VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System

VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Medical Center photo

President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order Dec. 18 providing for the closure of executive departments, including the Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday, Dec. 24. The heads of executive departments and agencies have been granted the authority to determine if certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on Dec. 24, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

VA has pushed the determination of what facilities and services need to remain open on Dec. 24 down to local level executive leaders. As such, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System will provide the following services on Dec. 24-25:

Primary Care
All VASNHS primary care clinics in the Las Vegas Valley and Pahrump will remain open during regular business hours Dec. 24 for scheduled primary care and mental health appointments. The Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA Clinic in Laughlin will be closed Dec. 24-25 and all primary care clinics will be closed Dec. 25. Laboratory and radiology services will not be available at VASNHS’ primary care clinics Dec. 24-25.

Specialty Care
Specialty care clinics will be open on a case-by-case basis Dec. 24 and closed Dec. 25. Individuals whose appointments must be canceled will be personally notified and rescheduled within 14 days. Walk-in services will be unavailable.

Pharmacy Services
Inpatient pharmacy services will be uninterrupted. Outpatient pharmacy will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 and closed on Dec. 25.

Laboratory Services
Inpatient laboratory services will be uninterrupted. Outpatient laboratory services will be unavailable at our primary care clinics Dec. 24. The outpatient laboratory at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All outpatient laboratory services will be closed Dec. 25.

Radiology Services
Inpatient radiology services will be uninterrupted. Outpatient radiology services will be unavailable at our primary care clinics Dec. 24. Outpatient radiology at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center will be open Dec. 24 for scheduled outpatient appointments and be closed Dec. 25.

Dialysis
Inpatient dialysis services will be uninterrupted. Dialysis will provide outpatient services from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 23-24, and be closed Dec. 25.

Mental Health
Mental health at both our primary care clinics and the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center will remain open for regularly scheduled appointments Dec. 24 and closed Dec. 25. Walk-in services will be available for Veterans with urgent mental health needs at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Veterans with an emergent mental health needs outside these hours can visit the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center Emergency Department or call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Option 1) 24/7.

Classes and Support Groups
Any scheduled VASNHS health classes and support groups scheduled for Dec. 24 are cancelled.

Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy will be closed for scheduled appointments and walk-ins Dec. 24-25. Any cancelled appointments will be rescheduled within 14 days.

Prosthetics
Prosthetics will be closed Dec. 24-25.

Emergency Department
The VASNHS Emergency Department will remain open 24/7 Dec. 24-25 for Veterans with emergent needs. However, individuals with a life-threating condition should always call 911 or visit their nearest emergency room.

Homeless Veteran Services
The VASNHS Community Resource and Referral Center and HUD-VASH office will be closed Dec. 24-25. For emergency assistance, please call 702-706-6089.

Administrative Offices
All VASNHS administrative offices that do not provide direct patient care will be closed Dec. 24-25 and resume operations Dec. 26.

Telephone Support
VASNHS Call Center - The VASNHS call center will be open to assist Veterans from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and closed Dec. 25. Veterans needing assistance may call 702-791-9000 ext. 19024. Please note: The call center will be minimally manned. If your call is not an urgent matter, it may be best to call back on or after Dec. 26.

Nurse Advice Line – The VASNHS Nurse Advice Line will remain open 24/7 at 877-252-4866 to provide Veterans and family members convenient clinical care advice.

Veterans Crisis Line – If you are a Service member or Veteran in crisis or you’re concerned about one, there are specially trained responders ready to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends, with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text-messaging service. Veterans Crisis Line responders can be reached via the following methods:
• Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone.
• Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder.
• Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.