Join our Team
VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) and VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) were commissioned by Congress and the VA as one of the first three Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECCs) in the United States. NW MIRECC substantially enhances the capacity and potential VA to generate and disseminate new knowledge about mental illness, unseen wounds of war, and treatments. NW MIRECC serves VA as a research, education, and clinical facility that is continually looking for talented individuals committed to improving the lives of our nation's Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs comprises 5 Veterans Integrated Service Networks or VISNs — regional care systems working together to better meet local healthcare needs and provide greater access to care. VA is one of the largest employers of health care providers in the nation — but our jobs aren’t just limited to medical professionals. Explore the types of careers at VA; Physicians, Nursing, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Social Work, Technology, Leadership, Executive, Administration, Audiologists, Dietitians, Health technicians, Imaging technicians, Medical support, Occupational therapists, Orthotist-Prosthetists, Physical therapists, Paramedics, Respiratory therapists, Claims processors, Cemetery caretakers and many more! Please check the USAJobs website for information about our current job openings. There are Veterans Canteen Service Field Management and Hourly job openings at VA Medical Centers across the country. Visit https://vacareers.va.gov/careers/ to learn more about our mission.
About Seattle, Washington and VAPSHCS
Seattle is situated off the shores of Lake Washington and Puget Sound. The earliest inhabitants of the Puget Sound region include the Suquamish, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, and Snoqualmie. Washington is home to twenty-nine federally recognized Native American tribes. In the distance are the mountain ranges of the Cascades and Olympics. There are five active volcanoes near Seattle along the Cascades Range. Of the five, Mount Rainier stands the tallest at 14,410 feet above sea level. Seattle, founded in 1853, was named for Chief Seattle of the Suquamish and Duwamish Tribes. Seattle operates as a major port of entry and gateway to Alaska and Asia for both air and sea. The deep waters of the Pacific reach into the Seattle-metro with Tacoma to the south, Bellevue to the east, and Everett to the north. Founded as a mill town, the city was built on hills. Seattle mill owners slid logs down the hills to the waterfront ports, coining the term, skid row. With six professional teams, Seattle is a destination for every major sport. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course, on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Lakewood, is an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. American Lake Veterans Golf Course is open to all Veterans, families, guests, U.S. Armed Forces Active-Duty, National Guard, Reservists, and VA employees. The American Lake campus of VAPSHCS has operated for over 100 years. The first patients of American Lake VA Medical Center arrived in 1924 transferred from Fort Steilacoom Western State Hospital. Construction of the Seattle VA Medical Center started in the 1940s, utilizing a 44-acre nine-hole golf course donated by Seattle at Jefferson Park, which had been the U.S. Army's largest recreation center during World War II. The geographic proximity of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Madigan Army Medical Center to the Seattle Washington VAPSHCS campus has provided an exciting opportunity to develop innovative and productive research, education, and clinical care collaborations with Department of Defense (DoD) personnel. In 2025, VAPSHCS announced the official opening of its new VA Puget Sound Clinic in Oak Harbor, developed in collaboration with Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor. This partnership, a first-of-its-kind for the VA and DoD in Washington State, marks a significant milestone in enhancing health care access for Veterans in one of western Washington’s most geographically challenging island communities.
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) steams through the Puget Sound following a three month underway towards its new homeport, Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, Aug. 13, 2024. After nine years as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed flagship aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan shifted into the 3rd Fleet area of operations to undergo a routine maintenance period in Bremerton. Ronald Reagan provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Heather C. Wamsley)
About Portland, Oregon and VAPORHCS
In 1805, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagewea finally reached the Pacific Northwest territories through the Columbia River gorge. The Chinook people were the earliest inhabitants of the Portland Basin, including the Clackamas, Multnomah, Tualatin, and Cathlamet. Oregon is home to nine federally recognized Native American tribes. Portland is located on the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and was three separate towns until the first bridges were built in 1887 and 1888. Founded in 1854, Portland is Oregon’s largest city. The Veterans hospital in Portland opened its doors in 1921 and was transferred to the U.S. Veterans Bureau in 1922. President Warren G. Harding established benefits for veterans through Executive Order 3669 in 1922. In January 1926, Sam Jackson deeded 25 acres on Marquam Hill in Portland to the United States Veterans Bureau for a Veteran hospital; the value of the property at that time was about $2,750 per acre. Initial site preparation was started on Feb. 3, 1927, with construction commencing one year later. The first 13 buildings were activated in December 1928 and formally dedicated later in 1929. In 1932, Portland VA Medical Center (PVAMC) Building #16 was built - this is the only remaining original building. PVAMC is situated atop a 450-foot-tall basalt-rock hill south of downtown. During World War II, the 142nd wing of the U.S. Air Force was stood up in Portland. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman authorized the transfer of the U.S. Army Barnes General Hospital (Vancouver VA Medical Center) in 1946 to VA. Portland was a hub of innovation and efficiency producing Liberty ships for World War II. Revamped construction of PVAMC was completed and dedicated in 1987. VAPORHCS serves 26 counties, spanning Oregon and Southwest Washington at PVAMC, Vancouver VA Medical Center, and outpatient clinics located in Astoria, Bend, Fairview, Hillsboro, Newport, The Dalles, and West Linn. The Fisher House serving VAPHCS is located on the campus of the Vancouver VA Medical Center in Washington.
