Category: VA

September is National Yoga Awareness Month. Many people think of yoga as being for the young, fit and flexible. One of the great things about yoga is that it can be personalized to meet your unique needs and preferences. As an athlete when I first started practicing yoga, I was drawn to its movement and…

On a routine morning at the VA Fayetteville Coastal Health Care System (FCHCS), the Valet Services team turned a potential crisis into a story of hope and gratitude through remarkable vigilance and swift action. Recognizing the signs of a medical emergency It began when a Veteran drove up to the valet entrance of the FCHCS.…

Vascular surgeons at the Houston VA Medical Center recently used a cutting-edge surgical device, Zenith Branch Iliac Bifurcation (ZBIS), to treat iliac and aortoiliac artery aneurysms. Doctors Besma Nejim and Natasha Hansraj, along with the vascular surgery team, successfully performed the procedure on Navy Veteran Clifford Brock earlier this month. The minimally invasive new device,…

Sexual health is an important part of a woman’s overall well-being. For many women Veterans, concerns related to intimacy, desire or physical comfort may feel difficult to talk about. You are not alone. These concerns are common, valid and treatable. VA is committed to providing safe, respectful and personalized care that supports every part of…

Born the eldest of 11 children, Don Johnson was born in the quaint town of Richland Center, Wisconsin. He grew up in what he called a close-knit and supportive household where his parents played influential roles in his life. During his childhood, the family relocated to Bloomer City, Wisconsin, where they settled on a sprawling…

As the nation’s largest provider of health professions education, VA trains more than 122,000 health care trainees annually in partnership with over 1,450 academic institutions. That includes placements in rural facilities like Iron Mountain VA in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where trainees gain hands-on experience serving Veterans with unique health care needs. Quality training, lasting careers…

Mental health care providers are a vital part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) approach to Whole Health. By prioritizing the mental health of Veterans alongside their physical health in a team-based, collaborative care model, Veterans can receive the care they need to live their best life. The impact of mental health care for…

In 1964, Bob Dylan captured the essence of the world’s evolving struggles with his iconic song, “The Times They Are A-Changin.’” By then, American soldiers were already deeply engaged on the frontlines of the Vietnam War. One such soldier was John C. Kast, a man who chose his path to ensure he served where his…

Retired Army Veteran Michael Hanna is always looking for activities to keep him busy. Bike rides, swimming—R&R, as he calls it. But when he heard about an opportunity to support other Veterans in his community through Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS), he knew he had to get involved.   Hanna now volunteers at the…

“Telehealth saved my life,” said Vincent DeMarro, a Veteran with parkinsonism in West Chester, Pennsylvania. “It’s pretty amazing how the whole telehealth team comes together. It reminds me sometimes of fantasy football. I feel like I have a dream team.”  Before getting connected with his current “dream team” of telehealth providers, DeMarro spent years suffering…

Empowering the Spirit, an evidence-based curriculum, is combining the compassionate care of chaplains and nurses into a unique spiritual care bundle to help Veterans at risk for suicide. Launched as a 12-week pilot program in March, the initiative invites Veterans to explore their spirituality and discover how it can bring them hope, healing and connection.…

In New Mexico, one third of the population lives in a rural area. Older New Mexican Veterans often need to travel long distances to receive needed services. However, innovations at VA New Mexico Health Care System have changed how hundreds of Veterans receive their care. Supporting Community Outpatient, Urgent care & Telehealth Services (SCOUTS) is…