Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

Situation Update

As of Thursday, April 8, 2021 4:08 PM CDT

COVID-19 Information

UPDATE April 8:

On March 24, 2021, the President signed into law the SAVE LIVES Act. This act authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide COVID-19 vaccine to all veterans, including those not enrolled in the VA health care system, their caregivers, and spouses, as well as a limited group of children.

Under the law, these groups are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine at Lovell FHCC/VA:

• Veterans, regardless of time served or discharge status
• Spouses of a veteran
• Caregivers of a veteran
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits

Eligible Spouses

For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a spouse to include marriage, same-sex and common-law marriages. This includes a widow or widower of a veteran. If you characterize your relationship as spousal, you can receive the vaccine.

Eligible Caregivers

For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to the veteran. Caregivers may help the veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help the veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation.

For questions regarding eligibility, call 224-610-3747.

The expanded authority depends on readily available COVID-19 vaccine supply. Enrolled veterans and caregivers accompanying them receive priority, as well as veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service.

As an integrated health care center that cares for both VA and DoD patients, Lovell FHCC continues to schedule vaccinations for TRICARE beneficiaries. This includes spouses and children of active duty service members, who must be enrolled Lovell FHCC patients to schedule vaccinations.

Newly eligible veterans, their caregivers and veteran spouses under SLA must register before they may be scheduled for a vaccine appointment. These are the registration options: 

• Go to the VA's online Keep Me Informed (KMI) page www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/ to indicate interest in receiving a vaccine from VA/Lovell FHCC. For detailed instructions on next steps after using the KMI Tool, go to Lovell FHCC's COVID-19 Vaccination page: https://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp
• Call Lovell FHCC Patient Eligibility at 224-610-3747.
• Present in person, during business hours, to FHCC Registration. For weekday registration, new patients should report to the Patient Eligibility office, located on the first floor of Bldg 133CA at our North Chicago hospital. Weekend registration is conducted in the Emergency Department.

Enrolled patients, including those registered under SLA, may continue to call 224-610-3899 to schedule weekday and weekend appointments at Lovell FHCC. The vaccine Scheduling line hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine before your appointment, or after your vaccination, please call our COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 224-610-4636. The hotline is manned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Hotline operators cannot schedule appointments.

NOTE: All COVID-19 vaccine appointments are in Bldg. 133EF, in the Family Practice clinic on the first floor (down from pharmacy). Parking is available in the parking garage. NEW: Beginning April 17, the FHCC will be running a recurring weekend COVID-19 vaccination clinic by appointment only at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep High School, 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan.

Watch Lovell FHCC social media pages (https://www.facebook.com/lovellfhcc, https://twitter.com/lovellfhcc) and our website for updates. You also may refer to the VA's COVID vaccine FAQ site at https://www.va.gov/coronavirus-veteran-frequently-asked-questions/ and the DoD site: https://www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/coronavirus/.

Lovell FHCC is taking safety precautions due to COVID-19

We are continuing to phase in more face-to-face appointments, with safety remaining our top priority. Please talk to your provider to determine what's right for you and your health care. As the pandemic continues, virtual appointments remain the standard for many patients. However, if you are coming to our main campus in North Chicago, these safeguards are in place:

-Screening for COVID-19 symptoms, including temperature checks, is done at check-in tables inside main entrances.

-No walk-ins - except for the ER, outpatient mental health as needed, and COVID-19 Respiratory Clinics. Please schedule appointments. Please work with your provider to make arrangements for lab and radiology services.

-Face coverings are mandatory.

-Social distancing is required, for example in elevators and common areas.

-Patients are asked to check in at tables set up at the main entrance to Bldg. 133EF (Ambulatory Care Clinic). Other entrances remain closed.

-Please don't bring anyone with you, unless necessary for health and safety reasons.

-Expanded prescription mail service will be in place, and curbside delivery is available for new and urgent prescriptions.

