Dublin VA adopts “GPS” app to help with directions

Dublin VA’s main campus was a strategically designed hospital featuring 4.2 miles of hallways to withstand a potential German bombing when it was built as a naval hospital in 1945. In 1948, the naval hospital transitioned to a VA hospital.

Seventy-five years and countless additions and upgrades later, Dublin VA’s main campus is still a massive complex that can be intimidating to Veterans, visitors and even staff… until now. A new app called “VA Wayfinding” is available on Android and iOS systems and can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet.

The app features several useful tools, including Travel Claim, Appointments and Navigate among others.

Lobby display panel

“Most people use smart technologies in the 21st century to assist in their daily lives, and this is another way we’re embracing smart technology to improve the Veteran experience,” Medical Center Director Manuel M. Davila said. “This new app is another tool in a long list of smart technologies we use to confirm appointments, file travel claims and now to navigate our medical center.”

Patient Engagement Mobile Application (PEMA)

The Patient Engagement Mobile Application (PEMA) is not unique to Dublin VA and is currently being installed at eight VA medical centers located in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. This will allow Veterans in the region to use the VA Wayfinding app at different medical centers if they’re receiving health care from a different location.

Any medical center with the PEMA tech installed will give Veterans the tools they need to attend appointments.

“I really enjoyed the app and am glad VA is using the newest technology to help Veterans,” said Army Veteran Sam Marion. “This is the first time I visited Dublin VA and I used the app to find Release of Information.”

One of the coolest parts of the navigation tool is tapping the microphone icon on the bottom right of the screen and say “pharmacy,” “labs,” “urgent care,” or other location. A dotted line will appear on your screen illustrating the way and a GPS voice will keep you on the correct course.

Ensuring Veterans receive gold standard of care

“We’re continually innovating Dublin VA to help ensure Veterans receive the gold standard in terms of being proactive in their health care,” said Customer Service Manager Vashon Brown. “The VA Wayfinding app allows Veterans to efficiently navigate our campus, check in to appointments, file travel claims and check view recent announcements.”

Dublin VA is still a massive campus, but it’s much less intimidating when a smart device aids Veterans in navigating around to appointments and other critical areas.

Modernization continues to be one of VA’s top priorities and adding PEMA to medical center campuses is a step in the right direction.

To read more stories from Dublin VA, visit VA News and Information.