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Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC)

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Blue Button Resources:

Resource Sheets

The following resource sheets present helpful information to support you as you read your notes. Select the links to download and/or print the PDF documents.

Common Abbreviations and Acronyms
A list of some common abbreviations and acronyms used in mental health clinical notes.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about VA Blue Button.

Research Fact Sheet
A summary of current research on VA Blue Button.

Mental Health Note Examples
Three examples of clinical notes written by mental health clinicians.

R.E.A.D. Strategy
Information about the R.E.A.D. Strategy to help you get the most out of your mental health notes.

P.L.A.N. Strategy
Information about the P.L.A.N. Strategy to help you have a productive conversation with your clinician. Also includes
a Communication Guide to prepare for your conversation.

Quick Links

Select the links below for more information about reading your notes through VA Blue Button on My HealtheVet.

My HealtheVet is VA's online portal which provides patients with access to their personal health information and other tools such as prescription refills, VA appointments, and Secure Messaging. 

The My HealtheVet website offers tips for Protecting Your Personal Health Information. As a My HealtheVet user, you play an important role in keeping your information safe.

The Veterans Health Library is an online library of health topics geared toward Veterans. It can help you learn more about your health, medical tests, and treatments and medications.

Medline Plus is an online resource from the National Library of Medicine that offers information on health conditions, wellness issues, and treatments. 

The Blue Button User Guide provides step-by-step instructions for using VA Blue Button on My HealtheVet.

The Blue Button Fact Sheet provides details about the types of health information that are available through VA Blue Button.

The Release of Information Office assists with requests for medical records, requests to amend medical records, and completion of forms for benefits, insurance, and other reasons. On this page you can find information related to medical records as well as privacy rights regarding your health information. 

My HealtheVet provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions about features available in My HealtheVet. If you have other questions, consider looking up your question here. 

The My HealtheVet Help Desk provides technical support for Veterans as they use My HealtheVet, including VA Blue Button. You can call 1-877-327-0022 or 1-800-877-8339 (TTY).  You can also get quick answers to common questions

The Downloading Notes Through VA Blue Button Video shows you how to navigate VA Blue Button to download your clinical notes.

Additional Resources for Veterans

The Defense Centers of Excellence's Outreach Center offers service members and their families free health resource consultants.  The consultants answer questions and provide referrals to resources for help with psychological health and traumatic brain injury. 

VA's Mental Health Home Page provides Veterans with information on a range of mental health conditions, as well as convenient links to VA programs and services.  It also has a locator to help you find a VA facility near you.

The goal of VA's National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) is to keep Veterans well and well informed.  Their website provides news and information on health and wellness, including a variety of healthy living messages and tips.