Category: VA

In the chronic pain school, I taught Veterans a strategy for scheduling pleasant activities: “Work and chores can expand like helium,” I’d say, and they will “take up all the space in your calendar if you don’t block time out for something else.” Veterans agreed with that idea, sharing their stories of always needing to…

As hurricane season approaches, preparation is essential. If you live in an area that could be impacted, do you have a plan? VA virtual tools can be a crucial part of your response to emergencies and natural disasters. Here are five tools and resources to incorporate into your emergency planning to ensure that your health…

Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. live with blindness, low vision, or significant visual impairment. The risk of vision loss increases with age, often due to medical conditions and eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and more. The staff of Battle Creek VA’s Blind and Low Vision Rehabilitation service are…

Vietnam Veteran Danny Cox was given a flyer from his neighbor about an event taking place at Fayetteville VA. Touting free food, music, games and VA informational booths, he decided to check out the 2nd Annual VetFest. Cox was interested in talking to someone about his eligibility for health care under the relatively new PACT…

Every June, Kansas City VA hosts its Annual Salute to Women Veterans. On June 8, over 100 women Veterans joined for a morning of recognition. Andrea Simpson, Women Program manager; Dr. Mary Poulose, acting deputy chief of staff; Nikki Dean, Army Veteran and keynote speaker; and Dr. Patricia Hall, VISN 15 network director. In its…

Today you’ll find Army Veteran Jocelyn Payton living in a quiet North Carolina apartment with her emotional support dog Auggie, a mixed breed who’s well-loved and well-fed by her neighbors. Rewind 14 years and you’d have found Payton in a more unstable living situation. When her mother died in 2010, she was too young to…

Central Iowa VA welcomed a new virtual mobile clinic with an open house on June 14 in the parking lot at the Des Moines VA. Employees and visitors had a chance to get a look inside the clinic and learn more about its operations.  The vehicle has two exam rooms that provide patient privacy, a…

VA’s commitment to cutting-edge innovation is more robust than ever before, and it’s a commitment we’re proud to showcase with our new PSA, which was recently rolled out nationwide. In the PSA, “New Heights,” we showcase VA Immersive technology, an innovative virtual reality tool that allows our medical teams to support Veterans with new and…

Summer can be a joyful time of year, but some outdoor activities can be hard for some Veterans. It’s important to understand that Veterans with PTSD will have varying levels of tolerance for different activities and locations. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and what one Veteran finds manageable another might avoid altogether. Here are some common…

On June 8 with support from the Waco VA Regional Office, over 1,200 Veterans attended “Summer VetFest” at the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic. The Veterans were able to file benefit claims, learn about VA educational programs and connect with Veteran Service Organizations.    Inside the VA clinic, Waco VA Regional Office representatives met with…

VA’s TeleMental Health has transformed how Veterans can receive treatment for PTSD and other mental health challenges by addressing potential barriers head-on. With 54% of VA outpatient mental health services provided virtually in 2023, TeleMental Health transcends traditional barriers like transportation challenges, concerns about stigma and privacy, and juggling work, education and family responsibilities. “TeleMental…

Last month at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, over 300 participants gathered at a hackathon to develop solutions address some of the most pressing health care challenges faced by Veterans. The Veterans Health – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Hacking Medicine 2024 was hosted by the James A.…