VA apps provide personalized health care experience

Veterans who are also VA employees play an important role in spreading the word about VA virtual care technologies. Victoria Backus, a Talent Management System manager at Northport VA in New York, uses her unique perspective to promote VA apps to her fellow Veterans.

Backus believes that VA telehealth is successful in part because VA apps are tailored to Veteran needs. As a Veteran, she uses many VA apps to manage her care. For example, she usually meets her VA providers through VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app.

“To get to the closest VA facility, I have to take multiple buses. A reason my health declined was because I wasn’t making appointments on a regular basis. VA Video Connect has allowed me to make those appointments and receive a continuity of care,” she said.

Backus uses the MOVE Coach, Mindfulness Coach, and PTSD Coach apps to manage her physical and mental health. She often recommends these apps to Veterans, but her favorite is Mindfulness Coach.

Mindfulness Coach offers a self-guided program designed to help Veterans understand and gradually adopt mindfulness practices.

Apps: “Like having a therapist in your pocket.”

“It’s like having a therapist in your pocket. If you need a little bit of intervention and it’s not always something you can do via the telephone, the Mindfulness Coach app puts you in control,” she said.

Backus uses her VA tablet to access VA apps and connect with her VA providers. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was a Telehealth Clinical Technician who trained Veterans to use VA-issued tablets. Backus says Veterans are connected like never before because they’ve learned to use these technologies.

“VA was the first and largest medical system to do telehealth. I can’t stress enough how many lives it has saved,” she shared. Now as the TMS domain manager, she ensures VA staff members are learning about VA telehealth.

“I track doctors, nurses and secretaries’ entire training and learning history so Northport VA is in compliance nationally. That allows us to treat Veterans with the best care possible,” she said.

Backus finds her role at Northport VA rewarding. She establishes and maintains connections with Veterans in a virtual modality, and often provides reassurance to Veterans who are adopting new technologies.

“When a Veteran says, ‘I cannot believe I’m on the screen with you,’ I remind them I am a Veteran, too, and they can see their provider this way.”

To learn more, visit the VA App Store.