Improving Veteran Access to Care by Streamlining Scheduling | November 2025-Provider Newsletter Blurb

Provider Newsletter Blurb

Pdf Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new program called External Provider Scheduling (EPS) to streamline scheduling of community care appointments for Veterans. EPS is a cloud-based system that allows VA schedulers to book approved appointments directly into external providers’ scheduling systems in real-time, eliminating the need for phone calls and faxes. This simplifies the referral and booking process, helping providers focus more on patient care.

Key benefits of EPS include:

- <strong>Streamlined Coordination:</strong> VA schedulers can directly book appointments with authorized referral numbers, reducing administrative burden and speeding up Veterans' access to care.
- <strong>Improved Collaboration:</strong> EPS strengthens coordination between VA and community providers through faster and more efficient scheduling.
- <strong>System Integration:</strong> EPS integrates with over 150 electronic health records (EHR) and scheduling platforms and collaborates with industry leaders like Zocdoc, Blockit, and Kyruus to ensure seamless connections.
- <strong>Privacy and Security:</strong> EPS does not access any patient files; all patient information remains secure with the provider.
- <strong>Provider Control:</strong> Providers control which appointment slots are shared with VA, maintaining full control over their schedules.
- <strong>No Cost:</strong> The system is free to use with no additional software or licensing fees.

This modernized scheduling approach aims to improve Veteran access to community care while reducing administrative workload for providers. For more information, providers are encouraged to contact EPSProvider@va.gov or visit the VA website.

Keywords

Department of Veterans Affairs

External Provider Scheduling

EPS

community care appointments

VA schedulers

real-time booking

electronic health records integration

provider control

veteran access to care

healthcare scheduling system