A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay responds to a report of multiple surfers in distress who were being pushed up against rocks near Agate Beachgate Beach, Oregon, Feb. 12, 2023. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Facility Newport transported all three people to shore, where members from Newport Fire Department were waiting to provide assistance. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
VA Regional Offices
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with Veterans with education, home loans, life insurance and much more. Service members, Veterans, their families, and Survivors are invited to request information on VA Benefits including disability compensation, pension, fiduciary, education, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Home Loans, and Insurance. In addition to information on VA Benefits Veterans may initiate an intent to file and request assistance with filing compensation and pension claims. Visit regional office websites to learn about the services the regional office provides, directions to the facility, hours of operation, and the leadership team that serves the regional office.
Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran
The following resources provide detailed information about VA health care: www.va.gov/health-care/ and toll-free at 877-222-VETS (877-222-8387), Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET., or 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), option 2.
Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval, space or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members, may qualify for VA health care benefits.
Minimum Duty Requirements: Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24-continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or those accessing care under certain special treatment authorities, such as treatment related to military sexual trauma (MST).
Returning Service members: Veterans who served in a theater of operations after November 11, 2001, are eligible for an extended period of eligibility for health care for ten years after their discharge. In the case of multiple call-ups, the ten-year enrollment period begins on the most recent discharge date. This special eligibility includes cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in priority group 6 or higher for ten years from their date of discharge or release from active duty, unless they are eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.
The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:
- Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more.
- Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.
- Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only, or under a special treatment authority.
- Veterans seeking registry examinations (ionizing radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) depleted uranium, airborne hazards, and Open Burn Pit Registry). Use the chart below to help determine your eligibility.
Find out how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member. For other mental health services, contact a VA medical center for information on eligibility and treatment options.
The seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs authenticates the 2025 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents Survivors and Caregivers as the official summary of benefits that have been separately promulgated under Federal regulations established under Register Act. Under the provisions of 38 Code of Federal Regulations 1.9(f), it is prohibited to use the official seal, replicas, reproductions, or embossed seals of the Department of Veterans Affairs on any republication of this material without the express, written permission of the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Any person using official seals and logos of the Department of Veterans Affairs in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of 38 Code of Federal Regulations 1.9 may be subject to the penalties specified in 18 United States Code 506, 701, or 1017 as applicable.
Community Care (Mission Act)
The MISSION Act became law in 2018, bringing the VA’s previous Veterans Choice Program to an end and establishing the Community Care Program. VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA. Community care is also available to Veterans based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements, and in consideration of a Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances. VA offers urgent care services to eligible Veterans at in-network urgent care clinics to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections. Community care must be first authorized by VA before a Veteran can receive care from a community provider. Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran presenting to a community emergency room to VA within 72 hours of the start of emergent care. Out-of-network providers are encouraged to notify VA as soon as possible. PHONE: 844-724-7842 (844-72HRVHA) IMPORTANT: Failure to notify VA of care rendered through an in-network community facility in a timely manner prevents VA from authorizing the emergency care, and prevents claims and payments from being made through one of VA’s third-party administrators.
VA Vet Centers
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. 1-877-927-8387 is an around the clock confidential call center where combat Veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Veterans. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.
Plan your trip to VA
In 1946, Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was established by law to provide comfort and well-being to America’s Veterans. With our many retail stores, cafés and coffee shops across the country, we serve those who have served our country. VCS is proud to offer Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families and VA employees exclusive shopping benefits online through Patriot Store Direct. Product categories range from Military Caps and apparel, Outdoors, Electronics, Automotive tires (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, and Fuzion), Tickets and Travel, Vision (Glasses and Contact Lenses), Home and Kitchen, Floral, Toys, Gifts, Watches, and more. We are honored to give back to the VA community through many programs established for the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes. Revenues generated from VCS are used to support a variety of programs, such as VA’s Rehabilitation Games, Fisher Houses, Poly-Trauma Centers for OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, disaster relief efforts, Substance Abuse Cessation, VA’s Homelessness initiatives, Women Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention and other activities.
VCS operates over 200 Patriot Stores in Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers nationwide. Many of our stores have been recently updated and expanded to provide our customers with a modern, clean and comfortable shopping experience. Our stores welcome our customers with wider aisles, wood-like floors, enhanced lighting and directional signage. PatriotStores have expanded hours of operation to provide service for customers on weekends at most locations.
The Patriot Cafe is the best place in the VA Medical Center to enjoy delicious, freshly prepared breakfast or lunch served hot or cold each weekday. Providing Veterans, their families, VA employees, volunteers and visitors a place to relax and enjoy a meal or take-out for their convenience. With a wide variety of food from traditional comfort food, specialized menu selections and a large assortment of healthy choices; there is something for everyone's taste buds.
Hospital Service Directory
To find out whether there is a van near you, use the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides coordinated by more than 133 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country. Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a Vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. Learn more about the DAV transportation network through the NewsFlash Resources section.
Since the program’s inception in 1987, DAV departments and chapters have donated 4,183 vehicles and Ford Motor Co. has donated 274 vehicles at a cost of more than $104 million. Ford’s support for DAV spans nearly 100 years. The relationship began when Henry Ford provided Model Ts so DAV members could attend their annual convention. Today, Ford continues to provide funding and vehicle donations to help transport veterans to their medical appointments.
Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care
Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
VA Web Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department and the VA website. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the VA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the VA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server.
Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products or services on the part of the VA.
The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
