaped disc used to store information from your computer. A CD is portable and requires special handling
to prevent damage to the recording. A CD is one of the most common ways to store information.
What is a thumb drive?
A thumb drive is a small electronic device used to store information from your computer. It also is called a flash drive or pen drive. A thumb drive is lightweight, portable and easy to use for moving information. It fits into the Universal Serial Bus (USB) slot on a computer. When using a USB, the computer can read your transferred information.
VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD)
What is a Continuity of Care Document (CCD)?
The Continuity of Care Document (CCD) is an electronic document exchange standard for sharing patient summary information. The goal is to:
- Provide a summary of a patient’s essential health and medical care information that can be used for the continued care of the patient.
- Allow for information about the patient in one health system to be electronically exchanged with another health system that is providing care to the patient.
- Be used by patients within other computer applications or systems
What is the VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD)?
The VA Continuity of Care Document (VA CCD), contains essential health and medical care information from your VA Electronic Health Record.
The VA CCD was designed to allow you to share a summary of your VA health information with a non-VA health care system or provider. At this time the VA CCD can only be read by a computer application that has the capability to read or process an .xml file. Because a growing number of non-VA health care systems have applications that can read a CCD , it is good to download and save your VA CCD to a thumb drive and/or CD. This way you have it available, should you want to share it.
What is .xml file format?
XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. It uses computer language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents. The .xml file was designed to transport and store data, not to display data. The .xml file is the most common tool for data transmissions between all sorts of applications.
The .xml file format is one that is both human-readable (naturally read by humans) and machine-readable (read by a computer). At this time the VA CCD can only be read by a computer application that has the capability to read or process an .xml file. Some computer application browsers (such as Firefox or Internet Explorer), may or may not allow the .xml file to be human-readable.
What are the requirements to download my VA Continuity of Care Document file?
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have a My HealtheVet Premium* account
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity. This is done before allowing access to their VA health record.
Visit Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the different types of My HealtheVet accounts, or how to complete authentication.
Does my VA Continuity of Care Document include my complete medical record?
No, it is not intended to be a complete medical history. The document does include essential information necessary for the safe and effective continuation of your care.
What is the difference between VA Blue Button and the VA Continuity of Care Document?
VA Blue Button:
- Information is available in three file formats (.pdf file, .txt file and .bluebutton file)
- You are able to print, save and/or download your information
- May contain a combination of information:
- Self-entered information from your My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (all account types)
- VA medications (Advanced Account)
- Key portions of your VA electronic health record (Premium Account)
- DoD Military Service Information (for some Veterans with a Premium Account )
- You can customize the types of information to include and the date range of the information
VA Continuity of Care Document:
- Contains pre-selected patient information from your VA electronic health record
- Allows for information about the patient in one health system to be electronically exchanged with another health system that is providing care to the patient
- You can download and save the file; however you may not be able to read the file within your browser
- The file contains standardized information and cannot be customized
What is the benefit of having my information in a VA Continuity of Care Document?
- Allows non-VA providers access to your most important VA health information at the point of care
- Makes it possible for your health information to be read across VA and non-VA health care systems
- Makes it easier for other applications (e.g., web browsers and electronic health systems) to read a summary of your VA health information
What information is in my VA Continuity of Care Document?
It contains important facts about your health and health care. This information comes from your VA health record and includes:
- Demographics – this is your Personal Identifying Information –used to identify you from admission through discharge as well as special directives or emergency contacts.
- Basic Financial/Insurance Information
- Advance Directives- lists powers of attorney, living wills, etc.
- Patient Health Status
- Diagnosis, problems, conditions
- Allergies or Adverse reactions
- Medications
- Immunizations
- Vital signs – such as blood pressure, pulse, weight…
- Laboratory results
- Procedures
- Necessary Medical Equipment
- Social History
- Family History
- Encounter Information – notes written by your provider
- Recommendations – open text includes tests, procedures, scheduled or treatment plans
- Health Care Providers – list members of the health care team that provide your care
Why can’t I view the information that is in my VA Continuity of Care Document file?
At this time it can only be read by a computer application that has the capability to read or process an .xml file. Some computer application browsers (such as Firefox or Internet Explorer), may or may not allow the .xml file to be human-readable.
Who will be able to access information in my VA Continuity of Care Document file?
You control who has access to your information. You decide if you want to share your Information and who you want to share it with.
What is the best way to save/download my VA Continuity of Care Document?
You can save/download your VA Continuity of Care Document file to a secure location such as a thumb drive and/or CD. This way it is portable and can be easily shared. This file is only viewable to health care systems and computer applications that have the capability to read or process an .xml file.
How will a non-VA provider get access to this information?
For a non-VA provider or health care system to access information in your VA CCD you must share it with them. You can do this by saving a copy of your VA CCD to a thumb drive and/or CD. You should NOT send your personal health information using email, since this is not secure. Visit Protecting Your Personal Health Information to learn more.
How will I know if my non-VA provider can access my VA Continuity of Care Document?
Ask a member of your non-VA health care team. They can determine if their computer system can access information that is in a Continuity of Care Document.
Who do I contact if I have technical questions about the VA Continuity of Care Document feature?
If you have questions, please use the Contact MHV tab at the top of any page on My HealtheVet.
Is my information in My HealtheVet secure?
The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should NEVER send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure. Visit protecting your personal health information to learn more.
VA Cytology
What is Cytology?
Cytology is the use of microscopes to examine single cells or small group of cells. This test is different from a biopsy, which examines pieces of tissue. The test may be done to look for cancers and precancerous changes in the cells. It may also be used to look for viral infections in cells.
Cytology tests are used in one of two ways:
- Screening - to determine if you have a certain disease even before you have symptoms
- Diagnosing - used if you have signs, symptoms, or some other reason to think a disease may be present
Cytology specimens can be collected from different parts of the body. Examples of Cytology tests may include but they are not limited to:
- Pap Smear (Cervix)
- Sputum Cytology
- Urine Cytology
- Plural Fluid (fluid around the lungs)
- Spinal Fluid
- Gastric/Esophageal Brushings and Washings
- Oral Cytology
- Cytology examination from other Body Fluids
What is VA Cytology?
VA Cytology is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov). It can be found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view information from their VA Cytology report(s). This information comes from your official VA health record.
What are the requirements for viewing the VA Cytology?
To view VA Cytology you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account*
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity. This is done before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I access, view, print, save or download my VA Cytology report(s)?
To access VA Cytology, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Cytology
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What are the benefits of having VA Cytology in My HealtheVet?
Having the results of your VA Cytology test(s) allows you to:
- Work in partnership with your health care team
- Gain a better understanding of your health issues
- Make informed decisions about your health
- Share your VA Cytology reports with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
Can others see my VA Cytology report in My HealtheVet?
You are the only one who can see your information in My HealtheVet. You decide how to share that information. If you want someone else to see your information, you must give it to him or her.
VA Cytology test results have information about you that is personal. You are responsible for protecting the personal health information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect it the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information.
Remember, if you use a computer or printer that is not yours (such as a friend’s, the libraries, etc) always:
- Remove your printed information off the printer and take it with you
- Take your CD or thumb drive with you when you finish
- Avoid saving your information to a computer that is not yours
- Do not forget to log-off your My HealtheVet account
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and secure.
Can I change the information in my VA Cytology report?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you have questions about the information presented in these reports, please speak with your VA health care team or VA provider.
Do you have lab reports from other non-VA medical facilities? If yes, please speak with your VA health care team to ensure that this information is included in your VA health record.
Will I get an email when my VA Cytology test result is available in My HealtheVet?
No, you will not receive an email when your VA Cytology report becomes available in My HealtheVet.
Please note that your VA Cytology test results may take as long as 2-3 weeks before they are available through VA Blue Button. If you have questions you can contact your VA health care team. You can do this using Secure Messaging, by phone or during your next clinic visit.
Why do I have to wait before I can see my VA Cytology results?
After completion of your lab test:
- Your specimen must be processed
- Results need to be entered into your VA health record
- Your VA health care team needs time to review those results
- Results are copied into your My HealtheVet account
If there are any issues with your results, your VA health care team should contact you.
How is my VA Cytology report created?
When your provider collects a specimen from you, it is sent to the lab. After it is examined the findings are placed in a report. Once complete, this report is entered into your VA health care record, where My HealtheVet pulls it into VA Blue Button. If you had a specimen sent for Cytology, this report can be viewed in My HealtheVet as VA Cytology.
What information will I be able to view in VA Cytology?
VA Cytology is made up of reports. It includes identified diagnoses and characterizes disease by examining single cells or a group of cells. The specimen comes from body fluids that your VA health care team submits to the laboratory.
The Cytology report may include the following information:
- Type of Report: Cytology
- Specimen: type of specimen taken, such as a pap smear
- Date/Time Collected: the day, month, year and time the specimen was collected
- Ordering Location: location where the test was ordered
- Submitted By: person who collected and sent the specimen to the lab
- Surgeon or Physician: person who ordered the test
- Pathologist: lab person (doctor) who examined the specimen
Cytology Report
The following fields may be blank if there is no information available:
- Brief Clinical History - may provide an overview of why you are having the test
- Gross Description - a description of the specimen that was removed
- Microscopic Examination - a detailed description under microscopic review
- Diagnosis - a health condition or disease
- Impression - the examining pathologist’s interpretation of the results, based on their findings
- Supplemental Report - can include any additional data the pathologist feels would be helpful for your provider and other members of your health care team
Note: VA Cytology may use medical terms that you do not understand. If you have questions about your information, you may contact the VA health care team where you received your care.
How soon will I see my results after my VA Cytology test is done?
VA Cytology reports may take as long as 2-3 weeks before they are available through VA Blue Button. This may happen if a specimen is sent to a lab outside your VA medical center.
If you cannot view your results in My HealtheVet after seven business days, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team and check on your results. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
Where can I learn more about Cytology or a certain health condition?
Use the Medical Library in My HealtheVet to learn more about a specific health condition or information you found in your VA Cytology report. The Medical Library has in-depth information about medical conditions.
How can I use my VA Cytology report?
- Share your VA Cytology report with non-VA health care providers. Give your health care provider a complete picture of your health with VA Blue Button information. This helps them make better decisions about your health care.
- Use VA Cytology to help you make choices about your treatment. By learning all that you can about your condition or diagnosis, you can work closely with your health care team to make the best treatment decision for you. Talk to your VA health care team or visit the My HealtheVet Medical Library to learn more.
What should I do if I have a question about my VA Cytology report?
- Select the Learn More link, which has general information about the VA Cytology report.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming VA appointment, or by using Secure Messaging.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Cytology feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about problems you have with the VA Cytology feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
VA Demographics
What are VA Demographics?
Demographics are the collection of information that describes a population. In My HealtheVet, VA Demographics includes a VA patient’s military and social data. This information is provided by the Veteran when they enroll in the VA Healthcare System. It may include name, age, gender, race, and Social Security Number. VA uses what the Veteran provides, to verify who you are, create your VA health record and to communicate with you.
VA Demographics is a part of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record. It can be found in the VA Blue Button - Download My Data section. VA patients can view their demographic information, as listed in their official VA health record.
Note: Veterans seeking VA benefits for the first time will need to provide:
- A copy of their service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for World War II Veterans, a WD* form)
- Service dates and type of discharge, or give their full name, military service number, and branch and dates of service
- Eligible Veterans will complete a VA Form 10-10EZ Application for Health Benefits
*The WD Form is listed on all the government websites as discharge information for World War II era vets. WD stands for War Department.
What Information will I be able to view in VA Demographics?
VA Treating Facility
Name: First, Middle, Last
Date of Birth
Age
Gender
Religion
Marital Status
Permanent Address and Contact Information:
Street Address
Street Address 2
City
State
Zip Code
County
Country
Home Phone Number
Eligibility:
Work Phone Number
Service Connected Percentage
Means Test Status
Rx Copay Status
Active Insurance:
Insurance Company
Effective Date
Expiration Date
Group Name
Group Number
Subscriber ID
Subscriber Name
Subscriber Relationship
Note:
Your VA Demographic information may be several years old. Information can only be updated by the Veteran (or someone with Power of Attorney).
What are the requirements for viewing VA Demographics?
To view your VA Demographics you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be a registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have a My HealtheVet Premium* account
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How can I use VA Demographics?
- Use this information to assist you when filling out other documents, such as:
- Insurance information
- Application forms
- Legal documents
- Ensure that your demographic information in your VA health record is correct and up-to-date.
What are the benefits of VA Demographics in My HealtheVet?
- You are able to view your demographic information that is in your VA health record.
- As long as you have Internet access, you can view your VA Demographics. Your information is available 24/7 at your convenience.
Who can see my VA Demographics in My HealtheVet?
You are the only one who can see your information in My HealtheVet unless you choose to share it with others.
Your VA Demographics information is personal. You are responsible for protecting any information you print or download. Protect this the same way you would your banking or credit card information.
Remember, if you use someone else’s computer or printer, always:
- Remove your printed information off the printer and take it with you
- Take your CD or thumb drive with you when you finish
- Avoid saving your information to a computer that is not yours
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal information is safe and secure.
If I change demographic information in My HealtheVet, will it update my VA health record?
No. You can only update or change demographic information in your VA health record by going to Update Your Information and/or visiting the Eligibility Department at your local VA medical center.
Am I able to change information in my VA Demographics?
Your VA Demographics is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you believe information in your VA Demographics is not accurate or needs to be updated, go to Update Your Information and/or visit the Eligibility Department at your local VA medical center.
Will I receive an email if my VA Demographics are updated?
No. Your information is refreshed once a day when you open VA Blue Button. If there has been any change to your VA Demographics, you will be able to see it.
Note: The VA Demographics that are in your official VA health record may not be updated regularly. If you have questions about the accuracy of your demographic information go to Update Your Information.
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Demographics?
To access VA Demographics, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Demographics
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Demographics?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Demographics feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
What should I do if I have a question about my VA Demographics?
If you have questions about your VA Demographics:
- Select the Learn More link, which has general information about VA Demographics.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your local VA Eligibility Department. VA Facility Locator
I see a yellow text box at the top of the page with a triangle icon, what does this mean?
This is a message box that lets you know the status of your VA Demographic information. For example:
- If you have no information in the system, the message in the box will read: “Information is not available”.
- If My HealtheVet is not able to retrieve your information, the message in the box will read: “Request cannot be processed at this time”. If you see this message, you may wish to check back later.
- If your information is being updated, the message will read: “We are updating your VA Demographics information…..Updates to your data are still in progress. Please refresh this screen or check back later.”
VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)
What does Electrocardiogram mean?
EKG stands for electrocardiogram. An EKG can also be referred to as an ECG. An EKG is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. This is a simple test that does not cause discomfort. This includes the rate and regularity of beats as well as the size and position of the chambers, any damage to the heart, and effects of drugs or devices to regulate the heart.
