Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

Women Veterans Program

Women Veterans

Women who have served in the Armed Forces are eligible for a variety of veterans benefits and healthcare services. VA actively encourages women veterans to utilize the benefits and healthcare services they earned through their service to our country.

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System targets programs and facilities to meet the unique needs of female veterans.

Health Services Offered

Women Veterans may be assigned to primary care providers in gender-neutral clinics throughout the healthcare system at any site where primary care is offered in our Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).  Primary care providers with specialized training in women’s health, known as Women’s Health PCPs, are also available at many of these locations.  Women veterans who are not already assigned to a Women’s Health PCP may request to be transferred to one.

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System's health services for women include:

• Routine Outpatient and Inpatient Medical Care for Acute and Chronic Conditions
• Preventive Screenings and Immunizations
• Gynecology Services
• Complete Breast Care Services
• Maternity Care
• Mental Health Services
• Substance Abuse Services
• Homeless Services

Women Veterans Centers

Two Women Veterans Centers are available at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.  These Women Veteran Clinics provide a full array of services including: Primary Care Outpatient Services for the treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions; Healthy Living Services-including Immunizations, Smoking Cessation Assistance, Weight Management and Stress Management; Cancer Screening and more.  The clinics are located at 1919 Charlotte Avenue Suite 300 in Nashville and in Building 106 at the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro.

Our Women Veterans Program Manager advises and advocates for women Veterans. She can help coordinate all the services you may need, from primary care to specialized care for chronic conditions or reproductive health. VA health care for women Veterans includes:

Primary Care

• General care includes health evaluation and counseling, disease prevention, nutrition counseling, weight control, smoking cessation, and substance abuse counseling and treatment as well as gender-specific primary care, such as cervical cancer screens (Pap smears), breast cancer screens (mammograms), birth control, preconception counseling, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, menopausal support (hormone replacement therapy).
• Mental health includes evaluation and assistance for issues such as depression, mood, and anxiety disorders; intimate partner and domestic violence; sexual trauma; elder abuse or neglect; parenting and anger management; marital, caregiver, or family-related stress; and post-deployment adjustment or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Women-and men as well-may experience repeated sexual harassment or sexual assault during their military service. Special services are available to women who have experienced MST. VA provides free, confidential counseling and treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to MST. More information is available about MST from the national Women Veterans Health Care program and the VHA Office of Mental Health.

Specialty Care

• Management and screening of chronic conditions includes heart disease, diabetes, cancer, glandular disorders, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia as well as sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Reproductive health care includes maternity care, infertility evaluation and limited treatment; sexual problems, tubal ligation, urinary incontinence, and others. VA is prohibited by legislative authority from providing either in-vitro fertilization or abortion services.
• Rehabilitation, homebound, and long-term care. 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. Homebound and long-term care services are available as well, limited to those meeting specific requirements.