VA Clinicians
Women are the fastest growing group in the Veteran population. Understanding women's military experiences is vital to understanding their health. VA is committed to providing VA clinicians with up-to-date resources and training to better serve women Veterans.
VA Training for VA Clinicians
VA Women's Health offers a variety of trainings for VA clinicians to help you coordinate and provide women Veterans the highest quality of care. Training takes place either virtually through courses on the Talent Management System (TMS), or through in-person courses, including the unique "Women's Health Mini-Residency" training.
VA Women's Health offers three Mini-Residency program delivery options:
- National: Training takes place over three days and covers core topics in women's health care in both the primary care and acute care settings. Training includes simulation training with live patient models and simulation equipment for breast and pelvic examinations as well as small group case-based discussions.
- Local: Training takes place at a VA facility or a Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) using the national mini-residency curriculum.
- Rural: Training takes place directly at rural clinic sites. Traveling teams go to rural sites to lead small group case-based discussions, hands-on learning with simulation equipment, interactive activities, and a live patient model.
Training courses cover a variety of topics including but not limited to:
- Breast Health
- Chronic Pain
- Contraception
- Health Equity
- LGBTQ+ Health
- Musculoskeletal conditions and pain (MSK)
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Trauma informed care
You can find courses like these and many more by logging into your VA TMS. For those with access, these courses are also available on the Women's Health Intranet SharePoint site.
Accredited Course: Caring for Women Veterans in the Community
One of the best ways to learn more about how to care for women Veterans is by taking the Caring for Women Veterans in the Community training on VHA TRAIN, a learning network that houses a comprehensive catalog of public health training opportunities. This training addresses unique concerns such as military sexual trauma, musculoskeletal pain, and post-deployment readjustment and how those concerns can impact women Veterans. If you have additional questions or need assistance, please contact the help desk at VHATRAIN@va.gov.
Clinicians who take this course will learn to:
- Recognize how the evolving role, increasing number, and diversity of women in military service impact their changing medical care needs
- List the key components of a military history while understanding how a woman Veteran's service might affect her current or future health
- Recognize the gender-specific, clinical manifestations of common Veteran health issues, including pain syndromes and mental health concerns
- Use patient-centered, trauma-informed care for pelvic exams for women Veterans whose experiences with military sexual trauma, PTSD, or intimate partner violence (IPV) may make them sensitive to gender-specific exams
A Safe and Comfortable Environment for all Veterans
VA is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all Veterans. VA clinicians and staff must work together to ensure that all Veterans perceive VA as a safe and comfortable place to receive health care services. Veterans can report mistreatment or harassment at VA by calling, texting, or chatting online with the Women Veterans Call Center. Veterans can also report harassment to the VA Police and the facility patient advocate who will ensure the report is relayed to facility leadership.
Visit the Building a Culture of Respect page to learn more about how VA is actively working toward actively working toward fostering a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for the women Veterans who come through our doors.
Additional Resources for VA Clinicians
- Download the Military Health History Pocket Card to help guide important questions
- Visit the Overview of Health Services for Women page to see the full suite of services VA provides women Veterans
- See the Facts and Statistics page for more information about women Veterans
- Read publications and reports about women Veterans
- Visit the VA App Store for apps created specifically for Veterans and their health care professionals
- View videos that cover a variety of topics related to women Veterans
- Share information about the Women Veterans Call Center with women Veterans
- Find information regarding eligibility and enrollment for women Veterans
- Watch a short video on VA's mission to serve women Veterans
- Trauma Informed Care
Women Veterans Health Care Videos
Watch videos for and about Women Veterans.
Women Veterans Health Care Outreach Posters
View our Outreach Posters.