An EKG is a very useful tool for determining whether a person has heart disease. Your health care provider may order this screening test to check your heart and how it is functioning.
What is VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)?
VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a feature of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov), found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view the date/time and where they had their VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) procedure(s). This information comes from the Veteran’s VA health record.
What are the benefits of having my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) information report in My HealtheVet?
- You will know when and where you had your test
- It allows you to share this information with a non-VA provider
- Having this information may help you partner with your health care team.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) results in My HealtheVet?
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account*
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity. This is done before allowing access to their VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I access, view, print, save or download my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) report(s)?
To access VA Electrocardiogram, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Select Submit
- Select either:
- Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (.pdf file),
- Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or
- Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What information will be in my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) report?
Your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) report will show the following data:
- Procedure/Test Name: Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Date/Time Exam Performed: the day, month, year and time your test was done
- Ordering Location: the name of the location where your provider ordered the test
My HealtheVet is not able to provide you with the results of your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) at this time. If you have any questions about your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) information or results, please visit the FAQs or contact your VA health care team.
How soon will I see my results after my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG)?
It may take 7 days-two weeks for your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) information to be available on My HealtheVet. When available, you will be able to view the date/time and where your VA Electrocardiogram was performed.
You can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team, to check on your results. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
Will I be notified when my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) report is available?
No, you must login to My HealtheVet to view your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) information. This information lets you know the date/time and where you had your EKG.
You can contact your VA health care team by telephone or use Secure Messaging to check on your results. Your results may also be mailed to you.
What should I do if I have questions about my VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) results?
If you have questions about your VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) results, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your health care team or you can contact them by telephone.
You can also search for general information about EKGs under the ‘Research Health Tab’ in My HealtheVet.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Electrocardiogram (EKG) feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA EKG feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff should respond to your problem within three (3) business days. You may also contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your VA Medical Center.
VA Electron Microscopy
What is Microscopy?
Microscopy is the use of microscopes to view specimens that cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Electron Microscopy uses a special microscope, which allows a specimen to be viewed in greater microscopic detail. The electron microscope is used infrequently and is only for special types of biopsies. The electron microscope is not needed and not used on most biopsies.
What is VA Electron Microscopy?
VA Electron Microscopy is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov), found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view their electron microscopy test results.
Where does information in my VA Electron Microscopy report come from?
Information in your VA Electron Microscopy report comes from a specimen (such as a tissue biopsy) that is sent to a lab for examination.
The lab examined the specimen your VA health care team submitted. Their findings are written up and placed in a “report”. Once complete, your report is entered into your official VA health care record. My HealtheVet is then able to pull your report from your official VA health care record and load it into VA Blue Button, where you can view your test results.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Electron Microscopy?
To view your VA Electron Microscopy you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account*
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
What are the benefits of having VA Electron Microscopy in My HealtheVet?
The benefits of having VA Electron Microscopy in My HealtheVet are:
- You can view your information at any time, anywhere you have Internet access
- You are provided with important information about your health, which may help you make informed decisions about your health
- You are able to share your test results with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
- You can work in partnership with your health care team to ensure that you have a better understanding of your health issues
What information will I be able to view in my VA Electron Microscopy report?
- Type of Report: Electron Microscopy
- Specimen: type of specimen taken, such as a tissue biopsy
- Date/Time Collected: the day, month, year and time the specimen was collected
- Ordering Location: location where the test was ordered
- Submitted By: person who collected and sent the specimen to the lab
- Surgeon or Physician: person who ordered the test
- Pathologist: lab person (doctor) who examined the specimen
Section 2 – Electron Microscopy Report
The following fields may be blank if there is no information available:
- Brief Clinical History: may provide an overview of why you are having the test
- Gross Description: a description of the specimen that was removed
- Microscopic Examination: a detailed description under microscopic review
- Diagnosis: a health condition or disease
- Impression: the examining pathologist’s interpretation of the results, based on their findings
- Supplemental Report: can include any additional data the pathologist feels would be helpful for your provider and other members of your health care team
Can I change information in my VA Electron Microscopy report?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you have questions about your results, please speak with your VA health care team or VA physician.
Do you have an Electron Microscopy report from other non-VA medical facilities? If yes, share this with your VA health care team to ensure that this information is included in your VA health record.
Where can I find additional information?
My HealtheVet has a Medical Library. In the Medical Library you can learn more about Electron Microscopy or other health conditions. The medical library has detailed information about health conditions.
How can I use information in my VA Electron Microscopy report?
Share your VA Electron Microscopy report with your non-VA health care providers. Give your health care provider a complete picture of your health with VA Blue Button information. This helps them make better decisions about your health care.
Visit the Medical Library to learn all that you can about your condition or diagnosis. Use this information to work closely with your health care team to make the best treatment decision for you.
How soon will I see my results after my VA Electron Microscopy test is done?
Most test results should be available in My HealtheVet 7 days after the date your report is complete. However, some results may take 2 to 3 weeks. This may happen if your procedure was done outside your VA medical center.
If you cannot view your results in My HealtheVet after seven business days, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team and check on your results. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Electron Microscopy report?
To access your VA Electron Microscopy report:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data
- Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Electron Microscopy
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Electron Microscopy report to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use VA Blue Button to download and/or print a copy of your VA Electron Microscopy report. You can take this with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Can my VA health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your VA health care team cannot view any information in your Personal Health Record. Your health care team does not have access to information you have entered in My HealtheVet unless you share it.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Electron Microscopy report?
If you have questions about your VA Electron Microscopy report:
- First, select the Learn More link, which has general information about what Electron Microscopy is and how you can use this information to partner with your health care team
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming appointment, or by using Secure Messaging. Your VA health care team can answer questions you have about your VA Electron Microscopy report
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Electron Microscopy feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Microscopy feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your inquiry within three (3) business days.
VA Appointments
What is the My HealtheVet VA Appointments
feature?
My HealtheVet VA Appointments is an online feature that lets you view your VA appointments 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. Summary and detailed information is given for each appointment.
The summary information includes date and time, name and location of the clinic.
The clinic name, phone number and appointment status are included in the detailed information. There may be pre-appointment actions in the appointment
details (for example you may need to have an x-ray, blood drawn, or an EKG). The length of the appointment on the Health Calendar is just a
placeholder. The actual appointment length may be different.
What are patient requirements for viewing VA Appointments in My HealtheVet?
To use VA Appointments you must:
-
be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
-
be a registered My HealtheVet user
-
have an upgraded account.
To get an upgraded account you must complete a one-time process called
In-Person Authentication
or "IPA." For more information on how to upgrade your account, visit Quick Links. You can upgrade your account at your VA Medical Center
or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
How do I make changes to an existing My HealtheVet account?
To make changes:
-
Login to your My HealtheVet account
-
Click on Personal Information
-
Click on Profile
-
Update your account information
-
Click on the Save button
Changes made in My HealtheVet will not be carried over into your VA electronic medical record. Once you have
completed the In-Person Authentication (IPA) process, you will no longer be able to make changes to the following information in My HealtheVet:
-
Title
-
First Name
-
Middle Name
-
Last Name
-
Suffix
-
Social Security Number
-
Gender
-
Birth Date
-
Relationship to the VA ("VA Patient")
If you need to make any of the above changes, you must make the change at your VA treatment facility.
How do I access My HealtheVet VA Appointments?
Appointments can be accessed from the Appointment tab or your personal Health Calendar.
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select the Appointments tab
What are the benefits of using My HealtheVet VA Appointments?
-
Allows you to view your VA Appointments on your Health Calendar in your My HealtheVet account
-
Allows you to set up an e-mail reminder for your VA Appointments
-
Provides you with detailed VA Appointments information
-
Allows you to be more involved in your own health care
-
Allows you to view your scheduled clinic appointments as well as see your appointment history for the past 2 years
What VA Appointments will I be able to view?
You will be able to view your upcoming scheduled VA clinic appointments as well as see your appointment history for the past 2 years
What VA Appointment information is provided?
The summary information includes:
-
date
-
time
-
name
-
clinic location
-
clinic phone number
-
appointment status
There may be things you need to do before your appointment on details page (for example you may need to have an x-ray, blood drawn, or an EKG).
Is My HealtheVet VA Appointments information protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure Website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal
health information is safe and protected.
Will I receive a VA Appointment notification from the facility?
If your VA health care team currently notifies you about your appointment, you may still receive an appointment notification.
How can I cancel or change my VA Appointments?
You can cancel or change your VA Appointment by contacting your local VA Facility. If you have Secure Messaging you can also cancel or change your
appointment by sending a Secure Message to your health care team.
On my appointment event detail page what does 'Status' mean?
The status of your appointment lets you know the standing of your appointment with the clinic. The Cancelled status displays if the clinic or you
cancelled an appointment. You do not need to show up for an appointment with the status Cancelled.
Past Appointment Status
-
Appointment Kept
-
Appointment Not Kept
Current Appointment Status
-
Status Update in Progress
-
Not Applicable (this is a temporary status and will change)
Future Appointment Status
Appointments that require no action for the patient
-
Cancelled (by patient or by clinic)
When you are an Inpatient
-
Inpatient Appointment (Note: After you are discharged, please check your appointments because the status may have changed.)
Can I receive an E-mail Reminder about my appointments?
Yes, you can receive an E-mail Reminder about your appointment by setting your Preferences.
To set up an e-mail alert:
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select the Health Calendar tab
-
Select the Preferences link
-
Check the box "Subscribe to E-mail Reminders"
-
Check the "VA Appointments" box
How often will I receive an E-mail Reminder?
Once you set up your VA Appointment E-mail Reminder, you will receive an e-mail both 14 days before and 3 days before your appointment. The E-mail Reminder will be sent to the e-mail address you provided when you registered for My HealtheVet. If you have changed your e-mail address, be sure to make that change in your My HealtheVet account.
Can I add my non-VA appointments to my Health Calendar?
You can add your non-VA appointments:
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select the Health Calendar tab
-
Select the Add Event link and fill in the form
-
Select Save
What should I do if a scheduled VA Appointment is not listed?
Contact your VA healthcare team to confirm your scheduled VA Appointment.
On my Health Calendar, why can't I see a VA Appointment that used to be there?
Some VA Appointments will no longer appear on your Health Calendar because that type of appointment does not require a face-to-face visit with your healthcare
team. For example, an appointment for your health care provider to put in a consult will no longer appear on your Health Calendar because you do not have to do
anything. Another reason is that the clinic is no longer available.
Why can't I see my VA Appointments on my Health Calendar or when using the VA Blue Button to print or download?
To see your VA Appointments on your Health Calendar or with the VA Blue Button
-
You must be a VA patient with appointments at a VA facility.
-
Add your VA Appointments data in My HealtheVet
To put your VA Appointments in My HealtheVet just:
-
select the Get Care tab
-
select VA Appointments
-
you may need to select a Refresh button, if you see a message to do this
-
Check your Health Calendar to see if you selected the VA Appointments box.
To check your Health Calendar:
- select the Get Care tab
- select the Health Calendar tab
- select the VA Appointments box
- select Update Views
If you have checked the above and still cannot see your VA Appointments, contact the Help Desk using the Contact MHV
tab at the top of every My HealtheVet page.
How can I get a printed list of my upcoming VA Appointments?
There are three ways:
-
Appointment
tab (select Printer Friendly)
-
Health Calendar
-
Blue Button
custom download of your VA Appointments (Future)
To print your list from the Appointment tab:
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select Appointments
-
Select Printer Friendly
-
Select Print
To print your list from the Health Calendar:
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select the Health Calendar tab
-
Select List View
-
Under Showing Event Types select VA Appointments
-
Select Update View
-
Select Printer Friendly
-
Select Print
To download your data using the Blue Button:
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select Download My Data
-
Select Download Only My Selected Data from My HealtheVet
-
Select Continue
-
Select VA Appointments (Future)
-
Select Submit
-
Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file) or Download for a simple
text format (.txt file) if you want an electronic copy
-
Select View/Print if you want a printed list
-
Select Print
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Appointments?
Contact your VA healthcare team if you have any questions about your VA Appointments.
Can I review my VA Appointments from my Health Calendar?
You can view your appointments in your Health Calendar.
-
Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select the Get Care tab
-
Select the Health Calendar tab
-
To view your VA Appointments:
-
Check the "VA Appointments" box
-
Select Update Views
Back to Appointments FAQs
Who do I contact if I
have a problem with the VA Appointments feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about problems you have with the VA Appointments feature. Simply
complete the
Contact Us
form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk, who will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
Labs + Tests
Labs + Tests
is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record where lab results may be recorded. It may include self-entered and
VA health record lab information.
-
If you are a registered My HealtheVet user, you can view your self-entered non-VA lab information
- If you are a VA patient, registered on My HealtheVet with an upgraded account, you can view results of your VA labs +
tests as they become available. Currently, VA lab tests include VA Chemistry/Hematology information
To get an upgraded account you must complete a one-time process called
In-Person Authentication or "IPA." You can upgrade your account at your VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic.
Is there any
VA lab or test
information that will not be available?
Yes, at present only your VA Chemistry/Hematology results will be available in My HealtheVet.
VA Chemistry/Hematology
is only one type of lab test. Other types of lab tests include Microbiology and Pathology. Information on these tests will be available in the future
through My HealtheVet.
In the Labs + Tests section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record is where lab results may be
recorded. It may include self-entered and VA health record lab information. The Self-Entered Tests are tests that a My HealtheVet user enters them self. For example blood work or a test done by a non-VA provider.
What does Chemistry/Hematology mean?
Chemistry
is when a sample of blood or body fluid is checked for the amounts of certain elements made in the body. An abnormal result may be a sign of disease.
Chemistry labs include hundreds of tests. Common labs include blood sugar, cholesterol, electrolytes, calcium, liver function, thyroid, and pancreatic
tests.
Hematology
is when a sample of blood is checked for factors in the blood and blood-forming tissues. Hematology lab results include blood cell counts and clotting
tests.
A laboratory specimen is a sample of tissue, fluid or other material taken from a patient to study. This helps members of your health care team make a
diagnosis. It may also help them to see where you are with a disease or a condition. Common specimen examples include, blood, urine, tissue biopsies,
throat swab, sputum, etc.
What do lab test
results show?
For each test, there is a range of values that is considered acceptable for the general population. Your result will be a specific number that will be
compared to this range. Remember, these numbers vary from person to person. What is right for you may not be right for someone else. Your test results
provide information that gives your health care team clues to possible health problems. Results may show other tests are needed to help make a
diagnosis or guide change to your treatment. Lab test results are considered a part of monitoring your overall health.
This means that the test result value changed after a result value was released to your provider. Amended results are available immediately. If you
have a test result that was corrected, you should see the word Amended next to the test.
What can affect lab results?
