VA and Walmart held a ribbon-cutting event in Asheboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to mark the opening of the first Walmart ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations) pilot location.
The event generated significant online news coverage:
- Becker's Hospital Review – VA, Walmart launch telehealth pilot program to deliver medical services in rural areas
- DOTmed Healthcare Business News – VA, Walmart open telehealth locations to serve Veterans in rural areas
- Health Data Management – VA, Walmart launch latest telehealth location to serve Veterans
- Healthcare IT News (also picked up by U.S. Veterans Magazine) – VA, Walmart open latest telehealth pilot site
- Military.com – Walmart partners with VA on telehealth project
- Defense Media Network – VA and Walmart partner to deliver health care to Veterans
The public-private partnership seeks to provide convenient VA telehealth care in Veterans' local communities, especially for those who may have limited or no Internet service at home. As part of the pilot initiative, Walmart has donated equipment and provided a private Health Services Room within five Walmart locations for Veterans to securely meet with their VA care teams via VA Video Connect.
"This type of collaboration is the way of the future," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. "Veterans need the expansion of choice, and this partnership is vital to affording them convenient access to VA health care services where they live."
ATLAS is part of VA's Anywhere to Anywhere initiative and aims to provide access to VA health care for underserved Veterans by providing convenient locations for them to connect to VA providers through video telehealth.
