What digital tools do you use (or want) to improve your Veteran experience?

I like that we have a digital check in at the Pittsburgh VA. I think a Facebook page would be useful. Perhaps an app to keep track of status of ratings.

I use the VA's healthcare website quite a bit. It helps remind me of upcoming visits, lab results, send a message to care providers, and order more Rxs. There is more info on MyHealtheVet than needed for me.

I would very much like to see the VA pharmacy modernize the pharmacy app. Aldo allowing you to chat with a pharmacist or receive a callback when you have issues with prescriptions and delivery. Right now the app looks like its pretty old.

I feel like veterans are some of the most under appreciated individuals. Dealing with the VA In general sometimes feel like we are asking for benefits that we did not earn, or benefits that we are not entitled to, or even looking for a handout. It is very rare for me to speak with a helpful & polite representative over the phone. Not the mention, the amount of time spent before you can even reach someone to assist. Therefore, digitizing everything or perhaps hiring more properly trained individuals would definitely help my experience in dealing with the VA. While some questions cannot be answered online & many people are not tech-savvy, over the phone support should still be immediately available & there needs to be a major reduction in the wait times that veterans are experiencing.

Ability to be a delegate of my husband who is the veteran in the areas I usually handle when dealing directly with the VA.
As the wife of a disabled chaplain, I manage our finances as my husband hates these activities and I want his precious energy spent on what matters to him. USAA allows me to manage our auto and home insurance. When we refinanced our home using a VA loan with New Day, I was able to handle the majority of the paperwork. Both of these organizations allow electronic management of activities, and allow me as the military spouse to manage these tasks as I do in the rest of our household. But the VA completely shuts me out. I cannot request prescription refills, coordinate community care, request medical appointments- all the things he hates to do. Worse, I can’t see any of these things to remind him or support him in scheduling. If the veteran wants a spouse to do these things, why can’t s/he authorize this with the appropriate approval granting electronic access.

For women veterans: the ability to upload proof of name change and have the name change be synchronized between all of the VA systems: Healthcare, Benefits, and Cemetery. I just went through a horrible ordeal simply trying to get my name updated in ONE system to use my VA Loan benefit. And I've had to do it three times -- it didn't "stick" the first two times, and I'm not confident this issue is fully resolved now. When I raised this problem on Facebook, many of my women veteran friends stated they had the same issue with the VA, so we NEED help with name changes in the VA system.

iPad

Something that allows easier and better access on my phone. Also can we please make our community doctors register that we have an appointment on the site. Too many times I've missed appointments because they weren't on there. One other thing is to have texts sent to remind of appointments.

One thing I am very interested in is the VR technology. Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy: VR technology is increasingly being used to provide immersive and therapeutic experiences for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health conditions. VR therapy can simulate realistic scenarios and aid in exposure therapy or relaxation techniques. As someone who used to work with veterans to help treat their pain, stress, and anxiety, I think it would be very cool to see something like this progress its way in! - Jen

Myhealthevet