Many things can affect results, including:
-
Gender
-
Age
-
Race
-
Medical history
- General health
- Specific foods
- Medications you are taking
- How closely you follow instructions to prepare to have the sample drawn
- Variation in laboratory methods
- Variation between laboratories
Your health care team uses lab tests to help:
-
Identify changes in your health
-
Diagnose a disease or condition
-
Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
-
Evaluate your response to treatment
-
Monitor the course of a disease or condition over time
A typical lab test report provides your results followed by a reference range. For an explanation of reference ranges see Reference Ranges (Lab Tests Online).
What is a Unit?
A unit is how the test result is measured. The units provide a way to report results so that they can be compared.
How are lab
samples analyzed?
After your health care team collects your sample (specimen), it is sent to a laboratory. The laboratory performs tests on the sample to see how it
reacts. Depending on the test, a reaction may mean you have a certain condition. Sometimes the laboratory compares your results to results of prior
tests. This is done to see if there has been a change in your condition.
Is there information that explains what lab results mean?
Yes, a Learn More section provides general lab information and links to additional resources. You can find the Learn More link in the yellow information box located at the bottom of each VA Chemistry/Hematology page.
If you cannot find information in the Learn More section you can contact your health care team. You can use the Secure Messaging feature on My HealtheVet to communicate with them.
No, they cannot view any information in your My Health
eVet account. This includes
Labs + Test and
VA Chemistry/Hematology information. Your health care team does not have access to
any information in your
My Health
eVet account, unless you share it. However, they can access the
VA Lab and Test information in your
VA health record.
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal
health information is safe and protected.
No, at this time the results of lab tests done outside the VA are not sent to your My HealtheVet account. However, you can
self-enter your non-VA lab results.
To do this, just:
-
Select the Track Health tab
-
Select Labs + Tests
-
Under Self-Entered Test select the red Add New button
You can obtain information about your VA labs that are not currently in My HealtheVet by:
- Contacting your local VA Medical Center's Release of Information Office or
-
Using Secure Messaging if it is available at your VA facility
VA Chemistry/Hematology
VA
Chemistry/Hematology
is a feature of My HealtheVet found in the Labs + Tests section under Track Health. It is
where VA patients can view their VA Chemistry/ Hematology lab results.
Chemistry: is when a sample of blood or body fluid is checked for amounts of certain elements made in the body. An abnormal result may be a sign of disease.
Chemistry labs include hundreds of tests. Common labs include blood sugar, cholesterol, electrolytes, calcium, liver function, thyroid, and pancreatic
Hematology:
is when a sample of blood is checked for factors in the blood and blood-forming tissues. Hematology lab results include blood cell counts and clotting
tests.
To view VA test results you must:
-
Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be a registered My HealtheVet user
- Have an upgraded account
To get an upgraded account you must complete a one-time process called
In-Person Authentication (IPA). You can upgrade your account at your VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic.
You may access your My HealtheVet test results anywhere there is a computer with Internet access.
To view your results:
-
Login to My HealtheVet
-
Select the Track Health tab
-
Select the Labs + Tests tab
-
Select VA Chemistry/Hematology
When you open VA Chemistry/Hematology you may see an alert message:
- Select the Refresh button to see if your results have been received
-
An In-progress message is shown as your VA Chemistry/Hematology lab results are copied from your VA health record
to My HealtheVet
-
A Complete message is shown when this process is done
At that time, you should be able to view your VA Chemistry/Hematology results.
Not necessarily. Most test results should be available in My HealtheVet after the date your report is
complete. However, some results may take 2 to 3 weeks How soon you see your results depends on the test and where it was done. It also allows your
health care team time to review your results.
After your lab results are sent to your My HealtheVet account, they should be displayed when you login and select VA Chemistry/Hematology.
If the results you are expecting are not there:
-
Select Refresh to view the most recent results
-
An In-progress message lets you know that your results are being copied from your VA health record to your My Health eVet account
-
A Complete message should appear when your lab results are available
-
You can then see your VA Chemistry/Hematology lab results
What does Amended mean?
This means that the test result value changed after a result value was released to your provider. Amended results are available immediately. If you
have a test result that was corrected, you should see the word Amended next to the test.
How soon will I see my results after my test is done?
After your tests have been completed and entered in your VA health record. It may take two weeks for the results to be available on My Health eVet.
After completion of your lab test:
-
Your specimen must be processed
-
Results need to be entered into your VA health record
- Your health care team needs time to review those results
- Results are copied into your My HealtheVet account
If there are any issues with your results, your VA health care team should contact you.
Your recent test results will not be immediately available. This is due to how tests are processed. Most test results should be
available in My HealtheVet after the date your report is complete. However, some results may take 2 to 3 weeks. This may
happen if blood samples are sent to a lab outside your VA medical center. If you cannot view your results in My HealtheVet
after seven business days, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating health care team and check on your results. You
can also contact your health care team by telephone.
Will I be notified when my results are available?
No, you must login to My HealtheVet to view your VA Chemistry/Hematology results. You may still receive a
letter from your VA health care team.
What should I do if my result is abnormal?
Your VA health care team should contact you if they feel there are issues they need to address. If you still have questions, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating health care team or you can contact them by telephone.
Will I receive a telephone call if there was an abnormal result?
The health care team should contact you if they have any issues to address. This may be done during your appointment, through Secure Messaging if available, a letter, or by telephone.
What should I do if I have questions about my results?
If you have questions about your results
-
Select the Learn More link, which has general lab information
- If you still have questions or do not understand your results, you can contact your participating health care team through Secure Messaging (if available) or by telephone
Will I be able to view my old test results?
Yes, you should be able to view all your VA Chemistry/Hematology results that are currently in your electronic VA health record.
Can I print a copy of my results?
Yes, there are two ways you can print your results:
- On the VA Chemistry/Hematology Summary and Details pages
- Blue Button
custom download of your VA Chemistry/Hematology
To print the VA Chemistry/Hematology Summary page or Detail page
:
-
Select the Printer Friendly link at the top right side of the Summary page or the two Detail
pages
-
Select Print
-
Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
To download your data using the VA Blue Button:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
-
Select Download My Data
-
Select Download Only My Selected Data from My HealtheVet
-
Select Continue
-
Select VA Laboratory Results (to print VA Chemistry/Hematology results)
-
Select Labs and Tests (to print/download test information you self-entered)
-
Select Submit
-
Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file) or Download for a simple
text format (.txt file) if you want an electronic copy or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
-
Select View/Print if you want a printed list
-
Select Print
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Chemistry/Hematology
results to my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can take a printed copy with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers and may
prevent lab tests from being repeated.
Who do I contact if I
have a technical problem with the VA Chemistry/Hematology feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Chemistry/Hematology feature.
Simply complete the
Contact Us
form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff should respond to your problem within three (3) business
days. You may also contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your VA Medical Center.
Registration
Registration says my information doesn't match VA's. What should I do?
If you get this message when trying to register, it means you have selected the "VA Patient" checkbox to identify yourself. During Registration My HealtheVet matches your first name, last name, social security number, and date of birth against the same data listed in your VA record. This process verifies your identity as a VA Patient, and will allow you access to Prescription Refill. You can see how the VA has your name recorded by looking at a prescription bottle or your VIC card. If you are sure your registration information matches your VA information, there may still be other reasons why you are getting this message. You will need to complete registration for us to help you. To continue, please select a different checkbox in the "Relationship to the VA" section of the Registration page. When you have successfully registered, use the Contact MHV link so we can assist you with this problem.
How do I get a User ID and password so that I can access the site?
To register for the site and create a user ID and password, click the Register button located in the right-hand Member Login panel. The resulting page will allow you to create your user profile. Just fill out the form and click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.
I forgot my User ID. What should I do?
This feature is currently unavailable.
If you need assistance please contact the My HealtheVet Help Desk:
- You can send us details using the Contact Us form. Our goal is to reply to you by the next business day
- Or, call us directly at 1-877-327-0022, Monday - Friday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. (Central Time)
Thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
I forgot my password. What should I do?
This feature is currently unavailable.
If you need assistance please contact the My HealtheVet Help Desk:
- You can send us details using the Contact Us form. Our goal is to reply to you by the next business day
- Or, call us directly at 1-877-327-0022, Monday - Friday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. (Central Time)
Thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
How do I change my personal information?
In order to change the personal information on your My HealtheVet account, please follow these steps:
- Log in to My HealtheVet from the home page
- Click the Personal Information tab
- Click the Profiles link
- Change your personal information as necessary
- Click the Save button when you have finished.
How do I change my address with the VA?
You can make a change of address request at any VA medical facility or by contacting the VA directly. There are two ways you can do this:
- You can either submit an e-mail request to the VA through the Ask A Question link on https://iris.va.gov or contact a VA benefits representative at 1-800-827-1000 (Monday-Friday). After navigating through the phone menu, you will be connected with a live benefits specialist who can assist you with your address change.
- To set up care with a new VA Medical Center, please contact the facility directly and speak with an appointment representative. They will help assign your primary facility and establish a care team for appointments. You can find the contact number for your local VA Medical Center by using the VA Facility Locator.
Can I change my User ID or create a second account?
We do not currently allow users to change their User IDs. In the future you will have the ability to delete your MHV account. This will allow you to create a new account with a new User ID. In the meantime, we recommend that you do not create more than one account. In order to access certain features of the website, such as online prescription refill, you must have your correct name, date of birth, and social security number entered into your My HealtheVet account. The system will only allow you to create one account with this information. Creating additional accounts with incorrect information will only make it more difficult for you to access your information.
Authentication
What is Authentication?
This is a process used to confirm your identity before allowing access to your VA health record. It is done to protect your personal information. You must complete this process to get an upgraded My HealtheVet account.
There are two ways you can upgrade your My HealtheVet account:
- In-Person Authentication (IPA)
Upgrade your account in person. This can be done at your local VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
- Online Authentication
Upgrade your account by using your DS Logon Premium account through eBenefits. This is for Veterans who have connected their eBenefits DS Logon Premium account & their My HealtheVet VA Patient account.
What is an Upgraded My HealtheVet account?
An "Upgraded" account is also called an "Authenticated" account.
What will an Upgraded account allow me to do?
Your Upgraded My HealtheVet account will give you access to portions of your official VA health record and allow you to:
- View VA Chemistry/Hematology Lab results
- Receive information on your VA Appointments, including email reminders
- View VA Allergy and Adverse Reactions records
- Receive VA Wellness Reminders
- View additional parts of your VA health record, as they become available
- Use Secure Messaging to communicate with your VA health care team
- View Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information (for some Veterans)
Can anyone get an Upgraded account in My HealtheVet?
No. Before you can get an Upgraded My HealtheVet account (In-Person or Online Authentication) you will need to be:
- A Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
If you upgrade online, you will also need to:
- Have a DS Logon Premium Account
- Have your My HealtheVet account information (full name, Social Security Number, date of birth, and gender) exactly match what is in DEERS
- Connect your DS Logon Premium account and your My HealtheVet account (to learn more, visit Connecting Accounts: Frequently Asked Questions)
What is In-Person Authentication (IPA)?
This is a one time face-to-face authentication process. This can be done at your local VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). If you have any questions, please contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your local VA facility.
How do I get In-Person Authenticated?
Contact your My HealtheVet Coordinator, or Release of Information Clerk, or clinic staff at your local VA facility. You will need to bring with you:
Your full name (first, middle, last), Social Security Number, gender and date of birth is then matched with the VA Master Veteran Index (MVI) database. After a match, your My HealtheVet account is upgraded.
What is Online Authentication?
This is a way you can upgrade your My HealtheVet account online. It is for Veterans who have connected their eBenefits DS Logon Premium account & their My HealtheVet VA Patient account. Upgrading online is done through www.ebenefits.va.gov.
How do I authenticate my account Online?
To upgrade your My HealtheVet account online, you need to: .
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have a DS Logon Premium Account
- Have your My HealtheVet account information (full name, SSN, DOB and gender) exactly match what is in DEERS
- Connect your eBenefits/DS Logon and My HealtheVet accounts (to learn more, visit Connecting Accounts: Frequently Asked Questions)
After you have successfully Connected Accounts, if you are a VA Patient in My HealtheVet and do NOT have an upgraded account, you will be asked if you would like to start to upgrade your account. Before you select YES, please follow these steps to start Online Authentication:
- Download, print and sign the VA Release of Information form VA Release of Information (ROI) form (10-5345a-MHV) (PDF)
- Mail your signed form to the Release of Information Office at your VA Medical Center
Use the VA Facility Locator to find the address of your VA Medical Center
- Select YES - UPGRADE MY ACCOUNT
Important:
- Your My HealtheVet account will not be upgraded until staff at your VA Medical Center has processed your signed Release of Information form. Please allow at least 20 business days for your upgrade to be completed
- Until your VA Release of Information Form is received and processed, your My HealtheVet account will be in an In Process state for upgrading
Can I make changes to my Profile page after my account is upgraded?
Once your account is upgraded, your name, Social Security Number, date of birth and gender are locked down. To make changes, you will need to contact your local VA facility Eligibility Office. This information is then updated in the VA Master Veteran Index database, which will automatically update your My HealtheVet profile page.
You can update other information on your My HealtheVet profile page such as your address or phone number. However, those changes are NOT sent to your VA health record.
If I have questions about upgrading my account, who should I contact?
If you have any questions, please contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your local VA facility or send an inquiry through Contact MHV.
If I get an Upgraded account, will others be able to see my information?
No. Information in your My HealtheVet account cannot be seen by anyone but you. This includes information in your personal profile. Neither your health care team, nor anyone else, has access to this information unless you share it. This is why you should let your VA facility know if you change any information in your profile, like your address or phone number, so they can update your VA health record.
Is my information secure?
Yes. My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected. Remember that you also have a responsibility to keep your health information safe by not sharing your password, or leaving printed material where someone else can see it.
When can I see my VA prescription names?
Prescription names are available to all VA patients after they register on My HealtheVet as a VA Patient. You no longer need an upgraded account in My HealtheVet to see the names of your prescription medications.
What is DEERS?
DEERS stands for Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. It is a worldwide, computerized record of uniformed Servicemembers (sponsors), their family members, and others who are eligible for military benefits. Enrollment in DEERS is automatic for all Servicemembers and Veterans who have served since 1982. Those who served prior to 1982 are being added from VA/DoD records. To request a change to your personal information in DEERS or learn more you can visit the DEERS homepage.
VA Microbiology
What does Microbiology mean?
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms that are alive, but are too small to be seen with the naked eye. These tests are done to determine if an infection is caused by bacteria, fungi or parasites. An abnormal result may be a sign of disease.
Microbiology labs include many tests. A common Microbiology tests is a urine test.
What is VA Microbiology?
VA Microbiology is a feature of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov), found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view the type of Microbiology test they had done and the test results. This lab information comes from the Veteran’s VA health record.
VA Microbiology is only one type of lab test. Other types of VA lab tests may include Chemistry/Hematology, Pathology, Cytology, and Electron Microscopy.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Microbiology?
