In our ongoing commitment to improving patient care and accessibility, we are making changes to lab scheduling within our health care system.

Remember the days when you would get a blood draw appointment and a separate appointment for a primary care visit? That won’t happen anymore.  

No appointment is necessary for lab work; walk-ins are welcome. If you have a primary care appointment at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, come at least an hour early to have your blood drawn at the Blood Draw Clinic located in basement, then make your way to your appointment with time to spare.   

By the time you get to your appointment, you may see your lab results on your My HealtheVet app and your provider will be able to go over what those lab results mean at your appointment.  

If you’re running late and can’t complete your lab work at least 30 minutes before your appointment, no worries. Go to your appointment on time, and you’ll be able to get your lab work done after your appointment. As previously mentioned, the results will be sent to you via My HealtheVet and you’ll get a letter in the mail. If you have questions about your lab results, just message your patient-aligned care team directly by logging into My HealtheVet on VA.gov.  

If you receive care at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic, you will have your lab draw completed after your primary care visit unless you have coordinated a scheduled lab with your care team. 

Have questions for your care team? Contact them directly through My HealtheVet. If you’re not sure how to send a direct message via My HealtheVet call  and someone will walk you through it. You can also leave a message for your provider by calling the main line at  and press option two.  

If you are not familiar with My HealtheVet at all, and want face-to-face help, the next time you are at the medical center visit the Virtual Health Resource Center in the Flag Atrium. A Volunteer will help you setup the app on your phone so you can have access to your medical records, test results, and have the ability to contact your care teams directly. 

We are honored that you continue to choose VA for your health care needs.Â