From the comfort of home: A Veteran’s path to recovery through telehealth

When Air Force Veteran Gerry Pennington began recovering from prostate removal surgery earlier this year, he found it difficult to leave home for appointments.

The 68-year-old Veteran experienced urinary incontinence after surgery and said the thought of traveling to a crowded VA medical center while managing his symptoms seemed too stressful. VA’s TelePhysical Therapy services, which are available in certain locations, gave him a better solution: taking physical therapy appointments from the comfort of his own home.

“It allowed me to maintain my dignity,” Pennington said.

Transition to virtual appointments

Before surgery, Pennington had already been working in person with VA physical therapist Jaimie Frazier on pelvic floor exercises. After Pennington’s surgery in January 2026, he transitioned to video visits, using VA Video Connect, VA’s secure videoconferencing app, to check in with Frazier every two weeks.

During those appointments, the two talked through Pennington’s progress, discussed symptoms and adjusted exercises as needed.

A more comfortable way to continue care

For Pennington, virtual care was especially helpful during the early part of his recovery, when getting around was more difficult and he felt uneasy about being away from home for long periods of time.

“The videoconferences allowed me to not have to do that, to not have to go into public places,” he said.

Pennington said telehealth makes it possible to stay connected to care without the added stress of traveling to appointments while managing sensitive symptoms. That comfort matters, especially at a time when everyday outings could feel overwhelming.

Frazier said telehealth can be an effective option for Veterans receiving pelvic health care because appointments often focus on education, symptom review and home exercise guidance.

“Having that barrier of the screen is really helpful for a lot of people,” Frazier said, noting that it can make it easier for Veterans to discuss sensitive concerns.

Talk to your VA care team to see if TelePhysical Therapy is right for and available to you. Find more information about telehealth services available to Veterans.