To view your VA Microbiology results you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium* My HealtheVet account
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I access VA Microbiology?
To access:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data
- Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Microbiology
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What information will be in my VA Microbiology report?
Your VA Microbiology report will show the following data:
- Lab Test - this is the name of the test to be done
- Lab Type - Microbiology
- Ordering Provider - person who ordered the test
- Ordering Location - the location where your provider ordered the test
- Site/Specimen - type of specimen taken and where it was taken from. For example; ear (site)/drainage (specimen).
- Collection Sample - how the specimen was taken or obtained. For example; a swab
- Date/Time Collected - the day, month, year and time the specimen was collected
- Performing Location - lab location where the specimen was examined
- Date/Time Completed - the day, month, year and time the test was finished
- Collected Location - where the physical location where the sample was taken. For example; the name of your VA Medical Center
- Results - a description of findings
Results: For each test, there is a range of values that is considered acceptable for the general population. Your result will be a specific number that will be compared to this range. Remember, these numbers vary from person to person. What is right for you may not be right for someone else. Your test results provide information that gives your health care team clues to possible health problems. Results may show other tests are needed to help make a diagnosis or guide a change to your treatment. Microbiology test results are considered a part of monitoring your overall health.
How are VA Microbiology lab samples analyzed?
After your health care team collects your sample (specimen), it is sent to a laboratory. The laboratory performs tests on the sample to see how it reacts. Depending on the test, a reaction may mean you have a certain condition. Sometimes the laboratory compares your results to results of prior tests. This is done to see if there has been a change in your condition.
Is there anything that could affect my VA Microbiology results?
Many things can affect results, including:
- Gender
- Age
- Race
- Medical history
- General health
- Specific foods
- Medications you are taking
- How closely you follow instructions to prepare to have the sample drawn
- Variation in laboratory methods
- Variation between laboratories
How might my VA Microbiology lab tests help my provider?
Your health care team uses Microbiology lab tests to help:
- Identify changes in your health
- Diagnose a disease or condition
- Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
- Evaluate your response to treatment
- Monitor the course of a disease or condition over time
How soon will I see my results after my VA Microbiology test is done?
Most test results should be available in My HealtheVet 7 days after the date your report is complete. However, some results may take 2 to 3 weeks. This may happen if blood samples are sent to a lab outside your VA medical center.
If you cannot view your results in My HealtheVet after seven business days, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team and check on your results. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
Why do I have to wait before I can see my VA Microbiology results?
After completion of your lab test:
- Your specimen must be processed
- Results need to be entered into your VA health record
- Your VA health care team needs time to review those results
- Results are copied into your My HealtheVet account
If there are any issues with your results, your VA health care team should contact you.
What should I do if my VA Microbiology result is abnormal?
Your VA health care team should contact you if they feel there are issues they need to address. If you still have questions, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team or you can contact them by telephone.
Will I receive a telephone call if there was an abnormal result?
The VA health care team should contact you if they have any issues to address. This may be done during your appointment, through Secure Messaging if available, a letter, or by telephone.
Where can I learn more about Microbiology?
Go to the Learn More section under the About MHV tab. Here you can find general information about lab tests. This includes VA Microbiology and links to additional resources.
If you cannot find information in the Learn More section, you can contact your VA health care team. You can use the Secure Messaging feature on My HealtheVet to communicate with them.
If I have Microbiology tests done outside the VA, can I also view those results in My HealtheVet?
No, at this time the results of lab tests done outside the VA are not sent to your My HealtheVet account. However, you can self-enter non-VA lab results.
To do this, just:
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select Labs + Tests
- Under Self-Entered Test select the red Add New button
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Can my VA health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your VA health care team cannot access information through your My HealtheVet account. This is why it is important that you share any test results you had done by a non-VA provider with your VA health care team.
Can I print a copy of my VA Microbiology results?
Yes, you can print a copy of your VA Microbiology lab results. You can also print your self-entered Microbiology results and other tests, using VA Blue Button, just:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
[link to MHV Acct Type]
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Microbiology (to print VA Microbiology results)
- Select Labs and Tests (to print/download test information you self-entered)
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Microbiology results to my non-VA provider?
Yes, using VA Blue Button, you can take a printed copy with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers and may prevent lab tests from being repeated.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
What should I do if I have questions about my VA Microbiology results?
If you have questions about your results
- Select the Learn More link, which has general lab information
- If you still have questions or do not understand your results, you may contact your participating health care team through Secure Messaging (if available) or by telephone.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Microbiology feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Microbiology feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days. You may also contact the My HealtheVet Coordinator at your VA Medical Center.
VA Pathology
What is Pathology?
Pathology is the use of microscopes to view tissues and cells, which cannot be seen with the unaided eye. There are two types of Pathology reports: Anatomic or Clinical.
Anatomic Pathology Reports - describe the physical appearance and microscopic structure of tissues. This may include specimens and organs removed at surgery (surgical pathology) as well as cells from brushings or body fluids (cytology).
Clinical Pathology Reports - contain information about blood and other body fluids (clinical chemistry), analysis of blood cells (hematology), and identification of bacteria (microbiology).
What is VA Pathology?
VA Pathology is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov). It can be found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view information from their VA Pathology report(s). This information comes from your official VA health record.
What are the requirements for viewing the VA Pathology?
To view VA Pathology you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium* My HealtheVet account
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I access, view, print, save or download my VA Pathology report(s)?
To access VA Pathology, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information you want
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Pathology
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What are the benefits of having VA Pathology in My HealtheVet?
Having the results of your VA Pathology reports may allow you to:
- Work in partnership with your health care team to ensure that you have a better understanding of your health issues
- Make informed decisions about your health
- Share your VA Pathology reports with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
- Ensure that your health record is complete.
Can others see my VA Pathology report in My HealtheVet?
You are the only one who can see your information in My HealtheVet. You decide how to share that information. If you want someone else to see your information, you must give it to him or her.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting the personal health information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect it the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and secure.
Can I change information in my VA Pathology report?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you have questions about the information contained in these reports, please speak with your VA health care team or VA physician.
Do you have lab reports from other non-VA medical facilities? If yes, please speak with your VA health care team to ensure that this information is included in your VA health record.
Will I get an email when my VA Pathology report is ready in My HealtheVet?
No, you will not receive an email when your VA Pathology report becomes available in My HealtheVet.
Please note that VA Pathology reports may take as long as 2-3 weeks before they are available through VA Blue Button. If you have questions you can contact your VA health care team. You can do this using Secure Messaging, by phone or during your next clinic visit.
How is my VA Pathology report created?
When your provider collects a specimen from you, it is sent to the lab. After it is examined, the findings are placed in a report. Once complete, this report is entered into your VA health care record, where My HealtheVet pulls it into the VA Blue Button. If you had a specimen sent for Pathology, this report can be viewed in My HealtheVet as VA Pathology.
What information will I be able to view in VA Pathology?
VA Pathology is made up of reports, which may include identified diagnoses and characterizes disease by examining the tissues, blood, and other body fluids that your VA health care team submitted to the laboratory. The pathology report may include the following information:
- Type of Report: Surgical or Clinical Pathology
- Specimen: type of specimen taken, such as a tissue biopsy
- Date/Time Collected: the day, month, year and time the specimen was collected
- Ordering Location: location where the test was ordered
- Submitted By: person who collected and sent the specimen to the lab
- Surgeon or Physician: person who ordered the test
- Pathologist: lab person (doctor) who examined the specimen
Surgical Pathology Report
The following fields may be blank if there is no information available:
- Brief Clinical History - may provide an overview of why you are having the test
- Gross Description - a description of the specimen that was removed
- Microscopic Examination - a detailed description under microscopic review
- Diagnosis - a health condition or disease
- Impression - the examining pathologist’s interpretation of the results, based on their findings
- Supplemental Report - can include any additional data the pathologist feels would be helpful for your provider and other members of your health care team
Note: VA Pathology may use medical terms that you do not understand. If you have questions about your information, you may contact the VA health care team where you received your care.
How soon will I see my results after my VA Pathology test is done?
VA Pathology reports may take as long as 2-4 weeks before they are available through VA Blue Button. This may happen if your specimen is sent to a lab outside your VA medical center.
If you have questions you can contact your VA health care team. You can do this using Secure Messaging, by phone or during your next clinic visit.
Where can Ilearn more about a health condition?
Use the Medical Library in My HealtheVet to learn more about a specific health condition or information you found on your VA Pathology report. The Medical Library has in-depth information about medical conditions.
How can I use my VA Pathology report?
- Share your VA Pathology with non-VA health care providers. Give your health care provider a complete picture of your health with VA Blue Button information. This may help them make better decisions about your health care.
- Use VA Pathology to help you make choices about your treatment. By learning all that you can about your condition or diagnosis, you can work closely with your health care team to make the best treatment decision for you. Talk to your VA health care team or visit the My HealtheVet Medical Library to learn more.
What should I do if I have a question about my VA Pathology report?
- Select the Learn More link, which has general information about the VA Pathology.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming VA appointment, or by using Secure Messaging.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Pathology feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Pathology feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
Prescription Refill
Where do I refill my prescriptions?
When you are logged in with your registered User ID and password, click the Pharmacy tab; the prescription options will appear in the left navigation menu.
Why can't I see all of my prescriptions?
Most of your prescriptions can be refilled online; however, not all of your medications may be listed.
The VA divides its drug formulary into Schedules. Schedule 2 prescriptions, such as some pain medications and narcotics, are not refillable. You must obtain a new prescription from your provider for each fill of these medications.
If you believe you have refillable prescriptions that are not being displayed, please contact the pharmacy staff at the VA facility that prescribed your medication. The phone number should be provided on the label of your prescription bottle.
VA Problem List
What is the VA Problem List?
VA Problem List is a part of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov), found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view a list of their health diagnoses, conditions, and symptoms. This information comes from your official VA health record.
What are the requirements for viewing the VA Problem List?
To view the VA Problem List you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account*
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Problem List?
To access your VA Problem List, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
You can now select the Types of Information you want
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Problem List
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What are the benefits of having my VA Problem List in My HealtheVet?
The VA Problem List is a summary of your active health concerns. Knowing your active health concerns allows you to:
- Work in partnership with your health care team to ensure your health record accurately reflects your health issues
- Have a better understanding of your health issues
- Make informed decisions about your health
- Share your VA Problem List with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
- Ensure that your health record is complete
Who can view my VA Problem List?
You are the only one who can see your information in My HealtheVet. You decide how to share that information. If you want someone else to see your information, you must give it to him or her.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and secure.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Can I change information in my VA Problem List?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you believe information in your VA Problem List is not accurate, contact the Release of Information staff at your VA facility.
Will I receive an email if my VA Problem List is updated?
No. Your information is refreshed once a day when you open VA Blue Button. If there has been any change to your VA Problem List, you will be able to see it.
Note: The Problem List that is in your official VA health record may not be updated regularly. If you have questions about your health conditions, diagnoses, or symptoms contact your VA health care team.
How is the VA Problem List created?
Your VA providers identify your most important health concerns. VA providers can be a Primary Care, Specialty Care, and/or Behavioral Health provider. Health concerns are medical diagnoses, symptoms, and/or conditions. These health concerns are entered into your official VA health record. These health concerns make up the VA Problem List. My HealtheVet pulls the VA Problem List from your official VA health record.
What information will I be able to view in the VA Problem List?
The VA Problem List is made up of your active health concerns. VA Problem List items are entered by a VA provider and will include:
Source: VA
Last Updated: Day/month/year and time
Sorted By: This shows the date in descending order
The VA Problem List contains active health problems your VA providers are helping you to manage. It may not contain active problems managed by non-VA health care providers. If you have any questions about your information please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact your VA health care team.
- Problem: The name of the problem
- Date Entered: this is the date it was entered into the VA health record
- Provider: Name of the VA health care provider who entered it
- Location: Physical location or clinic where the problem was identified
- Status: Identifies if your problem is current
- Comments: (this may be blank if there were no additional notes)
Note: Please, be aware of the following:
- Some VA Problem List items may be several years old
- The VA Problem List may not be updated regularly
- No one VA provider is responsible for updating the VA Problem List
- The VA Problem List may use medical terms that you do not understand. If you have questions about your information, you may contact the VA health care team where you received your care.
How do I learn more about a health condition?
Use the Medical Library in My HealtheVet to learn more about a specific health condition on your VA Problem List. The Medical Library has in-depth information about medical conditions.
I cannot find one of my health conditions listed. What should I do?
Information on your VA Problem List is limited to active health conditions that are in your VA health record. These are conditions you are getting care for at a VA facility. If you think that your list is not complete, talk to your health care team during your next visit. If you have questions about a specific health condition listed, you can talk with your health care team about what it means.
How can I use the VA Problem List?
You can use the VA Problem List to better manage your health. Use the VA Problem List in the following ways:
- Share your VA Problem List with non-VA health care providers. Give your health care provider a complete picture of your health with VA Blue Button information. This helps them make better decisions about your health care.
- Use the VA Problem List to help you make healthy choices. By knowing your health concerns you can practice ways to stay healthy. Talk to your VA health care team or visit the My HealtheVet Medical Library to learn ways to stay healthy.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Problem List?
You can contact My HealtheVet about problems you have with the VA Problem List feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days
What should I do if I have a question about my VA Problem List?
If you have questions about your VA Problem List:
Select the Learn More link , which has general information about the VA Problem List If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team.
VA Notes
What are Notes?
Clinical Notes are part of your permanent medical record. They are used to describe events during your care. This can be during your clinic visit or during a hospital stay. Physicians, nurses, consultants, therapists and other members of the health care team record their Notes in your medical record.
Members of the health care team may use Notes to record your health condition and the care provided to you. The notes may include medical facts, clinical findings, opinions and treatment plans. It may also track your response to the care that was provided. Most importantly, it serves as a way for members of your health care team to share information about you.
Clinical Notes may contain the following information:
- Patients health condition
- Care delivered to the patient
- Medical facts, clinical findings, opinions and treatment plans
- Progress or lack of progress made by the patient
- Clinical events related to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient
- Patient’s past health condition compared to their current health status
What are VA Notes?
VA Notes are part of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record found under the VA Blue Button section. VA patients who have a Premium My HealtheVet account can view a copy of their VA Notes recorded during a clinic visit or hospital stay. This information comes from your official VA health record.
What are the requirements for viewing the VA Notes?
To view the VA Notes you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium* My HealtheVet account
*To get a Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity. This is done before allowing access to their VA health record.
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Notes?
To view, print, save or download your VA Notes simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium* account
- Select Download My Data (or select the Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
You can now select the Types of Information you want to include:
- Select the date range you wish to include
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Notes
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want to view or print from your browser window
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
*To get a Premium* account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity. This is done before allowing access to their VA health record.
What are the benefits of having my VA Notes in My HealtheVet?
