Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas
Women Veterans
Women who have served in the Armed Forces are eligible for a variety of veterans benefits. VA actively encourages women to utilize the benefits due them.
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center recognizes the importance of the contributions made by women Veterans in the service to their country and the price many have paid to preserve our freedoms.
Services Include:
- Women’s Health Center
- Menopause management and hormone replacement therapy
- Gender specific care and education
- Cancer screening
- Gynecology services
- Breast exams and mammography
- Reproductive health care
- Pap Smears
- Contraceptive services
- Osteoporosis evaluation and treatment
- Prosthetic services
- Infertility evaluation and limited treatment
- Maternity care benefits
- Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma and assault occurred during military service
- PTSD and Substance abuse treatment and counseling
- Readjustment counseling
- Women's Inpatient Specialty Environment of Recovery (WISER)
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From left to right: Marlene Cano, BSN, RN-BC, Acting Women Veterans |
For Women Veterans, VA is Here
Women Veteran Program Managers are available at each VA Medical Center nationwide to assist women Veterans and coordinate services. Women Veterans who are interested in receiving care at VA should contact the nearest VA Medical Center.
Women Veterans are assigned to a designated Women’s Health Primary Care Provider who can provide general primary care and is specially trained or experienced in women’s care.
Whole Health - It's All About You
VA’s Whole Health System offers women Veterans proactive and personalized health care—empowering you to achieve your greatest level of health and well-being. Whole Health means the Whole You. From integrative health approaches like stress reduction, nutrition, and health coaching, to traditional clinical care and complementary health approaches—your journey to Whole Health starts here.
Well-Being Programs
Proactive, integrative health approaches such as:
- Health coaching
- Mind-body therapies and stress reduction
- Mindfulness
- Nutrition and weight management
- Peer support and community resources
- Programs to stop spoking
- Physical therapy and chiropractic services
General Health
You will be at the center of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). A provider, nurse, and others will engage with you to manage your health care.
- Primary care: includes general medical care for acute and chronic conditions, such as chronic pain, high blood pressure, and diabetes
- Preventive care: includes immunizations and cancer screenings, such as mammogram, Pap, and colonoscopy
- Gender-specific care
- Birth control
- Family planning and preconception counseling
- Maternity and newborn care (first 7 days after birth)
- Osteoporosis screening and management
Gynecology Health Services
Evaluation and treatment for:
- Abnormal Pap test
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Infertility
- Pelvic pain
- Gynecologic cancers
Mental Health
Evaluation, counseling, and treatment for:
- Depression, mood, and anxiety disorders
- Alcohol and drug use and addiction
- Coping with illness
- Intimate partner violence/sexual and domestic abuse
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Parenting and caregiver concerns
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Stress adjustment from deployment
Specialty Care
- Management of chronic or complex conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and fibromyalgia, as well as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
- Surgery programs available at most Medical Centers
- Rehabilitation, homebound, and long-term care VA referrals are given to those in need of rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy
VA referrals are given to those in need of rehabilitation therapies, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, exercise therapy, recreational therapy, and vocational therapy.
