Director's Message May 27, 2022
VAPIHCS Veterans, The recent shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas caught me off guard, and made me take pause.
To see small children hurt in any way is offensive on a moral level. To see them hurt intentionally is beyond reprehensible. I would like to call for unity once again in difficult times. Let us be the voices working to find common ground, and not the voices looking to tear things apart. Believe -like I do- that this is a great nation, and that we ensure its future by working together for the betterment of all. I know I speak for my team and myself when I say, our hearts go out to the families of the victims.
Veterans Crisis Line
It’s Mental Health Month every May, and many of you are already familiar with the Veterans Crisis Line number: 1-800-273-8255, and then press 1, or text 838255. In July, we will be asking people to call 988 and then press 1. After the activation of the 988 number, Veterans will still be able to call the original number. This new number is in response to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020.
Talk Story: Episodes Two and Three
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) has started a new podcast to help get information to the veterans who need it. Our second episode features information about the Million Veteran Program and our third episode is about Nurses at VAPIHCS. You can listen to them here. Make sure to follow us so you always get the latest news on VA happenings.
COVID-19 Information
You are best protected from severe COVID-19 when you stay up to date with COVID vaccinations
1. Complete your initial COVID vaccine series. This is 1 dose of Jansen or 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna. If you are immune compromised, you require 3 doses of Moderna or Pfizer.
2. Get your first booster dose
a. 2 months after your 1 Janssen vaccine, OR
b. 5 months after your Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
3. Get your Second booster dose at least 4 months after the first booster dose if:
a. you are 50 years of age or older, OR
b. you have moderately or severely weakened body immunity, OR
c. you received Janssen as both primary and booster dose.
Good news! Oral medications for treatment of COVID-19 are available at the VA for those who have risks for getting very sick. Call the VA if you have COVID-19 symptoms, have a positive COVID-19 test from outside of the VA, have a positive home test. or if you are sick and in need of COVID-19 testing. Treatment for COVID-19 must begin soon after the start of symptoms.
Call the VA Call Center at 1-800-214-1306 and ask your PACT TEAM or a triage nurse for information on COVID-19 treatments, medications, and/or vaccines.
1. Call 1-800-698-2411, extension 3, if you are unsure which VA is nearest you.
2. If you do not live in Hawai'i, please contact your nearest VA medical center, community vaccination facility, or local Department of Health for COVID-19 related questions.
You can get a free COVID-19 home testing kit at your next VA healthcare appointment while supplies last, or by ordering online at www.covidtest.gov.
New VHA COVID-19 Operational Plan
VA has instituted a new system to track COVID-19 risk at any time in a facility. It’s a simple stoplight code with red being high-risk, yellow being moderate, and green being low. At this time, our Oahu facilities are currently at yellow because of the high number of new cases in Hawaii. This simply means that we will take extra precautions to avoid transmission in our facilities. Your safety is important to us, and we will always strive to provide safe, compassionate, quality care to the men and women who have worn the cloth of our nation.
Thoughts From Chaplain Richie Charles
One of our great American National Parks has attracted millions of tourists throughout the years, with many coming to this site to witness one of the most extreme climates in all the United States. Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on Earth. It also the driest place in the United States, and at 282 feet below sea level, it stands at the lowest point in all North America. Death Valley National Park straddles eastern California and Nevada.
Despite the sweltering heat, the desert valley manages to draw tourists for reasons which may be surprising. One of those reasons is that even with the extreme conditions of that desert, under certain conditions, the valley still at times yields a stunning array of vibrant wildflowers of varied colors that beautify portions of the desert landscape. But as beautiful as these wildflowers might be, I’m sure these tourists can find beautiful flowers wherever they travelled from as well. It’s not simply the flowers that they admire, it’s the fact that such beauty was able to emerge from such a challenging desert. In a desert where it might seem as though the very atmosphere would prevent any plant from blossoming, under certain conditions, these flowers still flourish.
I think we can reflect on the blossoming wildflowers for inspiration in our own experience. We may not be in the desert heat, but we all face the common issues of uncertainty and challenging circumstances. Challenges are universal and can never be fully avoided. It’s tempting to think that if only our circumstances were just right, then we could develop and blossom into everything we could be. If only we could change this or that external aspect, then we could emerge from being “good” to “great."
Ideal circumstances rarely occur, and often, we’ll find that the very challenges we may experience can at times turn out to be the most formative factors in helping us develop into the best versions of ourselves. Even nature shows us that trees that stand up greatly, are also rooted down deeply. Challenges, when met with the right resolve and attitude, can help us to be more deeply rooted, helping us to form the very characters needed to thrive.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. Clinics will be closed Saturday and Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The drive-up pharmacy will remain open on Saturday, May 28, 2022 from 8 am to 4 pm, and will be closed on Monday.
Take a moment to remember & honor the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our nation this weekend.
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
Stay Informed
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Weekly Radio VA Updates:
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. on AM830,KHVH with Rick Hamada