The information provided in VA Notes may help you:
- Work in partnership with your health care team to ensure your health record accurately reflects your health issues
- Have a better understanding of your health issues
- Make informed decisions about your health
- Share details about your health care with your caregivers or non-VA health care providers
- Ensure that your health record is complete
Who can view my VA Notes?
You are the only one who can view your information in My HealtheVet. You decide how to share that information. If you want someone else to view your information, you must give it to him or her.
Information in your VA Notes may be very personal. You are responsible for protecting the personal health information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect it the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. You should NOT send your personal health information using email, since this is not secure.
Remember, if you use someone else’s computer or printer, always:
- Remove your printed information off the printer and take it with you
- Take your CD or thumb drive with you when you finish
- Avoid saving your information to a computer that is not yours
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and secure.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should NEVER send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Can I change information in my VA Notes?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you believe information in your VA Notes is not accurate, contact the Release of Information staff at your VA facility.
What information will I be able to view in the VA Notes?
VA Notes are entered by a member of the VA health care team and will include:
Source: VA
Last Updated: Day/month/year and time
Sorted By: This shows the date in descending order
You will also see the following note: If you have any questions about your information please visit the FAQs or contact your VA health care team.
- Event Date/Time: This is the date it was entered into the VA health record
- Note Title: The name of the VA Note
- Location: Physical location or clinic where the problem was identified
- Signed By: Name of the VA health care team member who entered the VA Note
- Co-signed By: Name of the secondary VA health care team member who signed the note. Most VA Notes are not co-signed.
- Date/Time Signed: The day/month/year the VA Note was signed
- Note: The information entered by the health care team member
Note: Please, be aware of the following:
- No one VA provider is responsible for the VA Notes
- The VA Notes may use medical terms that you do not understand. If you have questions about your information, you may contact the VA health care team where you received your care.
Which VA Notes will I be able to access?
Initially, you will be able to view VA Notes entered into your VA health record from January 1, 2013 forward. In the future, you may be able to view more historical VA notes (written before January 1, 2013).
Your VA Notes are available for viewing seven (7) days after your VA health care team member signs the note.
Where can I learn more about a health condition?
The VA Notes may use medical terms that you do not understand. If you have questions go to the Research Health tab on My HealtheVet and select the Medical Library. From there you can go to the Veterans Health Library or MedlinePlus ® to look up a term or to learn more about a specific health condition.
How can I use the VA Notes?
You can use the VA Notes to better manage your health. Use the VA Notes in the following ways:
- Share your VA Notes with non-VA health care providers. Give your health care provider a complete picture of your health with VA Blue Button information. This helps them make better decisions about your health care.
- Use the VA Notes to help you make healthy choices. By knowing your health concerns you can practice ways to stay healthy. Talk to your VA health care team or visit the My HealtheVet Medical Library to learn ways to stay healthy.
What should I do if I have a question about the information in my VA Notes?
If you have questions about your VA Notes:
- Go to the Learn More section under the About MHV tab. Here you can find general information about the VA Notes.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming appointment, or by using Secure Messaging. Your VA health care team can answer questions you have about your VA Notes.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Notes?
You can contact My HealtheVet about problems you have with the VA Notes feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk.
*You can get to the Contact Us form by selecting the Contact MHV tab at the top of any My HealtheVet page.
I see a yellow text box at the top of the page with a triangle icon, what does this mean?
This is a message box that lets you know the status of your information. For example:
- If you have no information in the system, the message in the box will read: “Information is not available”
- If My HealtheVet is not able to retrieve your information, the message in the box will read: “Request cannot be processed at this time”. If you see this message, you may wish to check back later.
- Your information is updated once a day when you visit the VA Blue Button feature. If your information is being updated, the message will read: “Updates to your data are still in progress. Please refresh this screen or check back later.”
VA Radiology
What is Radiology?
Radiology is a procedure that creates images of the body to diagnose and treat disease. There are different ways these images can be created, such as:
What is VA Radiology?
VA Radiology is a part of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record. The resulting reports of these procedures can be viewed in the VA Blue Button - Download My Data section. This information comes from the Veteran’s official VA health record.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Radiology results?
To view your VA Radiology you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be a registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have a My HealtheVet Premium* account
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
4. How soon will I be able to view my results after my VA Radiology test is done?
Most test results should be available in My HealtheVet 7 days after the date your report is complete. However, some results may take 2 to 3 weeks. This may happen if your Radiology procedure was done outside your VA medical center.
If you cannot view your results in My HealtheVet after 7 business days, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team and check on your results. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
What VA Radiology results will I be able to view?
You will be able to view a report of your VA radiology procedure(s) in your electronic VA health record. This could include:
The reports will include the following items:
- Procedure/Test Name: The name of the test performed
- Date/Time Exam Performed: the day, month, year and time the test was performed
- Ordering Location: the location where your provider ordered the test
- Requesting Provider: the person who ordered the test
- Reason for Study: the reason your provider ordered the test for you
- Performing Location: the location where the test was conducted
- Clinical History: the signs and symptoms reported by the patient, as well as the clinical findings found by a provider during a physical examination. This may also include information related to past illnesses and procedures.
- Radiologist: the name of the provider that reviewed the results of the test
- Report: the results of the test
- Impression: the diagnosis reached by the radiologist after reviewing your test
Note: If there are no reports in the VA Radiology section, you may not have had a radiology test performed through the VA Healthcare System.
What are the benefits of having VA Radiology results in My HealtheVet?
- You can access your most recent VA Radiology results found in your VA health record
- You can view your information anytime, anywhere you have Internet access
- You are provided with important information about your health
- You can share your VA Radiology results with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
How do I access view, print, save or download my VA Radiology results?
To access, view, print, save or download a copy of your VA Radiology results, plus your self-entered Radiology results and other tests using VA Blue Button, just:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (or the Blue Button icon)
- Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Radiology (at this time, you can also select your self-entered Radiology reports or other types of information you would like to include)
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
Why would my health care team order a Radiology procedure?
Your health care team uses your radiology results to help:
- Identify changes in your health
- Diagnose a disease or condition
- Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
- Evaluate your response to treatment
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Radiology results to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use VA Blue Button to download and/or print a copy of your VA Radiology results. You can take this with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Can my health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your health care team cannot view any information in your Personal Health Record. Your health care team does not have access to information you have entered in My HealtheVet unless you share it.
What should I do if I think my VA Radiology information is not accurate?
If you think information in your VA Radiology report is not accurate, let your VA health care team know. You should also contact the Release of Information Office at your VA facility. The Release of Information staff can guide you through the process to request a correction to your VA health record.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Radiology results?
If you have questions about your VA Radiology results:
- Select the Learn More link, which has general information about radiology.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming appointment, or by using Secure Messaging.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Radiology results feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Radiology feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
VA Vitals and Readings
What are Vitals and Readings?
Vitals and Readings are health measures that are usually recorded during an appointment, a procedure or when you are a patient in the hospital.
Select the links below to learn more about vital signs and health readings:
Vital Signs include:
Readings may include:
What is VA Vitals and Readings?
VA Vitals and Readings is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view a record of their vital signs and health measures that are in their official VA health record. Additionally, VA patients can also view their self-entered Vitals and Readings.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Vitals and Readings?
To view your VA Vitals and Readings you must:
- be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- have an upgraded My HealtheVet Premium* account
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
What information will I be able to view in my VA Vitals and Reading?
Information in your VA Vitals and Readings may include your vital signs and certain health measures (or readings) that come from your official VA health record. This information is usually recorded during an appointment, a procedure or when you are a patient in the hospital. VA Vitals and Readings are entered by a member of the VA health care team and may include:
Source: VA
Last Update: Day/month/year and time
Vital Sign: Name of the vital sign or health measure taken
Measurement: Vital sign or health measure reading
Comments: Information about how a vital sign or health measure was taken
Location: Health care facility where the vital sign or health measure was taken
Date/Time Collected: When the vital sign or health measure was taken
What are the benefits of having VA Vitals and Readings in My HealtheVet?
The benefits of having VA Vitals and Readings in My HealtheVet are:
- You can access the most recent vital signs found in your VA health record
- You can view your information at any time, anywhere you have Internet access
- You are provided with important information about your health
- You can share your VA Vitals and Readings with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Vitals and Readings?
To access VA Vitals and Readings, where you can view, print, save or download your report(s), simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet Premium account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information you want
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Vitals and Readings (if you like, you can also select your Self Reported Vitals and Readings as well)
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
What is the normal range for Vital Signs?
The normal range for vital signs may vary with age, sex, weight, exercise tolerance and condition. It is best to discuss this with your health care provider to find out what is normal for you.
How is body Temperature recorded?
Your Temperature provides a reading of your core body warmth. It is recorded in degrees of Fahrenheit. The average body temperature runs between 97.8º – 99.1º, the average being 98.6º.
Body temperature is measured using a thermometer. One of the more common ways to measure body temperature is with an oral (by mouth) or ear thermometer.
How is Blood Pressure recorded?
Blood Pressure is recorded as two readings. The upper reading is the systolic pressure, which is the maximal contraction of the heart. The lower reading is the diastolic or resting pressure. For example: 120/80 mm/Hg
There is no natural ‘normal’ value for blood pressure, but rather a range of values..
How is Pulse recorded?
Your Pulse Rate is recorded as heart beats per minute. The pulse rate is usually measured by listening directly to your heartbeat. This is done using a stethoscope or measured at either the wrist or the ankle. Pulse rates can vary with age.
How is Respiratory Rate recorded?
Your Respiratory Rate is recorded in breaths per minute. It is measured by watching how many breaths you take in a minute. This varies with age, but the normal range for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute.
How is Pain recorded?
Your pain score is what you self-report to your provider. It is recorded on a Pain Scale of zero to ten (0 – 10).
0 = No Pain
1 – 3 = Mild Pain
4 – 6 = Moderate pain
7 – 10 = Severe Pain
How is weight recorded?
Your provider will weigh you on a scale to record your weight. A sudden, unexpected change in weight may be a sign of a medical problem.
What can affect my Vital Signs and Readings?
Many things can affect your vital signs and readings including:
- Age
- Race
- Medical history
- General health
- Certain foods
- Medications you are taking
Why does my health care team take my vital signs and health readings?
Your health care team uses your vital signs and health reading to help:
- Identify changes in your health
- Diagnose a disease or condition
- Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
- Evaluate your response to treatment
- Monitor the course of a disease or condition over time
What is the difference between Self Reported Vitals and Readings in My HealtheVet and VA Vitals and Readings?
Self Reported Vitals and Readings is information you self-enter in My HealtheVet. These are readings that you update and maintain in your My HealtheVet account as you strive to manage and improve your health. The information is accessed through the Track Health tab. There are nine ways you can monitor your own health measures in Vitals + Readings. These may include recording your blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, pain levels, and much more.
VA Vitals and Readings is information your health care team enters into your VA health record. These are readings taken while you are at a clinic appointment during a procedure or when you are a patient in the hospital.
Note: To help you identify Information that comes from your official VA health record, it always has VA in front of it.
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Vitals and Readings to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use VA Blue Button to download and/or print a copy of your VA Vitals and Readings. You can take this with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Can my health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your health care team cannot view any information in your Personal Health Record. Your health care team does not have access to information you have entered in My HealtheVet unless you share it.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Vitals and Readings?
If you have questions about your VA Vitals and Readings:
- First, select the Learn More link, which has general information
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming appointment, or by using Secure Messaging. Your VA health care team can answer questions you have about your VA Vitals and Readings.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Vitals and Readings feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Vitals and Readings feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
Wellness Reminders
What are My HealtheVet Wellness Reminders?
A Wellness Reminder lets you know that according to current guidelines and recommendations for good care, it is time to do something like have a test or examination done. This online feature lets VA patients view their VA Wellness Reminders and helps you partner with your VA healthcare provider in monitoring your health. Users can view their Wellness Reminders in the Get Care section of their My HealtheVet account. Some Wellness Reminders are for everyone, and some Wellness Reminders are specific to patients with known risks. Click on this link to see the Wellness Reminders descriptions that VA patients can view: Patient Wellness Reminders.
What are patient requirements for viewing Wellness Reminders in My HealtheVet?
To view Wellness Reminders, VA patients must be registered as a My HealtheVet user and complete the In-Person Authentication (IPA) process. In-Person Authentication requires VA patients to provide valid, government issued photo identification (Veteran Identification Card, driver’s license or other government issued photo identification) to an authorized VA staff member and sign a release of information form. VA patients are also required to watch a brief video that can be viewed online. In-Person Authentication may be done at any VA Medical Center and many Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
How do I access My HealtheVet Wellness Reminders?
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Click on the Get Care tab
- Click on the Wellness Reminders tab
What are the benefits of using My HealtheVet Wellness Reminders?
- Alerts you to important tests, examinations or other medical procedures that you should schedule to protect your health
- Helps you remember important health information
- Allows you to be more involved in your own health care
- Allows you to view your VA Wellness Reminders
- Provides you with detailed Wellness Reminder information
- Provides health information to help you understand your Wellness Reminders
- Allows you to share your Wellness Reminders with non-VA healthcare providers
What Wellness Reminders will I be able to view?
You will be able to view the following types of Wellness Reminders from your VA treatment facility(s) if they apply to you:
- Colorectal cancer screen
- Influenza (Flu)
- Pneumococcal (Pneumonia)
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- LDL control (Cholesterol)
- Lipid measure (Cholesterol)
- Body Mass Index
For people with diabetes:
- Diabetes foot exam
- Diabetes hemoglobin A1c
- Diabetes retinal exam
For women:
- Cervical cancer screen
- Mammogram screen
What information is provided in a Wellness Reminder?
The summary information includes due date, type of Wellness Reminder, last completed date, and name and location of the VA facility sending the Reminder. The detailed information includes a description of the Wellness Reminder and links to other websites (such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) which provide additional health information.
Is the My HealtheVet Wellness Reminders information protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your Personal Health Information is safe and protected.
Can I change the way I view Wellness Reminders?
Yes, you may change the way you view Wellness Reminders by selecting your preferred VA facility(s) from which Wellness Reminders are displayed. The first time you log on, the default setting is that all your VA locations are selected. You can make a change to the selection and unselect VA facilities of your choice. You must select at least one VA location to receive Wellness Reminders.
To update your Wellness Reminder Preferences:
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Click on the Get Care tab
- Click on the Wellness Reminders tab
- Click on the Go to Reminders Preferences link
- Under "Locations", select one or more preferred VA facility(s)
- Click on "Save Preferences"
Do I have to complete a Wellness Reminder at the facility specified on the list?
No, you can complete a Wellness Reminder at any preferred VA facility or non-VA healthcare provider. If you do complete a Wellness Reminder at another VA facility or at a non-VA facility, let your VA provider know.
How should I handle duplicate Wellness Reminders from multiple facilities?
