Director's Message March 24, 2023

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration honors all Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration makes no distinction between Veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or those who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period.  

Today, there are approximately 7 million -6.7 million men and nearly 300 thousand women- living in America and abroad, who served in our military from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. Although there may not be celebrations planned on every island in the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), we appreciate those Veterans, no matter where they are. 

On the island of Oahu, there will be a Vietnam Veterans Meet and Greet event from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Spark Matsunaga Ambulatory Care Center (ACC). There will also be a celebration and parade for Vietnam era veterans. The event will take place March 29, 2023, in Waikiki. Participants will include marching bands, military platoons, classic cars, floats, bikers, and choirs who will march down Kalakaua Avenue from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

We are grateful to all our Vietnam War Veterans. Oftentimes these Veterans came home to war protests instead of parades. This made these Veterans feel that no one was thankful for all that they had done in service of their country. At VAPIHCS, we hope every Veteran knows that we recognize the meaningful sacrifices of mind, body, and spirit that they have made for their nation. We honor those sacrifices and do our best to provide safe, compassionate, quality care while respecting all that Veterans have given so that we might be free. Please join me in celebrating our Vietnam War Veterans as March 29 approaches and remember that everyone who served deserves our thanks. 

My HealtheVet

Many of you are already using the My HealtheVet App. For those who are not familiar with it, My HealtheVet is an app that allows you to access your VA medical records online, as well as send and receive messages from your doctor. You can sign up for an account with your smartphone and your social security number. Be sure to select “VA Patient” on the registration form. 

Once you have an account, you’ll need to upgrade it to a “premium account” to access all the features. Don’t worry; it’s free to upgrade. To do this, sign in to My HealtheVet using your Premium DS Login or ID.me user ID and password. Once signed in, select the “upgrade now” button at the top left side of your screen. Then, on the account upgrade page, check the box certifying that you’re the owner of the account and approve the request, then click “continue.” The system will upgrade you to a Premium account. 

You can also get a Premium account in person at a VA health care facility if you are a VA patient. You’ll need to bring a completed and signed individuals’ request for a copy of their own health information (VA form 10-5345a). This VA release of information form gives us permission to share an electronic copy of your health record with your online account. You can download a PDF copy of the form or call ahead and get the staff to mail you a copy.  I encourage you to consider using the My HealtheVet app, and to take full advantage of this ability to easily access your doctor and your medical records from the convenience of your own home. 

PACT Act Community Calls

VAPIHCS has been working hard to enroll newly eligible Veterans. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act was passed in August of 2022, and since that time, we’ve held PACT Act Community Calls throughout our coverage area to encourage veterans to come and speak with us, and learn what benefits they may be eligible for now. 

As part of this ongoing effort, we will be holding a PACT Act Community Call in the island of Kauai on March 30, 2023, and March 31, 2023. The event time has been extended and will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kauai Veterans Center at 3215 Kauai Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lihue HI 96766. This event is for all eligible Veterans. Veterans who are already enrolled may also come for  diabetic foot checks, blood pressure checks, health and benefits questions. 

Remember the PACT Act opens up new opportunities for people who may have been denied VA care in the past. If you have a history of toxic exposure during your military service,  talk to our experts. Let us determine what benefits and services you may be eligible for now. You don’t have to wait for a community call event. Make an appointment by calling 1-800-214-1306. 

Windward CBOC

Remember that the Windward Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Kaneohe is still accepting patients. Veterans on the Windward side of the island can transfer their care at any time. The new CBOC is located at 46-001 Kamehameha Hwy Ste. 301 in the Adventist Castle Professional Center. The Windward CBOC is equipped to deal with a variety of medical needs, including laboratory services. If you would like to transfer your care to the Windward CBOC, call 1-800-214-1306.

Suicide Prevention

The VA has announced that they will award $52.5 million in grants for preventing veteran suicide. This is part of a long-standing effort to encourage veterans to reach out when they are struggling. At VAPIHCS, we want to ensure the health of your mind, body, and spirit. That’s why we have mental health professionals embedded with our primary care teams. It’s why we have Chaplains ready to talk to you if you are struggling. Additionally, we encourage anyone who needs it to call the new Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1. 

Many Veterans feel that physical problems are more valid than mental or spiritual wounds, because they were taught to be strong during their military service. This is understandable. While I respect the life experiences of all Veterans, I want to assure you that the VA puts a priority on all aspects of your health, and we have services available to address your emotional or spiritual pain as well as your physical pain. If you need help, reach out. The resources are there for you, and we hope you’ll take advantage of them if you ever feel the need. 

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

One of the most valuable skills that one could develop is the ability to laugh at yourself, yet far too many people never seem to make the effort to develop it.

So why is being able to laugh at yourself so important? Well, the reason is that we all embarrass ourselves from time to time – that's inevitable. We’re human. But it's not always the mistakes that we make that define us, rather it's how we respond to those mistakes that makes the difference. I don't mean the kind of mistakes that result in harm to anyone -since we should strive for high reliability- but rather the truly inconsequential blunders that simply come with being human.

After making a mistake, there's all sorts of ways that one can respond. We can pretend it never happened, we can become fixated on the embarrassing moment and dwell on it for days and days. We can refuse to admit it or even blame someone else, but none of those responses are going to make things any better, improve relationships, or produce a desirable result. On the other hand, if we can fully own up to our mistakes, while at the same time show that we're able to find the humor in the situation, it can demonstrate a level of personal flexibility and the ability to extend grace to ourselves.

So why do people have such a hard time laughing at themselves? It may be that vulnerability can be scary, or it can be too difficult to admit to anyone any kind of imperfection. But this can prevent the kind of personal authenticity critical for forming deeper bonds with the people around us. Laughing at ourselves shows maturity and the ability to take perspective. It shows that we can view small blunders in light of the grand scheme of things. Laughing at ourselves shows confidence and awareness of one's identity, since one isolated incident doesn't represent the sum total of who one is.

One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN

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