Dublin VA the main campus was a strategically designed hospital with 4.2 miles of hallways to withstand potential German bombardment when it was built as a Naval Hospital in 1945. In 1948 the Naval Hospital became a VA hospital.
Seventy-five years and countless additions and upgrades later, the main Dublin VA campus is still a massive complex that can be intimidating for veterans, visitors and even staff…until now. A new application called “VA Wayfinding” is available on Android and iOS systems and can be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet.
The app offers several useful tools, including Travel Claim, Appointments, and Navigate, among others.
Lobby notice board
“Most people are using smart technology in the 21st century to help them in their daily lives, and this is another way we’re embracing smart technology to improve the experience for veterans,” said the medical center director, Manuel M. Davila. “This new app is just another tool in a long list of smart technologies that 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 installed in eight VA medical centers located in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. This will allow veterans in the area to use the VA Wayfinding app at different medical centers if they receive health care from a different location.
Any medical center with PEMA technology installed will give veterans the tools they need to attend appointments.
“I really enjoyed the app and I’m glad VA is using the latest technology to help veterans,” said Army veteran Sam Marion. “This is my first time visiting Dublin VA and I used the app to find the information post.”
One of the coolest parts of the navigation tool is tapping the microphone icon in the bottom right of the screen and saying “pharmacy,” “labs,” “urgent care,” or other location. A dotted line will appear on your screen illustrating the path and a GPS voice will keep you on the right course.
Ensuring Veterans Receive High-Quality Care
“We are continually innovating Dublin VA to help ensure veterans receive the gold standard in terms of being proactive in their healthcare,” said Director of Customer Service Vashon Brown. “The VA Wayfinding app allows veterans to efficiently navigate our campus, check in for appointments, file travel claims, and view recent announcements.”
Dublin VA is still a huge campus, but it’s a lot less daunting when a smart device helps veterans navigate to appointments and other critical areas.
Modernization continues to be a top priority for VA and the addition of PEMA to medical center campuses is a step in the right direction.
To read more Dublin VA stories, visit VA News and Information.