If you are a patient at more than one VA facility, you may receive duplicate Wellness Reminders. Please notify your VA provider if any Wellness Reminders have been completed. They can enter the information into your medical record so the duplicate Wellness Reminders will stop.
Can I view past Wellness Reminders that have been completed?
Yes, you can view past Wellness Reminders that have been completed.
To view your completed Wellness Reminders:
- Login to your My HealtheVet account
- Click on the Get Care tab
- Click on the Wellness Reminders tab
- Click on the Go to Completed Wellness Reminders link
Will I receive an e-mail notification of my Wellness Reminders?
No, you will not receive an e-mail notification of your Wellness Reminders.
Can I print my Wellness Reminders?
Yes, you can print both a summary and detailed view of your Wellness Reminders.
From either the Wellness Reminder Summary or Detail screen view:
- Click on the Printer Friendly link which displays a printer-friendly view
- Click on the Print link
- Click on the Done link to return to the previous screen
What should I do if I have any questions about my Wellness Reminders?
Contact your VA health care team if you have any questions related to your care or the status of your Wellness Reminders.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the Wellness Reminders feature?
The My HealtheVet Help Desk will assist you. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send an inquiry to the My HealtheVet Help Desk, who will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
VA Immunizations
What is an immunization?
Quite often you may hear an immunization called a vaccine. Vaccinations help your body fight preventable infectious diseases such as:
Vaccinations are also available for less common diseases such as:
What is VA Immunizations?
VA Immunizations is a part of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view a record of the vaccinations they have received, which are in their official VA health record.
What information will I be able to view in VA Immunizations?
In the VA Immunizations section you can view your immunization information found in your VA health record. For each vaccination you will see:
- Name of immunization (vaccine)
- Date immunization was entered in your VA health record
- Location of the VA facility where you received the immunization
What are the benefits of having VA Immunizations in My HealtheVet?
- You have access to your immunization information found in your electronic VA health record when you want it
- It will help you and your health care team ensure you are protected against vaccine preventable diseases
- It can prevent unnecessary re-vaccination during a health emergency
- You are provided with important information about your health
- You can share your VA Immunizations with caregivers or non-VA health care providers as a historical reference
Note: Vaccines do not always prevent the disease. However, by getting a vaccine you may have a less severe case of the disease.
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What are the requirements for viewing VA Immunizations?
To view your VA Immunizations you must:
- be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- be a registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- have a My HealtheVet Premium* account
*To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to their VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
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How do I view, print or download a copy of my VA Immunizations?
To access, view, print or download a copy of your VA Immunizations report:
- Log into your My HealtheVet
- Select Download My Data
- Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Immunizations
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
Will my VA Immunizations record show if I had a reaction to a vaccine?
No, if you had a reaction to a vaccine it will not show in your VA Immunizations record. If you had a reaction you health care team may have recorded this in your VA Allergies. This is why it is always good, when you select VA Immunizations in VA Blue Button to also select VA Allergies. In addition, you should select your (self-entered) Allergies and Adverse Reactions and (self-entered) Immunizations to see if you documented reactions to any immunizations.
Note: If you find something missing in your VA health record you should talk to your VA health care team. If you think the information is not accurate, contact the Release of Information Clerk at your local VA health facility.
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Can I add information to my VA Immunizations record?
No. You can only view your VA Immunizations information that comes from your VA health record.
Can I self-enter immunization information?
Yes, you can add, edit or delete your self-entered Immunization information in My HealtheVet
To add information to your self-entered Immunization record:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select the Health History tab
- Select the Immunization tab
- Select the Add/New Self Entered Immunization link
If I have VA Immunizations why should I self-enter Immunization information in My HealtheVet?
What you self-enter is immunization (vaccine) information that is not in your VA health record. For example, this could be a flu shot you got at your local drug store. You might want to self-enter immunizations you got as a child or received by your non-VA health care provider. Having all your immunization information in one location is a good practice. Do not forget to share this information with both your VA health care team and non-VA health care provider.
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Immunizations to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use VA Blue Button to download or print a copy of your VA Immunizations. You can take this with you to your non-VA appointments. This will give additional information to your non-VA providers.
Using the VA Blue Button, you can also view a combined list of immunization information, to include:
- VA Immunizations from your VA health record
- Immunization information that you self-entered in your My HealtheVet account
Note: Do not forget to include your self-entered Immunizations. Also include your VA Allergy and self-entered Allergies and Adverse Reaction information when you select VA Immunizations
Can my health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your health care team cannot view any information in your My HealtheVet account. Your health care team does not have access to this information unless you share it.
What should I do if I think my VA Immunizations record is not accurate?
If you think information in your VA Immunizations is not accurate, let your VA health care team know. You should also contact the Release of Information Office at your VA facility. The Release of Information staff can guide you through the process to request a correction to your VA health record.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Immunizations?
If you have questions about your VA Immunizations:
- Select the Learn More link, which has general information about immunizations
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Immunizations feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Immunizations feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
I see a yellow text box at the top of the page with a triangle icon, what does this mean?
This is a message box that lets you know the status of your information. For example:
- If you have no information in the system, the message in the box will read: "Information is not available"
- If My HealtheVet is not able to retrieve your information, the message in the box will read: "Request cannot be processed at this time" . If you see this message, you may wish to check back later.
- If your information is being updated, the message will read: "We are updating your VA Vitals and Readings information. Updates to your data are still in progress. Please refresh this screen or check back later."
Issues Using the Site
Where do I refill my prescriptions?
When you are logged in with your registered User ID and password, click the Pharmacy tab; the prescription options will appear in the left navigation menu.
I'm having trouble reading the text on the site. Can I make the text larger?
To increase the text size on your Internet browser, follow these steps (for a list of supported browsers see the Browser Compatibility page):
Internet Explorer:
- Open Internet Explorer
- On the View menu, click Text Size, then select Largest
Internet Explorer for Mac:
- Open Internet Explorer
- On the View menu, select Text Zoom, then click the zoom level you would prefer
Firefox:
- Open Firefox
- On the View menu, click Text Size, then select Increase
Safari:
- Open Safari
- On the View menu, click Make Text Bigger
AOL Browser:
- Open the AOL browser
- On the Safety menu, click Settings (you can also click the Settings button on the standard toolbar)
- Under the letter F, click Font and Text
- In the Text Settings area, click Largest, or select a custom text size from the Font Settings pull-down
- Click Save
When I visited the My HealtheVet website, I saw a message that said "Pardon the Interruption." Why was the site not available?
We periodically perform maintenance and install updates on the website. This generally occurs between the hours of 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM (ET). We make every effort to get the site back up and running as quickly as possible. Sometimes the settings on an Internet browser cause the "Pardon the Interruption" page to display after the site has become available. To ensure that you always receive the most current version of the web page, follow these steps to change your browser settings (for a list of supported browsers see the Browser Compatibility page):
Internet Explorer:
- Open Internet Explorer
- On the Tools menu, click Internet Options
- Click the General tab
- In the Temporary Internet Files area, click the Settings button
- In the Check for newer versions of stored pages area, select the Every Visit to the Page radio button
- Click OK twice
Firefox:
- Open Firefox
- On the View menu, click Reload (this will check for a newer version of the web page)
Safari:
- Open Safari
- On the View menu, click Reload Page
AOL Browser:
- On the Safety menu, click Settings
- Under the letter B, click Browser Settings
- Under Related Settings, click Use your Internet Explorer settings to set advanced browsing options
- Click the General tab
- In the Temporary Internet Files area, click the Settings button
- In the Check for newer versions of stored pages area, select the Every Visit to the Page radio button
- Click OK twice
For JAWS Users: Why can't I hear label names in Forms Mode?
Currently on the MHV site, JAWS cannot read the label names of fields in Forms Mode unless you change your settings in JAWS. Thank you for your patience as we try to resolve this issue.
Who can I contact with questions or suggestions for improving the site?
My HealtheVet welcomes all comments or suggestions from its user community. To send us your feedback, please use the Contact Us link at the top of any page on the web site.
Your Doctor and My HealtheVet
Can I e-mail my doctor through My HealtheVet?
E-mail is not secure, and should not be used to contact your doctor. My HealtheVet provides Secure Messaging. This is a safe way to contact your VA doctor and health care team. You must have an upgraded account to use Secure Messaging. If you see Secure Messaging, but do not see your health care team listed, you will not be able to send a Secure Message. Talk to your health care team if this is the case. Ask them to sign you up so you can use Secure Messaging.
Does my VA doctor use My HealtheVet too?
My HealtheVet promotes partnership between Veteran patients and their doctors, and is supported as a national resource by clinical staff at your local VA Medical Center. Your doctor can help you use this tool to learn more about managing your own health.
How do I contact my VA doctor about My HealtheVet?
The best way to contact your VA doctor is always through your local VA Medical Center. My HealtheVet offers a great deal of health information, but will never take the place of a visit to your personal clinician.
My HealtheVet Activity Journal and Food Journal
What is the Activity Journal and Food Journal?
The My HealtheVet Activity Journal and Food Journal are online tools that allow you to keep a record of your exercise routine and food intake. These tools can help you manage and track your health. If you decide to keep track of your activities and exercise, you can use the Activity Journal. If you decide to keep track of what you eat and drink, use the Food Journal.
What are the requirements for viewing the Activity Journal and Food Journal in My HealtheVet?
To use the Activity Journal and the Food Journal you must be registered in My HealtheVet. If you are a Veteran and use the VA Healthcare System you are encouraged to obtain a My HealtheVet Premium* account. With this account you will have access to key portions of your VA health care record and Secure Messaging with your VA health care teams.
To get a My HealtheVet Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veteran’s identity. This is done before allowing access to your VA health care record. To learn more, go to Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
How do I access the My HealtheVet Activity Journal and Food Journal features?
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select the Journals tab
- Select either the Activity Journal or the Food Journal
What are the benefits of using the My HealtheVet Activity Journal and Food Journal?
- Journals can be a valuable tool in helping you manage your health. Using this feature allows you to:
- Record and track your daily activities
- Record and track your daily food intake
- Using Journals allows you to partner with your health care team to make informed decisions about your health and health care
- Using Journals trains you to be observant. You can identify patterns and see your progress over time
- Using Journals may help you notice changes in your habits over time and feel good about your progress
- Journals may help you to know yourself better, providing the encouragement to help you make better choices
What types of information can I enter in the Activity Journal?
The Activity Journal allows you to record the activities you perform during a single day. You can record the following:
- Daily Information
- Date
- Day of Week
- Comments
- Activity Detail
- Activity Type (aerobic/cardio, weights, or other)
- Distance/Duration
- Measure
- Intensity (low, moderate, or high impact)
- Time of Day (morning, afternoon, evening, or night)
- Number of Set(s)
- Number of Repetition(s)
What types of information can I enter in the Food Journal?
The Food Journal allows you to record the foods and beverages you take in during a single day. You can record the following:
- Daily Information
- Date
- Day of Week
- Water (number of 8 ounce glasses)
- Meal Type (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks)
- Food/Beverage Item
- Quantity
- Serving Size
- Preparation Method
- Comments
Can I change or remove information in my Activity Journal or Food Journal?
Yes, you enter your own information. You can change or remove a Journal entry from either the summary view or the detailed information view pages.
- Select the Edit button to change the information for a journal entry
- Select the Delete button to remove a journal entry
Is information in my Activity Journal and Food Journal protected, secure, and private?
Yes, My HealtheVet is a secure Website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Important to Note: You are responsible for protecting your personal information you print out or download. It is important to protect your information. Protect this information the same way you would protect your banking or credit card information. Do not leave your printed information on a printer. Do not save your downloaded information to a public computer. When using a public computer, save your information to a CD and/or thumb drive. Remember to take the CD or thumb drive with you when you finish. You should never send an email that contains personal health information. This is because email is not secure.
Can my VA health care team view information in my Activity Journal or Food Journal?
No, your VA health care team cannot view any information in your Personal Health Record. This includes your Activity Journal and Food Journal. Your VA health care team does not have access to this information unless you print it and share it with them.
Can I view, print or download information in my Activity Journal or Food Journal?
You can print your entries from the Activity Journal or Food Journal tab:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select Activity Journal or Food Journal
- For a Summary view of the list of dates and activities entered
- Select Printer Friendly
- Select Print
- For a Detailed view of one day’s activities
- Select the Date hyperlink
- Select Printer Friendly
- Select Print
You can view, print and download your data using the VA Blue Button:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select Activity Journal and/or Food Journal
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
If I use the VA Blue Button, what information will I see?
The VA Blue Button may display the following information for what you self-entered in your Activity Journal:
- Daily Information
- Date
- Day of Week
- Comments
- Activity Detail
- Activity Type (aerobic/cardio, weights, or other)
- Distance/Duration
- Measure
- Intensity (low, moderate, or high impact)
- Time of Day (morning, afternoon, evening, or night)
- Number of Set(s)
- Number of Repetition(s)
The VA Blue Button may display the following information for what you self-entered in your Food Journal:
- Daily Information
- Date
- Day of Week
- Water (number of 8 ounce glasses)
- Meal Type (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks)
- Food/Beverage Item
- Quantity
- Serving Size
- Preparation Method
- Comments
What are Activity Journal and Food Journal Worksheets?
Worksheets are pages you can print and take with you. The worksheets are designed to help you track your journal entries when you do not have access to a computer. Later, you may use the worksheets as a guide to enter your information online into your My HealtheVet Activity Journal and Food Journal.
The Activity Journal worksheet allows you to quickly and easily record the activities you perform during a day. The Food Journal worksheet allows you to track your food intake in one given day.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the Activity Journal or Food Journal feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you may have with the Activity Journal or Food Journal feature. Simply complete the Contact MHV form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The Help Desk staff will respond to your inquiry within three (3) business days.
Vitals + Readings - Self-Reported
What is the Vitals + Readings feature in My HealtheVet?
Vitals + Readings is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov). It is found under the Track Health tab, in the Vitals + Readings section. Here registered My HealtheVet users can self-enter their vital signs and certain health measures.
As a registered user, you can self-enter your blood pressure, body weight, track your pain levels and more. For more information about the different account types and what you can view, visit My HealtheVet Account Types.
What is the difference between Vitals + Readings in My HealtheVet and VA Vitals and Readings?
Vitals + Readings is information you self-enter in My HealtheVet. These are readings that you update and maintain in your My HealtheVet account as you strive to manage and improve your health. The information is accessed through the Track Health tab. There are nine ways you can monitor your own health measures in Vitals + Readings. These may include recording your blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, pain levels, and much more.
VA Vitals and Readings is information your health care team enters into your VA health record. These are readings taken while you are at a clinic appointment, during a procedure, or when you are a patient in the VA hospital.
Note: To help you identify Information that comes from your official VA health record, it always has VA in front of it. If it begins with DoD it comes from the Department of Defense. All other information is self-entered by you. In the VA Blue Button, information you self-enter will start with the word Self-Reported.
What are the requirements for using the Vitals + Readings feature?
