Quality of Care

What's New at Your VA?

VA is constantly working to provide more excellent service and care for Veterans. This includes new programs and initiatives, advanced training, and renovations and improvements to enhance health care facilities. Each VA project is an opportunity to improve the delivery of services to America's heroes. Featured below are some of the exciting improvements in quality of care taking place around the country:  Click on the region below to find out what's new in that area.

Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Northwest | Southwest

Northeast

"I am so grateful for this program and what it has done for Dan and me. We are both much happier and our relationship is stronger than ever." - Dana Craig

Stronger Than Ever

My name is Dana Craig. My husband, Daniel Craig, and I have been married for 11 years, and we have 3 beautiful children.  Dan is an Army Veteran who served from 2007 to 2011. He served in the 82nd Airborne, Infantry and was deployed to Afghanistan for a year during his enlistment.

Dan and I got married soon after he had entered the military. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, and I was attending dental school in West Virginia.  It was a challenge to manage a long-distance relationship, but we made it work. We would have “phone dates” where we picked a movie or TV series and then watched it together while we were on the phone with each other.  We watched the whole series of “Lost” through our phone dates. We called each other as much as we could, and we would also meet halfway on weekends when we could get the time.  Read more...

Southeast

Congratulations are in order for Paul Adams who was recently awarded a Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing. The award was presented by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Beth Taylor, and the Acting Principle Deputy Under Secretary for Health Dr. Lieberman.

Charles George VA Medical Center nurse lauded

Congratulations are in order for Paul Adams who was recently awarded a Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing.

The award was presented by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Beth Taylor, and the Acting Principle Deputy Under Secretary for Health Dr. Lieberman.

"Everyone has been cordial and thanked me, but I know I couldn't have done it without the support I get here," Adams said during a meeting with Western North Carolina VA Health Care System leadership.  Read more...

Midwest

Your Kidneys are located near the middle of your back on either side of your spine and shaped like beans that are about the size of a fist.

Nephrology Director named Editor of Kidney Journal

Truman VA and the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Veterans Day, for a new Veterans Urban Farm. This site is located at 1209 Smith Street in Columbia, Mo.

Chief of Nephrology at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (VAMC), Dr. Charuhas Thakar has been named the new editor-in-chief of the journal, Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease (ACKD) and will take on this additional role in January of 2020.

ACKD, is the leading journal about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) healthcare research in the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 15% or 37 million adults in the United States that have (CKD). Veterans are estimated to experience CKD at a rate that is 34% higher than other adults in the United States. Minority Veterans are particularly prone to CKD due to contributing increased rates of health factors, particularly those regarding diabetes and high blood pressure according to collaborative research initiatives with VA, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the CDC.  Read more...

Northwest

Dr. William Brant and the Urology staff at George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center are providing two new procedures to Veterans suffering from enlarged prostate.

New Urology Procedures Giving Relief to Veterans

Vietnam Veteran Phil Gonzalez planned his life around his proximity to a rest room. The 69-year-old lived with the fear of not making it to the toilet in time and his sleep was restless to say the least— getting up numerous times throughout the night to use the restroom.
Gonzalez, like millions of other men over 50, suffered from lower urinary tract infection symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—commonly, referred to as an enlarged prostate.
Two new procedures at VA Salt Lake City Health Care System are giving Veterans suffering from LUTS new hope.  Read more...

Southwest

Photo: U.S. Navy Veteran Jennifer McDonald works the oil fields in North Texas and spends most of her time away from home. Making her health care appointments at VA North Texas is a priority for her when she is home and she helps manage that process with the help of VetText – text messaging reminders. “It’s not always easy, but I always make it home for my appointments,” said McDonald. VA North Texas recovers tens of thousands of appointments annually with VetText. Veterans receive text reminders for their VA health care appointments and can cancel with a simple text response. That cancelation message back to VA begins an automated process of offering the available appointment time to another Veteran, saving millions of dollars in missed appointment costs.

Texting creates access for VA patients

U.S. Navy Veteran, Jennifer McDonald works the oil fields, spending more time away for work than at home.  When she is home, her time is precious and is managed carefully – with her VA Health Care System appointments being a top priority.

“The VA has really changed for the better over the last few years and has really made me appreciate the care I receive,” said McDonald.  “It’s not always easy, but I always make it home for my appointments.”  Read more...

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