Patients who feel they may have been exposed and have symptoms should call their primary care provider's office for guidance before arriving at the FHCC. 

After hours, if you have symptoms or just have questions, VA patients may call the Nurse Advice Line at 224-610-2920. Dept. of Defense patients may call 800-874-2273.

For other concerns, you may be able to access Lovell FHCC care from home by phone or using VA Virtual Care options. 

The VA COVID-19 website is a good reference for answers to many questions: https://www.va.gov/coronavirus

Coronavirus information for Dept. of Defense beneficiaries is at www.TRICARE.mil/coronavirus.

Staff members who feel they may have been exposed to the virus, and/or have symptoms, should contact Employee Occupational Health at 224-610-4215, prior to returning to work (and also contact your supervisor).

Gate hours are as follows:

Green Bay Road: Opens at 5:30 a.m., closes at 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Temporarily closed Monday, April 5- Friday, April 16, between the hours of 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Buckley Road/Lewis: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Buckley Road/Ray Street: Open 5:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Gates marking property lines between FHCC and Rosalind Franklin University (near Bldg. 135, Green Homes and Bldg. 66) will be open 24/7, Monday-Friday, but will be closed at 8 p.m. each Friday and reopened at 5:45 a.m. Monday mornings.  

FHCC will continue to restrict building access. These entrances are open:

Bldg. 133EF - Ambulatory Care Clinic/Valet Parking entrance at four flagpoles, adjacent to parking garage

ER, Bldg. 133 - For emergencies only (ER will remain open 24/7)

Visitor restrictions are slowly being eased. Check with clinical care staff for current restrictions (e.g. in the Community Living Center).

Community Based Outpatient Clinics: 

Our community based outpatient clinics in Kenosha, Evanston and McHenry are open. However, providers and other clinicians have increased virtual patient care, and it is recommended patients use telehealth (phone or video) when possible, for scheduled appointments. For more information, please call the Kenosha CBOC at 262-653-9286 and the Evanston CBOC at 847-869-6315, to talk directly to CBOC staff. McHenry can be reached at 815-759-2306.

Appointments are required, and screening for COVID-19 will take place at the CBOCs. Please allow for extra time. 

For general pharmacy questions, please call 224-610-7600.

Social Distancing: Waiting areas have been reconfigured to allow patients to distance themselves from others while they wait. Additionally, please note socially distanced seating is again available in the canteen/cafeteria. 

At any time, Lovell FHCC's Naval Station Great Lakes branch clinics may be operating with heightened security or impacted by base closures or "late starts" due to weather. Please call ahead if you have any questions.

Please follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lovellfhcc/ and the NSGL Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NavalStationGreatLakes/ for the most up-to-date information about gate closures or latest security measures at Naval Station Great Lakes, as well as for COVID-19 updates.

Inclement weather information:

Patients, if you are running late because of the weather, or need to reschedule, please call Central Scheduling at 1-800-393-0865 (veterans), or call 1-800-941-4501 (TRICARE beneficiaries).If the weather impacts the status of FHCC operations at any time, the information will be posted at: https://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/emergency/index.asp (this page) and at https://www.facebook.com/lovellfhcc/.We urge all who must travel during hazardous weather to take appropriate precautions when driving on area roads, and to allow plenty of extra time for commutes. For up-to-date information on road conditions in Lake County, Ill., go to: https://www.lakecountypassage.com/. For up-to-date information on road conditions in the Kenosha area, go to: https://511wi.gov/.

For Illinois road conditions, go to the Illinois Department of Transportation's website:
https://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/default.htm

Unless otherwise indicated, Lovell FHCC ambulatory clinics, surgery, administration and community-based outpatient clinics are closed during federal holidays.

The Lovell FHCC emergency department, acute medicine, acute psychiatry and critical care unit remain available 24/7. The surgery department also is closed during federal holidays but is available for emergencies. 

For questions during normal business hours, please call 847-688-1900 or a specific Lovell FHCC clinic.  

For a list of future federal holidays, go to:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/