Vitals + Readings you self-enter is a feature in My HealtheVet that is available to anyone with a My HealtheVet account. For more information about the different account types and what you can view, visit My HealtheVet Account Types.
Specific features in My HealtheVet are available to you based on your account type. All users who have a Basic account are able to view their self-entered information. If you are a VA patient, you can upgrade your account to Advanced or Premium*. These account types may allow you to refill your VA prescriptions online and view parts of your VA health record and/or DoD Military Service Information.
Take time to Register Today. Veterans who are enrolled in the VA Healthcare System, may upgrade to a Premium account. To do this you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies your identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
What are the benefits of self-entering and tracking my Vitals + Readings in My HealtheVet?
The benefits of self-entering and tracking your Vitals + Readings in My HealtheVet are:
- You can track your vital signs over time
- You can view your information at anytime, anywhere you have Internet access
- You are provided with important information about your health
- You can share your Self Reported Vitals + Readings with caregivers, as well as your VA and non-VA health care providers
What Vitals + Readings will I be able to self-enter and view?
My HealtheVet has provided nine ways you can self-monitor your Vitals + Readings. Each one shows a graph of your progress. You can enter your blood sugar and cholesterol readings. Record your heart rate and pain levels, and much more.
When you are done entering your information, you can use the VA Blue Button to view, print and download your Self Reported Vitals + Readings including your VA Vitals + Readings. Then share them with your VA and non-VA health care teams. Use My HealtheVet to start tracking your health measures online today!
- Blood pressure – Normal* blood pressure for adults ages 18 and older is between 90/60 and 120/80
- Heart rate – The normal range of a resting heart rate for adults ages 18 and older is 60-100 beats per minute. Your age, activity level, and the time of day can change your heart rate.
- Weight – Normal* weight ranges are determined by your height and whether you are male or female. Body mass index (BMI) helps determine if you are at risk for a weight-related disease.
- Body temperature – The average body temperature when taken orally (by mouth) is 98.6°F. It can range from 96.4° to 99.1°F. However, "normal"* varies from person to person. Your temperature can also vary throughout the day.
- Pain level – Under normal conditions, people are free from pain.
- Blood Sugar - Blood sugar levels are measured in samples taken from your vein (called a blood plasma value) or a finger stick. The results from these 2 kinds of samples may be a little different. The normal* range for a Random Blood Sugar Plasma Test is 70-125 mg/dL.
- Cholesterol (Lipids Profile) - Blood tests that measure the amount of fatty substances (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood. These levels vary with your age and gender. Results may also vary from lab to lab. Your total cholesterol should be under 200.
- Pulse Oximetry – Measures the amount of oxygen in the blood flowing in your blood vessels. This is your oxygen saturation. Normal* ranges are 95% - 100% when breathing room air.
- International Normalized Ratio (INR) – This is a method that labs use so that prothrombin times results are understood in the same way. A normal* INR is 1.0 - 1.4. If you are taking blood-thinning medicine, your INR will be slightly longer than normal times, typically 2 to 3.
Note: *Normal varies from person to person. Check with your health care team to find out what is normal for you, given your condition.
What is the normal range for Vital Signs?
Normal varies from person to person. The normal range for vital signs may vary with age, sex, weight, exercise tolerance and condition. It is best to discuss this with your health care provider to find out what is normal for you.
How is my body Temperature recorded?
Your Temperature provides a reading of your core body warmth. It is recorded in degrees of Fahrenheit. The average body temperature runs between 97.8º – 99.1º, the average being 98.6º.
Body temperature is measured using a thermometer. One of the more common ways to measure body temperature is with an oral (by mouth) or ear thermometer.
How is my Blood Pressure recorded?
Blood Pressure is recorded as two readings. The upper reading is the systolic pressure, which is the maximal contraction of the heart. The lower reading is the diastolic or resting pressure. For example: 120/80 mm/Hg
There is no natural ‘normal’ value for blood pressure, but rather a range of values.
How is my Pulse recorded?
Your Pulse is recorded as heart beats per minute. The pulse rate is usually measured by listening directly to your heartbeat. This is done using a stethoscope or measured at either the wrist or the ankle. Pulse rates can vary with age.
How is my Respiratory Rate recorded?
Your Respiratory Rate is recorded in breaths per minute. It is measured by watching how many breaths you take in a minute. This varies with age, but the normal range for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute.
How is my Pain level recorded?
Your pain level is what you self-report to your provider. It is recorded on a Pain Scale of zero to ten (0 – 10).
0 = No Pain
1 – 3 = Mild Pain
4 – 6 = Moderate pain
7 – 10 = Severe Pain
How is Weight recorded?
Your health care team will weigh you on a scale to record your weight. A sudden, unexpected change in weight may be a sign of a medical problem.
What can affect my Vitals + Readings?
Many things can affect your vital signs and readings including:
Age
Race
Medical history
General health
Certain foods
Medications you are taking
Where can I learn more about Vitals + Readings?
Visit the Medical Library in My HealtheVet to learn more about Vitals + Readings or about a specific health condition. The Medical Library has in-depth information.
Why might it be important for me to keep track my Vitals + Readings?
Your health care team may want you to partner with them to help them track your Vital Signs and Readings. When you do this, it may help them:
Identify changes in your health
Evaluate your response to treatment
Monitor the course of a disease or condition over time
Talk with your health care team to find what you might do to help improve your health.
Why does my health care team take my Vital Signs?
Your health care team uses your vital signs and health readings to help:
- Identify changes in your health
- Diagnose a disease or condition
- Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
- Evaluate your response to treatment
- Monitor the course of a disease or condition over time
Can I print, save or download my Vitals + Readings that I self-entered?
Yes, you can use the VA Blue Button to view, print, save or download Vitals + Readings that you self-entered. In the VA Blue Button the Vitals + Readings you self-enter will be labeled as Self-Reported. To access your information using the VA Blue Button , simply:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account. For more information about the different account types and what you can view, visit My HealtheVet Account Types.
- Select Download My Data (Blue Button icon)
- On the Download My Data page, Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information you want
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select Self Reported Vitals + Readings (if you have a My HealtheVet Premium* account, you can also select your VA Vitals and Readings as well)
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
*To get a Premium account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies your identity. This is done before allowing access to your VA health record.
Note: To help you identify Information that comes from your official VA health record, it always has VA in front of it. If it begins with DoD it comes from the Department of Defense. All other information is either self-entered by you. In the VA Blue Button, information you self-enter will start with the word Self-Reported.
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Blue Button: Self Reported and VA Vitals + Readings to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use the VA Blue Button to download and/or print a copy of your Self Reported and VA Vitals + Readings. You can take this with you to your non-VA appointments. This will provide additional information for your non-VA providers.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Can my VA health care team view my information in My HealtheVet?
No, your VA health care team cannot view any information in your Personal Health Record. Your VA health care team does not have access to information you have entered in My HealtheVet unless you share it.
What should I do if I have any questions about my Vitals + Readings?
If you have questions about your Vitals + Readings that you self-enter:
- Go to the Learn More section under the About MHV tab. Here you can find general information about features in My HealtheVet. This includes VA Vitals + Readings and links to additional resources.
- Visit the Medical Library in My HealtheVet to learn more about Vitals + Readings or about a specific health condition. The Medical Library has in-depth information.
- If you still have questions or would like additional information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming VA appointment, or by using Secure Messaging. Your VA health care team can answer general questions you have about your Vitals + Readings.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the Vitals + Readings feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the Self Reported Vitals + Readings feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
You can get to the Contact Us form by selecting the Contact MHV tab at the top of any My HealtheVet page.
My HealtheVet Features
How can I get information about my VA benefits?
My HealtheVet is not connected with VA benefits. You can obtain this information directly from the VA by one of these methods: You can submit your request by e-mail to the VA through the Ask A Question link on https://iris.va.gov, or contact a benefits representative at 1-800-827-1000 (Monday-Friday from 8 to 8 Eastern time). These VA specialists can answer any questions you may have.
I heard My HealtheVet would let me see my personal health record online. Is that right?
My HealtheVet continues to grow in what it can offer you, the Veteran. Future releases include electronic services such as the ability to view your scheduled VA Appointments and any outstanding copay balances you may have...and yes, future releases will also permit you to request and receive copies of your electronic VA health records online.
I want to print out more detailed self-entered information than what is available on the summary page. Can I do this?
You can print the comments fields for individual self-entered information entries. In order to print the comments fields and other details, follow these instructions:
- From the Summary page, click the blue, underlined date or title that identifies the entry. This will show you the details of the record.
- Click Printer Friendly link
- Click the Print button
- Your browser's Print dialog box will open and you can print from there.
What can I find in the Medical Library?
My HealtheVet offers two health education libraries. On the Research Health tab, you can access the Medical Library, which contains links to the MedlinePlus® and HealthWise® libraries. You can research topics that include conditions, diseases, medical tests, medications and other useful medical information.
New Users
What is My HealtheVet?
My HealtheVet is a web-based personal health record that gives Veterans information and tools to improve their health. Registration is required to have full access to all features. Registrants can access more than 18 million pages of health information from the site’s Health Education Library. They are able to
- Add information to a personal health journal about over-the-counter medications, allergies, military health history, medical events, tests and allergies.
- Record and track personal information such as contact information, emergency contacts, health care providers, and health insurance information.
- Record and track personal health measurements (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, body temperature, weight, and pain) in Vitals & Readings.
- Print a wallet ID card with the personal information entered into the personal health record.
How will My HealtheVet benefit me?
With My HealtheVet you are able to:
- Gain a better understanding of your health status
- Explore a variety of options to improve your health
- Learn to use the available tools to become partners with your caregivers in understanding and managing your personal health care
- Easily access medical information from anywhere in the world with Internet access
- Select your favorite links and make your own special health web pages
What do I need to use My HealtheVet?
You need a computer with Internet access at home or through public access like a library or Internet café. Computers may also be available for use at your local VA Medical Center.
What do I need on my home computer to use My HealtheVet?
Your personal computer should have an Internet browser (see MHV's Browser Compatibility List). You also need access to the Internet.
How can I use My HealtheVet if I don't have a computer?
You may be able to use computers provided for My HealtheVet access at your local VA Medical Center. Call or visit your local VA Medical Center to learn more about using their My HealtheVet computers. You may also use My HealtheVet on computers with a connection to the Internet, such as those at public libraries, Internet cafés, etc.
Do I need training to use My HealtheVet?
No formal training is needed to use My HealtheVet. My HealtheVet was created with the Veteran and doctor in mind. While every attempt has been made to make the site as easy to use as possible, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to utilize the Contact Us.
Do I need to log on before using My HealtheVet?
Some parts of the My HealtheVet site are offered without logging in, but you are required to log in to create a personal health record, and to use the planner and calendars. Logging in also enables you to personalize your health information using the Health Journal and Vitals & Readings. These journals and eLogs are your private and secure information and are located in the Track Health section, which is only visible when you are logged in.
Terms and Conditions
What are Terms and Conditions?
The Terms and Conditions is an agreement between My HealtheVet and its users. The agreement defines the rules and requirements for using the site. It includes how My HealtheVet conducts business and lists the services offered. It also explains how your personal information will be used.
Why are Terms and Conditions important?
Terms and Conditions explain My HealtheVet services and products and how they can be used. It also describes consequences for misuse. Before using My HealtheVet, users have the opportunity to read the Terms and Conditions and decide if they agree to accept them in order to use My HealtheVet. If so, they can select AGREE to the terms for use.
Do the Terms and Conditions apply to everyone?
The Terms and Conditions is an agreement between My HealtheVet and its users. It applies to anyone who wants to register for a My HealtheVet Basic, Advanced or Premium account and create a Personal Health Record. The agreement must be accepted before you can use the services My HealtheVet offers such as:
What are the benefits of accepting the Terms and Conditions?
The benefits of accepting the Terms and Conditions in My HealtheVet are:
- You are provided with important information about using My HealtheVet products and services
- You can create your own private and secure Personal Health Record, available anywhere there is internet access
- You can view your self-reported information at any time
- If you are a Veteran, use the VA health system and are registered on My HealtheVet as a VA patient, you can refill your VA medications online
- If you are a Veteran, use the VA health care system and have an upgraded My HealtheVet (Premium) account you may be able to:
- View VA Chemistry/Hematology Lab results
- Receive information on your VA Appointments, including email reminders
- View VA Allergy and Adverse Reactions records
- Receive VA Wellness Reminders
- View your VA Immunization records
- View additional parts of your VA health record as they become available
- Use Secure Messaging to communicate with your VA health care team
- View Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information
What happens if I choose NOT to accept the Terms and Conditions?
If you choose NOT to accept the Terms and Conditions, you will not be able to:
- Register for My HealtheVet
- Use My HealtheVet products and services to build your Personal Health Record, such as:
- Medications - to self-enter all medications you take
- Track Health - to record and monitor health measures
- Health Journals - to keep food and activity journals
- Health History - to record self and family health histories
- Military History - to self-enter important information about your military history
- Order your VA medication online for VA patients with an Advanced account
- Upgrade to a Premium My HealtheVet account to:
- View VA Chemistry/Hematology Lab results
- Receive information on your VA Appointments, including email reminders
- View VA Allergy and Adverse Reactions records
- Receive VA Wellness Reminders
- View additional parts of your VA health record, as they become available
- Use Secure Messaging to communicate with your VA health care team
- View Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information
Is there only one set of Terms and Conditions for My HealtheVet?
There is one general My HealtheVet Terms and Conditions for use of the site. Additionally, there are also specific Terms and Conditions for certain features such as Secure Messaging and Prescription Refills.
If you have a Premium My HealtheVet account, you can select the check box for Secure Messaging located at the bottom of the general Terms and Conditions page. Just remember, you still need to select AGREE, for the general Terms and Conditions.
If I choose not to accept the Terms and Conditions can I come back later and accept them?
Yes, you can do this at any time. To get to the Terms and Conditions go to the bottom of any My HealtheVet page and select the link Terms and Conditions. After reading the Terms and Conditions, simply select AGREE.
Can I print a copy of the Terms and Conditions?
Yes, you can use the Printer Friendly link at the top of the page to print a PDF version of the general Terms and Conditions.
However, this does not apply to Terms and Conditions for certain other features such as Secure Messaging and Prescription Refills. Once you accept those you will not be able to pull them back up again.
If I accept the Terms and Conditions will my personal information be used in research?
Research is important to improving the health care of Veterans. You may be invited to participate in research activities. However, your personal information will NOT be used in research without your permission. You are free to choose whether or not you want to participate in research projects.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
Yes. My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected. Remember that you also have a responsibility to keep your health information safe by not sharing your password, or leaving printed material where someone else can see it.
If I accept the Terms and Conditions will my personal information be shared with outside organizations?
My HealtheVet does not share your personal information with outside organizations. This includes your personal identifiable information such as your name and Social Security Number. Personal information about Veterans who use My HealtheVet is protected.
