About the Program

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.

Philadelphia VA Medical Center offers a variety of health services to address the unique needs of women veterans.  The Women Veterans Health Care Program focuses on wellness education, preventive health treatment, disease management, and the emotional well being of women veterans. Our goal is to offer women patients quality healthcare in a concerned, compassionate, and comprehensive manner throughout their life span.

Women's Health Contact Information:

Women's Health is located on the 1st floor, Building 1, Room B101.
Main phone number: 215-823-4496
Women's Health Program Manager: 215-823-4447
Nurse phone: 215-823-4773

The Women's Clinics

The Philadelphia VA Medical Center Women's Heath Clinic offers a full range of preventive care and treatment services for women of all ages.  Patients are assigned to a physician in the Women's Clinic, who can provide a comprehensive history and physical examination on the initial visit, and then ongoing care, including gender-specific women's exams.

The community-based outpatient clinics located in Ft. Dix, Gloucester County and Horsham also provide primary care services for women veterans. If well women's examinations are not available in the clinics, patients are referred to Philadelphia VAMC for their well women's examinations.

Healthcare for Women Veterans is available for both in-patients and out-patients. If the patient's condition changes and a hospital admission is needed, women may be admitted to medical, surgical, or mental health inpatient services to receive their hospital care.  Additionally, women veterans who need long term care or home health services may access them through their VA physician's referral to Geriatrics & Extended Care Service.

Women's Primary Care Services

Exams & Services:

• History and physical, including pelvic exam & breast exam
• Menopause treatment including hormonal therapy if appropriate
• Family planning and contraceptive care
• Infertility evaluation and referrals
• Maternity care referrals
• Assessment for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke risk
• Tobacco use cessation counseling
• Sexual trauma referrals
• Flu and other vaccines
• Social work referrals
• Medication therapy education
• Referrals for other services as needed

Screening for:

• High blood pressure
• Breast cancer or fibrocystic disease - Mammograms
• Cervical cancer - Pap test
• Colorectal cancer
• Osteoporosis
• High cholesterol
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Diabetes
• Nutrition and dietary needs
• Psychosocial issues that impact your health

Women's Speciality Services at Philadelphia VA Medical Center

The Gynecology Clinic provides special services including major or minor surgical procedures for treatment of women's reproductive disorders, urologic-gynecology (for treatment of urinary incontinence) and oncologic-gynecology (for treatment of cancers of the female reproductive organs).

Breast Care Clinic has been established for evaluation and treatment of breast diseases or abnormalities detected through breast examination or mammography.

Mental Health Services are available for treatment of many conditions, including depression and anxiety.  An individual comprehensive treatment plan is developed with the patient.  Referrals are made as needed for specific issues, including military sexual trauma, eating disorders, substance use and post traumatic stress disorder.

We invite women veterans to take advantage of our special programs for women veterans.  Your active and vocal participation in the health care process is important to our success.  We value the opinions of veterans and want to listen and respond to your health care concerns.

How to Access These Services

All women veterans who have received an honorable discharge (or general discharge under honorable conditions) from the military are eligible to apply for healthcare services. An eligibility specialist will process the request and the patient will be notified if she has met eligibility criteria.  Eligible women patients are assigned to a primary care team. A co-payment may be assessed for treatment of non-service connected conditions.  The fee is determined by the patient's income and entitlement.

If you are NOT already enrolled for VA Medical Benefits at Philadelphia VA Medical Center, contact the Eligibility Unit for assistance.

If you want to know more about the Women Veterans Health Care Program at Philadelphia VA Medical Center, please speak with the Women Veterans Program Manager at 215-823-4447.