Director's Message November 23, 2022
VAPIHCS Veterans, Giving thanks is such an important thing to do, and it can be easy to overlook. I focus a lot on ensuring that the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) has the infrastructure and staff to meet the needs of veterans in the future.
The future is important. However, sometimes it’s nice to just take a step back and be grateful for what we have right now.
I’m very thankful for my fellow men and women who have worn the cloth of our nation and helped to secure our freedom. I’m glad for every veteran who decides to #ChooseVA and trust us with their care. I’m also grateful for my staff. We have so many tremendous people working hard every day to provide safe, compassionate, and quality care. I see all of you, and I am thankful for each and every one of you.
I am also thankful to be here, in the United States of America. I’m so grateful for this country and her people. We don’t always get everything right, but I feel that we are struggling together in the right direction, and I am grateful for that.
For Thanksgiving Day, some of our staff will work with volunteers to coordinate a Thanksgiving meal for veterans at Cloudbreak housing in Kapolei. Mahalo to everyone who will volunteer at that event. On that note, if you are interested in becoming a VA Volunteer, you can contact Schoen Safotu at: Schoen.Safotu@va.gov or call: 808-321-7505.
When we stop and take stock of all the wonderful things that we have, we realize that there’s so much to be grateful for. I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving weekend, and that you all find the time to practice gratitude for the blessings in your life.
Shooting in Colorado
On November 20, 2022, a mass shooting took place at a night club in Colorado. This shooting -on the Eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance- targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community. My life has been spent in service to this great country, and to me, that has always included every one of her citizens. Discrimination in any form is intolerable if we want to build a complete and perfect union, and so I have always advocated for equality.
Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ lives are becoming targeted more and more often. There have been more than 150 state legislative bills filed in 2022 alone which are anti-LGBTQ+ in nature. At VAPIHCS, we are working hard against this kind of hate. Right now, members of my staff are working to correct the DD 214s of service members who were dishonorably discharged for their sexual orientation. Additionally, VA has moved to extend spousal benefits to same-sex partners of service members who were part of the LGBTQ+ community and who didn’t previously meet length of marriage requirements. We also offer a variety of support groups and services specific to the LGBTQ+ community.
I lay my own prayers beside the many others being offered to the families of the victims. May they find peace and comfort in time, knowing that their loved ones will be remembered in the heart of all who knew them. I hope to live to see a day when the hate that inspired this shooting is a thing of the past. I know that day will come, and I will do everything I can to bring it closer.
The VSignals Program
“VSignals” is an electronic survey that is automatically sent to randomly selected Veterans after an appointment here at VAPIHCS. There are some multiple-choice questions, but most of the data that is collected comes from the comment box. This is where Veterans can talk about their experience and share feedback that is collected in real time. We have another survey, sent to randomly selected patients via mail, called Survey of Health Care Experience of Patients (SHEP), which is sent out after a patient has had multiple visits to VAPIHCS. Both surveys ask questions to gauge the satisfaction and perception of our Veterans experiences.
I would like to ask Veterans to please complete these surveys when they are sent to you. Our Veteran Experience Service department reads every single survey, and your responses are used to improve our processes and correct any issues. Your contributions can help us be a better team and serve you better. Your voice matters at VAPIHCS!
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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