Veteran Chris Barcomb describes how TelePulmonology improves his quality of life
Chris Barcomb, a Navy Veteran who served from 1991 to 2012, knows the value of having a care team that listens and understands. That’s why he uses VA TelePulmonology for his lung health care needs.
Through VA Video Connect—VA’s secure videoconferencing app—TelePulmonology, which is available in certain VA health care systems, connects Veterans in participating VA health care systems directly with lung specialists. For Barcomb, that means working with the team at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston without having to travel there frequently.
The TelePulmonology program provides comprehensive evaluations, accurate diagnoses, and ongoing care for conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and other pulmonary complications, bringing top-level specialty care straight to a Veteran’s home.
A new way to manage his health
Barcomb works with a registered respiratory therapist to stay on top of lung symptoms related to long COVID. The appointments are personal and thorough, just like an in-person visit, and they save him valuable time and energy.
Telehealth is part of a larger holistic approach to his treatment. Barcomb’s VA care team includes specialists, primary care providers and mental health professionals who work together to address all aspects of his well-being—not just his lungs. Regular communication between care team members ensures that any changes in physical or emotional health are addressed quickly.
“My providers would look at my records and would see things that were related to what I was currently dealing with,” he said. “And they would help me understand how it is all related. For instance, my chronic sinus issues are all related to my pulmonology challenges. Had I not received that guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today in my recovery.”
Barcomb also uses My HealtheVet on VA.gov, VA’s online portal, to send secure messages to his providers, refill prescriptions and manage appointments. Together, virtual tools and coordinated care give Barcomb a more convenient, connected and patient-centered way to stay healthy.
Advice to other Veterans
Barcomb encourages Veterans to keep an open mind about VA’s virtual care options.
“Everybody I’ve met in the VA system truly cares about Veterans and doing a great job,” he added. “The staff are really trying to make a difference.”
By bringing specialists directly into a Veteran’s home through secure technology, VA is reducing geography as a barrier to better health. And with care teams working together to support the whole person—body and mind—Veterans everywhere can get the comprehensive care they need to live their healthiest lives.
Talk to your VA care team to see if VA TelePulmonology is available to and right for you. For more information about telehealth resources for Veterans, visit VA Telehealth Services.
Author: Nikki Verbeck