Women Veterans Health Care

Trauma-informed Health Care

VA understands that trauma may affect the lives and health of many women Veterans before, during, and after military service. VA health care staff are specifically trained to help you feel comfortable and safe at every appointment, in each exam room, and across all VA medical facilities.

We acknowledge the role that trauma may play in your life, and we are committed to providing you with safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment at every opportunity.

What is trauma-informed health care at VA?

Trauma refers to events or circumstances that an individual experiences, leading to physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm, and negatively impacting mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as social and spiritual well-being.

Trauma-informed health care means that your provider recognizes the impact trauma may have on your life and is dedicated to improving your care by fostering a sense of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment during your health care visits. We pay close attention to your preferences and to the physical environment, and work to deliver care with support and compassion.

How does trauma-informed care apply to my health care?

VA exam rooms are safe spaces where you may choose to let your provider know about what you have experienced. VA clinicians are trained to know how different traumatic experiences may affect your health, health care needs, and your experience with the health care system. They are particularly sensitive to traumas that may be related to military service.

When you visit a VA medical facility, VA health care staff consider several core principles of trauma-informed care.*

Additionally, to help you feel safe and comfortable during your visits, you can request a certain gender for your provider, or request a chaperone for any visit.

Using trauma informed care principles, your VA provider will explain every step of your exam and allow you to have control so that you can stop at any point.

If you are not comfortable coming in to VA, you can request a telehealth appointment. If you have experiences with trauma that may be affecting your health, we can help connect you to the right treatment and resources.

We can also connect you with a mental health provider who can work with you on stress management, coping strategies, understanding the impact of trauma on your life.

Where can I find more information, help, and resources on trauma-informed care?

VA has additional trauma services and resources, including, but not limited to:

• Mental Health and PTSD
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
• Sexual Assault
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Racial Trauma

You belong at VA, where you have options when it comes to how you receive your care.

Women Veterans Health Care Videos

Watch videos for and about Women Veterans.

Women Veterans Health Care Outreach Posters

View our Outreach Posters.

The Women Veterans Call Center is your guide to women's health

If you have questions or can't find what you're looking for, you can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area. Trained women representatives can also:

• Provide you with information on enrolling in VA health care if you have not already
• Provide you with information on setting up a medical appointment in your area
• Provide you with information about your eligibility (including questions about disability ratings) and other VA benefits like employment, education, and home loans
• Connect you with your local VA Medical Center or local women's health contact who can assist in coordinating all the services you need

WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.

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