Behind every safe, welcoming patient care environment is a dedicated team working to keep it that way. At the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), environmental services technicians play a vital role in protecting the health and well-being of Veterans, visitors and staff. Their work ensures that VA medical centers (VAMCs) and clinics remain clean, sanitary and comfortable while supporting the delivery of high-quality care for…
VA TelePulmonology helps Veteran receive lung care from home
VA provides respiratory therapy through telehealth When Air Force Veteran Robert Ordoyne was hospitalized earlier this year with coronary hypertension—a condition that puts added strain on both the heart and lungs—he wasn’t sure what his recovery would look like. Ordoyne, who served from 1983 to 1987, knew he was facing a health challenge that would…
Live Whole Health #312: Pause for your whole health
Many of us are busy each day taking care of others, both at work and at home. We know that we should take some time to also take care of ourselves, but it can be hard to find the time for that. Fortunately, there is a very effective way to take care of our physical…
Healing words and hearts
Enhancing well-being and healing through the power of reading In a quiet hospital room at the Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC), a simple act of kindness unfolds as a volunteer sits beside a Veteran and begins to read aloud. But this is more than a story—it’s a moment of connection. The Giver When Parmida Amiri,…
Innovative care: Tackling insomnia in Veterans with TBI
Dr. Darlene Makulski and team utilize groundbreaking device to improve Veterans’ lives at Houston VA At the Houston VA Medical Center (HVAMC), a team of dedicated health care professionals is making remarkable strides in the treatment of Veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Among them is Dr. Darlene Makulski, director of the Houston VA’s TBI…
Gold Star Spouses and earned VA benefits
Each year on April 5, Gold Star Spouses Day, our nation honors the sacrifice, strength and resilience of the surviving spouses of fallen military service members. At VA, that recognition also means making sure surviving spouses know about the many benefits available to help them rebuild their lives. Surviving spouses may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits based on their late spouse’s service. VA Home Loan Guaranty benefits Home loans for surviving spouses: Many surviving…
Honoring a century: WWII Veteran’s 100th birthday celebration
A special ceremony at Chattanooga VA clinic to recognize the life and service of a WWII Veteran The Tennessee afternoon sun, hazy and golden, began to cast shadows across the polished floors of the Chattanooga VA Clinic lobby in the late morning. A slight sense of hushed anticipation hung in the air, offering a peaceful…
Point-in-Time Count connects homeless Veterans with vital resources
VA volunteers brave the cold: Counting and assisting homeless Veterans The evening temperature was about 40 degrees, not too bad considering the previous weeks when frigid temperatures caused some to boot and bundle up. It was great weather for the more than 200 volunteers who stepped into the dark to find and assist those in need. VA partnered…
VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on tailored health care, paralyzed Veterans and cirrhosis
VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting research findings on health care tailored to meet Women Veterans’ needs, a brain-computer interface to help paralyzed Veterans communicate, and new details on better cirrhosis outcomes. VA’s tailored care helps meet Women Veterans’ needs Researchers from the Palo Alto and Greater Los Angeles VA systems…
The Veterans’ Healing Harvest Garden: A transformation journey
A thriving sanctuary built through community and care The transformation of the Veterans’ Healing Harvest Garden (VHHG) at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) is extraordinary. What was once a simple place to pick a tomato or a pepper has become a beautifully designed and meticulously planned sanctuary, a haven for both…
VA’s Native American Direct Loan staff help Veterans of Lakota Nation
For the last 48 years, descendants of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud and other Native Americans of the Lakota Nation have gathered in Rapid City, S.D., to attend the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI). Held in December, LNI offers thousands of Lakota a chance to participate in sporting competitions, traditional dances and ceremonies, business plan competitions, informational presentations and…
Navy Veteran finds convenience with VA virtual care
Virtual care resources save Veterans time When it comes to managing his health care, Navy Veteran Eric Faulkner wants it to be as convenient as possible. That’s why he uses VA’s virtual care resources. For appointments that don’t require an in-person visit, including some of his primary care and dermatology appointments, Faulkner opts to take…