Cost: Free

Wheelchair availability:  Wheelchairs are available upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building.

Patient parking: Available in the parking lot outside building 78, between building 2 and 10, and across the street from buildings 1 and 2. This includes two-hour limited parking reserved for patients along Springs Road, Avenue D, parking area #2, and building 4. View our parking map.

Parking lot shuttle: The parking lot shuttle service at the main hospital  is available for patients and their escorts weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with service to and from the entrances of Buildings 2 and 78  only. Veterans needing assistance should contact 781-760-2077.

Van services for Veterans

DAV vans

Hours: Individual van schedules vary

We work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to get to scheduled medical appointments.

Non-DAV van services

Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans.

Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in your county

Shuttle services

VA Bedford offers a shuttle service between Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford and the VA outpatient clinics in Jamaica Plain, Lynn, Haverhill, Gloucester, and Lowell. Shuttle services are provided weekdays, by appointment only, excluding federal holidays. Seating is limited; Veterans must make a reservation by calling the Travel Department at 781-687-2000, extension 2505. 

Shuttle Schedule

Bedford/Jamaica Plain VA Hospital (VA Boston Healthcare System)

Leaves Bedford 8:00 a.m.                  Arrives Jamaica Plain 9:15 a.m.
Leaves Jamaica Plain 10:30 a.m.   Arrives Bedford 11:15 a.m.
Leaves Bedford 12:15 p.m.               Arrives Jamaica Plain 1:15 p.m.
Leaves Jamaica Plain 2:00 p.m.     Arrives Bedford 3:15 p.m.

Bedford / Lowell VA Clinic (VA Boston Healthcare System)

Leaves Crescent House 7:30 a.m.   Arrives Bedford 8:00 a.m.
Leaves Bedford 8:30 a.m.                  Arrives Lowell 9:00 a.m.
Leaves Lowell 9:30 a.m.                     Arrives Bedford 10:00 a.m.
Leaves Bedford 12:15 p.m.               Arrives Lowell 12:45 p.m.
Leaves Lowell 1:00 p.m.                    Arrives Bedford 1;30 p.m.
Leaves Bedford 1:30 p.m.                 Arrives Crescent House 2:00 p.m.

Beneficiary travel

Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center, mileage reimbursement, or special mode transport. 

Find out if you qualify for beneficiary travel benefits

Visitors of inpatients are encouraged to visit the hospital during established visiting hours. These visiting hours are posted throughout the hospital. Visiting hours may be changed for public health and/or other reasons at the discretion of the hospital administration.

Visiting Hours - General

Hospital 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday to Saturday

Community Living Center 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday to Saturday

GRECC 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday to Saturday

Domiciliary 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday to Saturday

Crescent House 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday

VA Police operate a full-time Communications Center at VA Bedford, located in building 78 in the main "crossroads" area. For general police assistance inside the facility, please dial extension 2404 from any hospital phone. In case of an emergency, dial extension 2555. The Bedford campus has installed police emergency call boxes in multiple locations that dial directly into VA Police.  

A nondenominational chapel is located in building  81 on the first floor of the hospital. Protestant worship services and Catholic Mass are held on a regular basis. Please contact the Chaplain Service at 781-687-2000, ext. 2384 for additional information or to speak with one of our chaplains.

Learn more about our Chaplain services

Essential toiletries, men's and ladies furnishings, candy, snacks, gum, bottled beverages, and more are available in the PatriotStore, while our PatriotCafe offers salads, snacks, grill sandwiches, pizza, and bottled beverages until 2 p.m. Both are located in building 78 past the Pharmacy, near the barber shop.

Veteran Canteen Services also operates a Starbucks in building 4. 

If your U.S. flag is tattered, worn, or torn, bring it to VA Bedford Healthcare System for proper disposal in our new flag retirement drop box, available to all members of the community. The flag retirement drop box is available in The Crossroads in front of the VA Police Station in building 78. Collected flags will be taken to the American Legion for proper disposal in accordance with U.S. Code.