How do I update my Vet Center facility operating status?
In the guide
↓ For Vet Centers and outstations
About Operating Statuses
There are several operating statuses that can be used to alert Veterans to a change in the hours, services, or visiting processes at your Vet Center. These statuses are applied at each individual location level.
When the Operating status dropdown is set to Limited services and hours or Facility closed, an alert is displayed in the Facility Locator search results and on the Vet Center Main and Location pages. Text entered in the Operating status - more info field is available when the alert is expanded on the Vet Center pages.
To help Veterans understand that Vet Center staff are not always available at Community Access Points, we also leverage the Operating status - more info text field to provide additional details about accessing services at these locations.
For Community Access Points (CAPs)
Who is responsible?
As Vet Center pages go live, a designated Vet Center team member, commonly the outreach specialist, will be responsible for maintaining the operating status for Community Access Points.
What status should be used?
Approved statuses are provided in the “Community Access Point Operating Status” table. The table includes a variety of situations for a location and which status and more info text would apply for that situation.
| Situation | Choose "Operating status" | "Operating status -more info" text |
|---|---|---|
| Regular cadence of services | Limited services and hours | Services are available at this location by appointment only [List hours, days; example: from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays]. Please call our main Vet Center at [insert phone number] to schedule. |
| Particular service is offered on a regular cadence. | Limited services and hours | [Insert name of particular service details, such as PTSD group counseling] is available at this location on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Please call our main Vet Center at [insert phone number] before joining us for the first time. |
| Location exists to maintain services for a particular group, which is not accepting new participants. There may be a rationale in making this location known so local Veterans can drive demand for additional staff or services, as needed. | Limited services and hours | This location supports a group that is not accepting new participants. Please call the main Vet Center at [insert phone number] to learn more about additional Vet Center groups and locations. |
| Location serves a defined population and may not be open to Veterans in the community. (examples: University campus serving students only, prison for incarcerated Veterans, or military base for active duty personnel only) | Limited services and hours | Vet Center services at this location are available only for [insert name of population]. Please call the main Vet Center at [insert phone number] to learn about additional Vet Center locations. |
| Location is temporarily closed due to COVID | Closed | Following COVID-19 guidance, this location is temporarily closed. If you need to speak to someone, please contact our main Vet Center at [insert phone number] or anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Location is temporarily closed due to weather | Closed | This location is temporarily closed, due to weather-related issues. If you need to speak to someone, please contact our main Vet Center at [insert phone number] or anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Location is temporarily closed for unspecified reasons | Closed | This location is temporarily closed. If you need to speak to someone, please contact our main Vet Center at [insert phone number] or anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
How to edit
Before creating or updating the operating status of your Community Access Point, view the table to find the status and more info text which is recommended for your situation.
- After logging in, you'll be on your Vet Center dashboard with cards displaying different viewing or editing options.
- Scroll down to Satellite locations.
- Click Edit to the right of the location you wish to change.
- Scroll down to the Operating status content block.
- Click to select an Operating status
- Enter details under Operating status - more info.
- Scroll down to Editorial Workflow.
- Click to select a Save as state. If you are just editing the operating status, select the same state as the previous revision (if it was Draft, select Draft; if it was Published, select Published).
- Enter a Revision log message. For more information on each state read the Editorial Workflow article.
- Click Save.
- You will be taken back to the main page for the CAP, look for the green alert that verifies a content release has been triggered.
For Vet Centers and outstations
Who is responsible?
The RCS Communications Office will continue to maintain operating statuses for the main Vet Centers and Outstations, following current protocols with RCS Operations.
What status should be used?
Use approved status selection and details provided in the following tables. You'll find RCS Operations status, CMS operating status, and text details for various situations where you might need to indicate the access and service availability for main Vet Centers and outstations for Veterans.
Normal services and hours
This status should be used when services are available as usual. When the operating status is set to Normal services and hours, no alert is shown on the Vet Center page or in the Facility Locator.
| RCS Operations status | Operating status | "Operating status -more info" text |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Normal services and hours | N/A – this field will not be used when status is normal. |
Limited services and hours
These statuses should be used when services are available virtually, or special visiting processes are in place. Examples below include Facility Status and Facility Status Details for Vet Centers using the Limited services and hours status.
| RCS Operations status | Operating status | "Operating status -more info" text |
|---|---|---|
| Bravo | Limited services and hours | We're currently open for limited in-person service, and screening all visitors for symptoms, due to COVID-19. For individual and group counseling, we recommend using our telehealth services. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Charlie - COVID | Limited services and hours | We're conducting all regularly scheduled appointments virtually at this time due to COVID-19. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime day or night at 877-927-8387. |
| Charlie- Weather | Limited services and hours | We're conducting all regularly scheduled appointments virtually at this time due to inclement weather. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Charlie-Unspecified | Limited services and hours | We're conducting all regularly scheduled appointments virtually at this time. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime day or night at 877-927-8387. |
Closed
This status should be used only when no Vet Center services are available. If some services or only virtual services are available, please use Limited services and hours.
| RCS Operations status | Operating status | "Operating status -more info" text |
|---|---|---|
| Delta- COVID | Closed | We've closed our Vet Center at this time, following COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and our local health department. We're conducting all appointments virtually. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to talk with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Delta- Weather | Closed | We've closed our Vet Center at this time, due to weather-related issues. We're conducting all appointments virtually. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Delta- Wildfire | Closed | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff due to local wildfires. We're conducting all appointments virtually. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
| Delta-Unspecified | Closed | We've closed our Vet Center at this time for the safety of you and our staff. We're conducting all appointments virtually. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at 877-927-8387. |
How to edit
Before creating or updating the operating status of your Vet Center or outstation, view the tables to find the status and text recommended for your situation.
- After logging in, you'll be on your Vet Center dashboard with cards displaying different viewing or editing options.
- Find the Operating status card and click Update operating status.
- Click to select an Operating status from the dropdown. This is generally for temporary facility status updates, such as weather or other emergencies.
- Enter details under Operating status - more info.
- Scroll down to Editorial Workflow.
- Click to select a Save as state. If you are just editing the operating status, select the same state as the previous revision (if it was Draft, select Draft; if it was Published, select Published).
- Enter a Revision log message. For more information on each state read the Editorial Workflow article.
- Click Save.
- You will be taken back to the main page Vet Center page, look for the green alert that verifies a content release has been triggered and the operating status has been sent to the Facility Locator.