VA provides expanded services for women Veterans

Dawn Bates, a 38-year-old Navy Veteran, recently sought gynecological care at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) after prolonged issues with bleeding and anemia.

Dr. Jordan Hylton

Gynecological care is just one of the many health care services now available for women Veterans from VA.

There are many female-specific routine exams and screenings offered to women Veterans through the medical center. For example, those services include colposcopy, cervical cancer screening and prevention, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis and abnormal bleeding issues.

Gynecological surgical care has been offered since 2017. That is when Dr. Jordan Hylton and her colleagues established the gynecology program. Surgical options include hysterectomy, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy and others.

“Doctor Hylton always made time to talk to me,” Bates explained. “Her bedside manner is impeccable. It’s like talking to a friend more than a doctor.”

Hylton is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and a doctor of osteopathic medicine. Hylton and her surgical colleagues possess more than 50 years of combined experience.

Trust in skill and expertise

After first meeting with Hylton, Bates said she felt she could trust her skill and expertise. Following surgery and during her recovery, Bates discovered that others in the office afforded her the same level of comfort when she needed to call in for help.

“I’m grateful the staff was so readily available to answer my call,” she said.

Hylton is the associate OB/GYN residency program director at both CVHCS and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Women Veterans in central and northern Virginia area are the fastest-growing population in VA’s Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), which is one of the nation’s fastest growing regions. VISN 6 manages Veteran health care in 44 sites of care in North Carolina and Virginia. The CVHCS currently serves approximately 10,000 women Veterans each year.

“As our population grows, we strive to make adjustments and ensure services are available in-house as frequently as possible to reduce care in the community and enhance continuity of care,” said Haisley Holden, Women Veterans Program manager.

The CVHCS Women’s Health Center offers specialized gynecological services to its patients and plans are underway to break ground on a standalone 12,000-square-foot clinic.

Megan Kon is a public affairs specialist at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System.