Skip to Content

West Palm Beach VA celebrates national VA VIONE program

PRESS RELEASE

November 7, 2024

West Palm Beach , FL — The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (WPBVAHCS) is proud to recognize Dr. Saraswathy Battar (pictured), Geriatrics and Extended Care Physician, for her exceptional leadership in the VIONE program.

VIONE is an innovative medication management initiative that has garnered national attention for improving Veteran care by reducing unnecessary medications. 

VIONE approach categorizes medications into five groups—Vital, Important, Optional, Not needed, and Every medication with an indication—to ensure only beneficial prescriptions remain in use. 

Dr. Battar remains deeply embedded to VIONE alongside VA core pharmacy program managers, Kimberly Dickerson, Christopher Sedgwick, Ashleigh Wallace-Lacey, who are force multipliers to successfully spread VIONE across 140 VA Medical Centers. 

VIONE is practiced by over 22,000 VA clinical practitioners and has impacted over 1 million enrolled Veterans with a reduction of over 2.7 million potentially inappropriate medications. 

Dr. Battar says, “Across VA, our journey to exceptional care is one of constant reflection and innovation. VIONE aligns with core High Reliability Organization concepts by engaging leadership, empowering staff, reducing harm, and fostering continuous learning.”

The WPBVAHCS is honored to have Dr. Battar as part of the team and to witness the significant national footprint of VIONE in transforming Veteran healthcare. 

For more information, contact the WPBVAHCS Public Affairs Office at 561-422-8607.

Media contacts

Andrea Madrazo, Public Affairs Officer

###