Who do I contact if I have a problem with the Terms and Conditions?
You can contact My HealtheVet about problems you have with the Terms and Conditions. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your question within three (3) business days.
DS Logon Account Request Portal (ARP)
What is the DS Logon Account Request Portal?
The DS Logon Account Request Portal allows My HealtheVet users who have completed the In-Person Authenticated (IPA) process obtain a DS Logon authentication credential (user account). The My HealtheVet IPA process proves a VA patients identity. The Account Request Portal allows them to obtain a DS Logon without additional in-person validation.
What is DS Logon?
Department of Defense Self-Service Logon (DS Logon) is a self-service authentication credential the Department of Defense (DoD) offers to Servicemembers and eligible family members. In the past, this credential was only used by DoD for secure access to DoD web-based self-service applications. DoD is working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to extend the use of this credential to VA web applications.
Servicemembers may keep their DS Logon credentials after separating from service to have secure and convenient access to several VA applications. Veterans who have already separated from service now have the opportunity to obtain a DS Logon credential.
Why should I register for DS Logon?
The DS Logon credential is being used as the primary authentication credential for many VA and DoD web applications, including the VA eBenefits Portal. The DS Logon credential is expected to be accepted by other VA websites, including My HealtheVet. Using a DS Logon credential benefits a Veteran by:
- Creating a seamless transition from active duty to Veteran status. Servicemembers will keep their DS Logon credential when they separate from service and become eligible for VA benefits.
- Increasing VA/DoD interoperability and collaboration.
- Reducing the number of user names and passwords Veterans need to remember.
Where can the DS Logon authentication credential be used?
A DS Logon authentication credential provides secure web access to applications. DS Logon access is accepted at:
- Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE)
- TRICARE Online (TOL)
- DS Access Center
- Transferability of Education Benefits (TEB),
- myDODbenefits
- VA's eBenefits Portal
Additional web sites (including My HealtheVet) will use the DS Logon authentication credential in the future to allow access to their applications.
Where can I find other information about DS Logon?
The DS Access Center Home Page and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for DS Logon can be found at: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/pub/Welcome.do.
What is the DoD Self-Service Access Center?
The Department of Defense (DoD) Self-Service (DS) Access Center is a website that allows Veterans to request a DoD Self-Service Logon (DS Logon) authentication credential (user account). This site is also used to manage a DoD Self-Service Logon credential.
For more information regarding the DS Access Center, please visit: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/pub/Welcome.do.
Who do I call if I have problems with my DS Logon account?
If you have any questions regarding your DS Logon account, please visit the DS Access Center Home Page (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/pub/Welcome.do) or call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Center (DSC) toll free at (800) 477-8227. The DSC is available 24x7x365.
What do I do if I forget my DS Logon Username?
To retrieve your DS Logon username, you will first need to prove your identity at the DS Access Center web site. You will be asked to answer security questions which you previously set up. To access this service, go to https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/ss/forgotusername/Index.do.
If you have problems with the site or need additional assistance, please call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Center (DSC) toll free at (800) 477-8227. The DSC is available 24x7x365.
What if I forget my DS Logon Password?
To reset your forgotten DS Logon password, you will first need to prove your identity at the DS Access Center web site. After supplying your DoD Self-Service Logon username, you will be prompted to answer security questions which you previously set up. To access this service, go to https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/ss/forgotpassword/Index.do.
If you have problems with the site or need additional assistance, please call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Center (DSC) toll free at (800) 477-8227. The DSC is available 24x7x365.
How do I unlock a suspended DS Logon credential?
To unlock your suspended DS Logon account, you will first need to prove your identity at the DS Access Center web site. After supplying your DS Logon username, you will be asked to answer security questions which you previously set up.
Go to: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/ss/unlockaccount/Index.do.
If you have problems with the site or need additional assistance, please call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Center (DSC) toll free at (800) 477-8227. The DSC is available 24x7x365.
Why did I receive Error 29 when I tried to establish a DS Logon account?
Error 29 indicates you already have a DS Logon account. The link provided within the error message (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/pub/Welcome.do) will allow you to retrieve a forgotten DS Logon username or password, or unlock a suspended DS Logon account.
If you have problems with the site or need additional assistance, please call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Center (DSC) toll free at (800) 477-8227. The DSC is available 24x7x365.
VA Admissions and Discharges
What is Admissions and Discharges?
Admission is the process that occurs when you are treated at a VA hospital and require an overnight stay to continue treatment or care. This is also called an Inpatient stay. A health care provider advises if an overnight stay should occur. There are many reasons for admission but it is typically for medical/nursing/mental health treatment, necessary medical observation, rehabilitation, or surgery. Admissions can extend beyond one day.
Discharge is the process that occurs at the end of the hospital stay when you leave for another destination. This includes but is not limited to home, non-VA facilities, special VA health care units, extended leave of absence, or death.
What is the VA Admissions and Discharges report?
VA Admissions and Discharges is a section of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record (www.myhealth.va.gov), found under the VA Blue Button section. Here VA patients can view their VA Admissions and Discharges reports.
Where does information in my VA Admissions and Discharges come from?
Information in your VA Admissions and Discharges comes from your official VA health record.
What information will I be able to view in my VA Admissions and Discharges?
- Admission Date/Time: The day, month, year and time recorded for the beginning of the hospital stay
- Admitting Location: Where the hospital stay occurred. For example, the name of the VA Medical Center
- Admitting Physician: The name of the physician that admitted you to the hospital for inpatient care
- Discharge Date/Time: The day, month, year and time recorded for the end of the hospital stay
- Discharging Physician: The name of the physician that discharged you from the hospital
- Discharge Summary: Contains information about your hospital stay. This may include:
- Diagnosis
- Results of lab tests and procedures
- Medications
- Your condition when you left the hospital
The Discharge Summary also provides information on future plans for tests, procedures, medications and follow-up appointments.
What is the difference between the Patient Discharge Instruction Sheet and the VA Admissions and Discharges report?
When you are discharged from the hospital, you will receive an easy-to-read guide known as the Patient Discharge Instruction Sheet. It includes information about your hospital stay and may provide advice for follow-up activities. You will receive this sheet prior to leaving the hospital.
VA Admissions and Discharges can be viewed, downloaded and printed from the VA Blue Button. It is a more detailed view of your hospital stay and includes medical terminology. It is intended to be used by your health care team and provider(s) to determine the best course of treatment for you.
What do I do if the VA Admissions and Discharges section has wording I do not understand?
Visit the Medical Library to learn all that you can about the condition or diagnosis. You can also use Secure Messaging to send a message to your VA health care team.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Admissions and Discharges?
To view your VA Admissions and Discharges you must:
- Be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- Be registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- Have an upgraded Premium* My HealtheVet account*
* To get an upgraded Premium My HealtheVet account, you will need to go through authentication. This is a process by which VA verifies a Veterans' identity before allowing access to your VA health record. To learn more, go to: Upgrading your My HealtheVet account through In-Person or Online Authentication.
What are the benefits of having VA Admissions and Discharges information in My HealtheVet?
The benefits of having VA Admissions and Discharges information in My HealtheVet are:
- You can view your information at any time, anywhere you have Internet access
- You are provided with important information which may help you make informed decisions about your health
- You are able to share your important medical or mental health events with caregivers or non-VA health care providers
- You can work in partnership with your health care team to ensure that you have a better understanding of your health issues
How can I use information in my VA Admissions and Discharges report?
Sharing your VA Admissions and Discharges information with your non-VA health care providers helps them make better decisions about your health care.
How do I view, print, save or download my VA Admissions and Discharges?
To access your VA Admissions and Discharges:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select Download My Data
- Select Continue
- You can now select the Types of Information
- Choose Select one or more types of information
- Select VA Admissions and Discharges
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (.pdf file), Download for a simple text format (.txt file), or Download as a custom Blue Button text format (.bluebutton file)
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
How soon will I be able to view my VA Admissions and Discharges information in My HealtheVet?
Before you can view your VA Admissions and Discharges information it has to be signed and verified by your provider.
If you still cannot view your information in My HealtheVet after 2 weeks, you can use Secure Messaging to contact your participating VA health care team. You can also contact your VA health care team by telephone.
Should I take a printed copy of my VA Admissions and Discharges to my appointment with my non-VA provider?
Yes, you can use VA Blue Button to download and/or print a copy of your VA Admissions and Discharges.
Is information in My HealtheVet protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Admissions and Discharges information?
If you have questions about your VA Admissions and Discharges information:
- First, select the Learn More link which has general information about what the VA Admissions and Discharges is and how you can use this information to partner with your health care team.
- If you still have questions or do not understand your information, you can contact your VA health care team. You can contact them by phone, during an upcoming appointment, or by using Secure Messaging.
Can I change the information in my VA Admissions and Discharges report?
No, your information is presented to you the way it is in your official VA health record. If you have questions about your results, please contact your VA health care team or provider.
If you have information regarding your admissions and discharges from non-VA medical facilities, you are encouraged to share this information with VA health care team.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Admissions and Discharges feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Admissions and Discharges feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your inquiry within three (3) business days.
I see a yellow text box at the top of the page with a triangle icon, what does this mean?
This is a message box that lets you know the status of your information. For example:
- If you have no information in the system, the message in the box will read: “Information is not available”
- If My HealtheVet is not able to retrieve your information, the message in the box will read: “Request cannot be processed at this time”. If you see this message, you may wish to check back later.
- If your information is being updated, the message will read: “Updates to your data are still in progress. Please refresh this screen or check back later.”
VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions
What is the My HealtheVet VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record?
Your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record lists things in your VA electronic medical record that you are allergic to and provides information about how you reacted.
- An allergic reaction can be caused by something you consume, such as a medication or food. Insect bites or stings can cause an allergic reaction. You can also have an allergic reaction from something you came into contact with or inhaled, like latex or mold.
- An adverse reaction is how you reacted to the thing you are allergic to. This can be a mild reaction, such as itching, sneezing or causing your eyes to water. It can be a moderate reaction, such as a rash or hives. Depending on your symptoms you may need to see your provider. It can be a severe reaction, such as difficulty breathing. A severe reaction requires immediate medical attention.
This online feature also lets you view a combined list of allergy and reaction information in your VA electronic medical record and allergy information that you self-entered in your My HealtheVet account. With this information, you can better partner with your VA health care team to monitor your health.
What are the requirements for viewing VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions in My HealtheVet?
To view VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions you must:
- be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
- be a registered as a VA Patient in My HealtheVet
- have an upgraded account *
* To get an upgraded account you must complete a one-time process called In-Person Authentication or "IPA." You can upgrade your account at your VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
How do I access My HealtheVet VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions?
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select the Health History tab
- Select the Allergies tab
What are the benefits of using My HealtheVet VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions?
- Remember important information about what you are allergic to or have had an adverse reaction to
- Reduce your risk of coming into contact with something to which you are allergic
- Be more involved in your own health care
- Access both summary and detailed information about your allergies
- Share your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions information with your health care team, caregivers and others
What information is provided in the VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record?
The Summary page includes:
- date entered
- the allergen/reactant (what caused your reaction)
- your reaction/side effect (how you were affected)
- name and location of the VA facility that reported your allergy or adverse reaction
The Detailed page includes:
- if the allergy is to a food, drug, or other
- VA drug class
- if a health care provider saw the allergy or adverse reaction or found out about it another way
- comments from your health care team
Self-entered Allergy information:
If you choose to enter information yourself about other allergies or adverse reactions, you can keep track of:
- the date the allergy occurred
- the name of the allergy or adverse reaction
- if your reaction was mild, moderate, or severe
- if a health care provider diagnosed you with the allergy
- the reaction or side effect you experienced
- other comments
Can I add information in my VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record?
You can view your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record from the VA, but you cannot edit the record. You can also view a combined listing of your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions and self-entered Allergy records. You can add, edit or delete your self-entered Allergy record for allergies and adverse reactions you have experienced.
To add information to your self-entered Allergy record:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select the Health History tab
- Select the Allergiestab
- Set the Source to "Non VA" or "Both"
- Select the Add/Edit Self Entered Allergylink
Note that "Non VA" refers to your self-entered information, not information entered by a health care provider from outside of VA.
Is the My HealtheVet VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions information protected, secure, and private?
My HealtheVet is a secure website. The VA follows strict security policies and practices to make sure that your personal health information is safe and protected.
Can I change the way I view VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions?
Yes, you can change the way you view VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions.
VA Allergies and Adverse Reaction gives you a view of both your VA electronic medical record and your self-entered information.
You can choose to view your allergy information that comes from:
- your VA electronic medical record only
- your self-entered information only
- a blended view of your VA record and self-entered information
To change the view of your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions records:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select the Health History tab
- Select the Allergies tab
- Under Source, select
- VA – to see only information from your VA electronic medical record
- Non VA – to see only your self-entered information
- Both – to see a blended view of your VA record and self-entered information
Can my health care team view VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions records that I have entered?
Your health care team can view the Allergy and Adverse Reactions information in your VA medical record, but they cannot view any information in your My HealtheVet account unless you share it.
Can I print my VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions?
Yes, there are two ways you can print your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions:
- VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions tab
- Blue Button custom download of your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions
To print the VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions Summary page or Detail page:
- Select the Printer Friendly link at the top right side of the Summary or Detail page
- Select Print
- Select the Done box to return to the previous screen
To download your data using the Blue Button:
- Log into your My HealtheVet account
- Select Download My Data
- Select Download Only My Selected Data from My HealtheVet
- Select Continue
- Select VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions
- Select Submit
- Select either Download PDF File for a format that is easy to read and print (PDF file) or Download for a simple text format (.txt file) if you want an electronic copy
- Select View/Print if you want a printed list
- Select Print
Why can't I see my VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions when using the VA Blue Button to print or download?
To see your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions with the VA Blue Button:
- You must be a VA patient with allergies or adverse reactions at a VA facility.
- Add your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions data in My HealtheVet.
To put your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions in My HealtheVet just:
- Select the Track Health tab
- Select Health History
- Select VA Allergies & Adverse Reactions
- You may need to select a Refresh button, if you see a message to do this
If you have checked the above and still cannot see your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions, contact the Help Desk using the Contact MHV tab at the top of every My HealtheVet page.
What should I do if I have any questions about my VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions information?
Contact your VA health care team if you have any questions related to your care or your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record.
What should I do if I think my VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions record is incorrect?
If you think information in your VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions is incorrect, please contact the Release of Information Office at your VA facility. The Release of Information staff can guide you through the process to request a correction to your VA medical record.
Who do I contact if I have a technical problem with the VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions feature?
You can contact My HealtheVet about technical problems you have with the VA Allergies and Adverse Reactions feature. Simply complete the Contact Us form to send a message to the My HealtheVet Help Desk. The staff will respond to your problem within three (3) business days.
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