Veterans Health Library
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Veterans Health Library (VHL)?
The Veterans Health Library provides Veterans, their families, and the public with an easy-to-access source of consistent, Veteran-centered, up-to-date health information. VA clinical experts have reviewed all the content and have provided additional Veteran-specific content for the Library.
How can I get to the Veterans Health Library?
1. Use the direct link to the Library: www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov.
2. Click on the badge on the My HealtheVet home page: www.myhealth.va.gov.
What are the benefits of using the Veterans Health Library?
The Veterans Health Library provides information on a wide range of health topics, including wellness and prevention, understanding a diagnosis, making treatment decisions, preparing for a test or procedure, rehabilitation and recovery, and self-managing your health. The Veterans Health Library offers thousands of content resources, including:
- Informative health sheets and booklets
- Videos
- Workbooks on how to manage specific diseases
The Veterans Health Library is easy to use and includes Veteran-specific health topics such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat-related traumatic brain injury, and condition-management information.
The Veterans Health Library can be viewed on any number of devices such as your computer or laptop, a Smart phone, or a notbook or tablet.
Easy-to-use resources provide health information and tools to help you:
- Live healthier
- Prepare for health care visits
- Understand medical conditions and treatments
- Partner and talk with your health care team
- Share in health care decisions and be more involved in your health care
Is content available in Spanish?
Yes. Simply select the "En Español" button at the top right-hand side of the home page.
How to find the health information I am looking for?
You can view the entire Veterans Health Library home page at once, or go right to a specific topic using the main menu items at the top of the page.
- Hovering over each tab in the menu will automatically drop down a list of topics or subtopics for you to choose from.
- To search the entire Veterans Health Library for specific information, use the search box. Use your mouse or the up/down arrows on your keyboard to navigate through the suggested search terms.
You can also use the "Health Encyclopedia" A-Z index to help you find the topic you're looking for.
If you didn't find what you were looking for, try placing quotes around the keywords and search again. Adding quotes around your search term will return more specific results.
Where can I get information about tests or treatments I may need?
Select "Tests & Treatments" listed in the top navigation row. On the Tests & Treatments page you can browse by letter or by topic. You can also select from a list of common Tests & Treatments.
Are there videos or multi-media available?
Yes. There are 2 ways to find videos and other multimedia tools.
1. On the homepage, in the first box under the "Featured Article" contains the library's video content.
- To view the featured video, simply hover over the arrow to preview the video.
- Click on the arrow or title to be taken to that video in the library. Here you'll also find additional topic-related videos and content.
- The full video library contains hundreds of videos on a variety of health topics. To view all the video titles, click on the "See All Videos" button located below the video thumbnail at the bottom of the box.
2. You can also find them by selecting "Additional Resources" on the top navigation row to find the "Video Library" and "Your Online Guides".
- The Video Library has over 150 health topics.
- If you have trouble hearing, all videos provide a closed-captioning option.
- Online Guides are electronic, comprehensive guides that provide information on topics: Cardiology, Dental, General Surgery and Orthopedics.
What information is in the sections called Living Well and Living With…?
- Living Well includes easy-to-understand information and advice to help you stay healthy and improve your quality of life. Topics include being involved in your own care, screening tests and immunizations, and more.
- Living With… can help you understand and manage chronic conditions. This section has a variety of trusted information and resources.
- Some of the topics in the Living With section include Go-to-Guides™. These interactive workbooks combine video and animation, audio, text, and graphics to help you manage your health.
What other Veterans Resources are available?
The Veterans Health Library is designed to be a Veteran's comprehensive source for trusted health information. On the right-hand side of the home page is the Veterans Resources column. Here you can find links to other VA information that center on Veteran’s health issues, such as:
- Healthy Living Messages
- VA Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury
- PTSD Information
- VA Smoking Cessation
Where can I find medication information?
Select "Medications" on the top navigation row. This takes you to the Medications page. There you can search for a medication by letter or keyword.
The Medications section has over 33,000 prescription medications listed, in addition to over-the-counter products.
How often is content updated?
Health information will be updated as needed, based on feedback from VA clinical experts, and at least every two years.
Where do I go for help regarding the Veterans Health Library site?
Click on the "Help" link at the bottom of each page to view FAQs and for information on how to contact the Help Desk.
What browsers can I use to view the Veterans Health Library?
You can use the following browsers to view the library: Internet Explorer, FireFox, Chrome, and Safari.
Your computer should also have the current (or prior) version of Java and Flash Player version 10 or newer.
How can I contact the Help Desk?
If you need help with the website, want to alert us to a concern, or share information about a feature, you have an easy way to contact us.
You can contact the Help Desk using this link, or call 1-877-327-0022. The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 am – 8 pm EST.