The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Ask a Pharmacist mobile application (app) allows Veterans to access information about VA pharmacies and medications easily – with the comfort of knowing the information is valid and from trusted sources. If Veterans also have a verified My HealtheVet account (credentials for VA’s personal health record), they can link to VA pharmacy and Secure Messaging services via the app, allowing them to quickly go to their personal medication and health information as well as learn about VA pharmacy-related topics. The app helps to provide more understanding on how VA pharmacies operate, where your nearby VA pharmacies are located, information about medications, and how to better identify pills simply by sight.

Anyone can access the informational resources about medications in the Ask a Pharmacist App. However, to use some of the features the Ask a Pharmacist App helps you learn about, you must be a Veteran receiving VA care and have an Advanced or Premium My HealtheVet account. My HealtheVet offers three account types.

1. Basic Account: Anyone can register for this account type. It allows you to self-enter your personal health information, which can be viewed or downloaded using the VA Blue Button. You may use the journals and other tools to track your health measures. However, you cannot view your personal information located in VA or Department of Defense (DoD) systems.
2. Advanced Account: This account is only for Veterans/VA Patients. It is a higher level of access that may provide you the ability to view and refill your VA medications online. This account does not require that you have your identity Authenticated*. Having an Advanced account paves the way for you to get a Premium account.
3. Premium Account: This is the highest level of access to My HealtheVet features for Veterans/VA Patients. To get this type of account you need to complete Authentication*.

*Authentication means you are verifying your identity. A Premium Account allows you to:

• View part of your official VA health record
• Participate in Secure Messaging with your VA health care team and other VA staff
• View your DoD Military Service Information (if available in DoD’s electronic records)

You will have to log into My HealtheVet with your My HealtheVet User ID and Password to use the many features within the site. The Ask a Pharmacist App allows you to easily link to features within My HealtheVet, but does not duplicate them or allow them to operate within the app itself.

To take full advantage of VA’s health care tools and ensure your app seamlessly connects to My HealtheVet, be sure your My HealtheVet account type has the level of access you need to use the features in My HealtheVet – which is a Premium account. Here is an overview of the process to create and upgrade a My HealtheVet account:

1. Create a Basic My HealtheVet account by completing the registration page. When you register as a VA Patient, your profile information is linked to VA/DoD records. When this happens, you are given an Advanced Account (an Advanced Account is required to refill prescriptions).
2. Once successfully registered with an Advanced Account, you can choose to upgrade to a Premium account to get access to all the features in My HealtheVet (e.g., a Premium My HealtheVet account is required to use Secure Messaging). You can upgrade your account either through:
   1. In-Person Authentication* (IPA) at your local VA Medical Center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
   2. Online Authentication* through www.ebenefits.va.gov. This is for users who have a connected eBenefits DS Logon Premium account & My HealtheVet VA Patient account.

*Authentication means you are verifying your identity. To learn more about the three My HealtheVet account types, read the complete steps for upgrading your account and access the VA Release of Information (ROI) form (10-5345a-MHV). Then when you select the link within the Ask a Pharmacist App that takes you to these special features in My HealtheVet, you will be asked to log in with your User ID and Password. If you have already logged into My HealtheVet in the same session you are using the Ask a Pharmacist App, you will not have to log into My HealtheVet again, unless you have been inactive in My HealtheVet for 20** minutes. (**As of January 2016, the timeout for inactivity is 20 minutes, and this is subject to change.)

The app offers easy access to tools and information to better inform you about VA pharmacies and medications, which are divided into categories on the Home screen:

• Prescription Refill and Pharmacy Services
• Pill and Bottle Information
• VA Trusted Medication Resources
• About VA Pharmacies
• Send a Secure Message

To access them, go to the Home screen, and tap the tab of the information you would like to view or the tool you would like to access.

This feature allows you to learn about prescription refill and pharmacy services, including the ability to refill and track your VA prescriptions. You can access prescription refill and pharmacy services either on the Home screen or from the Features drop-down menu, and then tap Prescription Refill and Pharmacy Services. You will go to a Prescription Refill and Pharmacy Services screen. Tap on the names of the kinds of services you would like to access:

• Prescription History
• Rx Refill
• Rx Refill Guide
• Track My Medications
• FAQs-My HealtheVet
• Medical Library
• Medication Articles on My HealtheVet
• Send a Secure Messsage

Most selections will direct you to an external website, which will usually be My HealtheVet.

The Pill and Bottle Information feature teaches you how to read a prescription label and identify pills by sight. Information includes diagrams to help you interpret pill bottle information as well as tips for medication safety. You can access this information either on the Home screen or from the Features drop-down menu by tapping Pill and Bottle Information. You will go to a Pill and Bottle Information screen where you can tap the name of the type of information you would like to view:

• Pill Bottle Information
• Pill Identification

Depending on your selection, you may go to an external website.

The VA Trusted Medications feature allows you to access reliable, VA-approved resources about various types of drugs as well as information on administering and disposing of medications that you may be taking. You can access this information either on the Home screen or from the Features drop-down menu, and then tap VA Trusted Medication Resources. You will go to a VA Trusted Medication Resources screen. Tap the name of a resource you would like to learn more about:

• Consumer Drug, Herbal & Supplement Information
• Drug Interactions and Adverse Drug Events
• FAQ-VA National Medication Formulary
• How to Properly Administer a Medication
• Know Your Medication Label
• Medication Disposal
• Pill Identification

Depending on your selection, you may go to an external website.

The About VA Pharmacies feature allows you to easily locate your VA pharmacy and learn how VA pharmacies operate. You can access this information either on the Home screen or from the Features drop-down menu, and then tap About VA Pharmacies. You will go to an About VA Pharmacies screen where you will be able to tap on a few topics of information:

• Find My Facility
• How VA Pharmacies Operate
• How VA Pharmacists Help Veterans

Depending on your selection, you may go to an external website.

Secure Messaging is a feature available within My HealtheVet that allows you to send a secure, protected question or note to your VA care team. The Ask a Pharmacist App links to information about this feature within My HealtheVet. You can access this information either on the Home screen or from the Features drop-down menu, and then tap Send a Secure Message. You will go to a page on the My HealtheVet website where you can learn more. In order to send a Secure Message, you will have to have a My HealtheVet Premium account, and then log into My HealtheVet with your credentials to use the feature within the site.

VA Mobile Health is an initiative that aims to improve Veterans’ health by providing technologies to expand care beyond the traditional office visit. As part of VA Mobile Health, VA is releasing a series of secure apps that take advantage of the popularity of wireless technologies to support Veterans, Caregivers and VA care teams.

User Manual, Slideshow and Quick Start Guide for the Ask a Pharmacist App are available at mobile.va.gov/training. If you need help with the Ask a Pharmacist App, dial 1-877-470-5947 to speak with a VA representative. The Help Desk is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. For TTY assistance, dial 711.

Additional information about other available VA Apps can be found on mobile.va.gov/appstore as well as mobile.va.gov in the VA Mobile Apps General FAQs.