VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Winter 2006

skip to page content

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Home

About VA

VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2

Winter 2006

Free VA Wellness Programs

Ask the expert

This issue's expert:
Diane Wonch, Ph.D., CHES, C.Hy., director of patient education and My HealtheVet Point of Contact for VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York

Q: I keep hearing that VA wants me to “partner” with my health care provider. What does this mean and why is it important?

A: Partnering with your heath care provider means taking an active role in your care to ensure you stay healthy and maintain your quality of life. Here are simple steps you can take:

Get routine screenings. Following VA’s preventive health guidelines can help uncover illness before you have symptoms. If you’re not sure what screenings you need, ask your doctor. Routine visits will also enable you to develop a relationship with your provider while you’re healthy, so you’ll be more comfortable with your care if you become ill.

Ask questions. If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor. If you have a question about a prescription after your appointment, ask for medication counseling at the pharmacy. If you have questions once you get home, call Telcare at 1-888-838-7890.

Speak up. Be vocal when making appointments. If a date doesn’t work for you, ask for another. If you need to make multiple appointments in the same facility, ask to coordinate dates to save you a trip. If transportation is an issue, ask if arrangements can be made. And if you can’t make your appointment, call in advance to reschedule so someone else can fill your spot.

Be informed. VA offers many patient education brochures, pamphlets and classes. Ask about them at your next appointment or visit our patient educationWeb site. In addition to helping you take better care of yourself, being informed will allow you to take a more active role in health care decisions and take personal responsibility for your care.

Register for My HealtheVet. Another valuable resource for VA patients is www.myhealth.va.gov. The secure Web site allows users to access trusted health information and to track their health progress. I encourage you to register today.

VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York is dedicated to improving the health of our veterans. To help you stay healthy and informed, we are pleased to offer the following wellness programs designed especially for veterans. All programs are free. For more information including dates, times and locations, please call one of the numbers listed below between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Stress Management
Individual counseling is available to help you manage your stress. For more information, call:

Albany (518) 626-5339
Bath (607) 664-4331
Buffalo (716) 862-8595
Canandaigua (585) 393-7252
Syracuse (315) 425-3485

Diabetes Management
This 12-month program helps veterans with diabetes develop self-management tools. The program provides tips on nutrition and exercise and how to reduce your risk of diabetes complications. For more information, call:

Albany, contact your primary care provider
Bath (607) 664-4614 or (607) 664-4626
Batavia (585) 297-1000, ext. 72555
Buffalo (716) 862-8844
Canandaigua (585) 393-7109 or (585) 393-7126
Syracuse (315) 425-2432

Understanding Your Medications
Individual counseling is offered for veterans who need help managing medications. For more information, call:

Albany (518) 626-5780
Bath (607) 664-4413, then press 2
Buffalo (716) 862-8881 or (716) 862-3223
Canandaigua (585) 393-7122, then press 2
ROPC (585) 463-2697, then press 2
Syracuse (315) 425-4400, ext. 52026, then press 2

Depression and the Elderly
Individual and group counseling are available to help veterans deal with late-life depression. For more information, call:

Albany (518) 626-5339
Bath (607) 664-4301
Buffalo (716) 862-8595
Canandaigua (585) 393-7250
Syracuse (315) 425-3485

Dementia Care Services
Held quarterly in Albany and monthly in Buffalo, the workshop covers a variety of dementia-related topics of interest to patients and caregivers. For more information, call:

Albany (518) 626-6051
Buffalo (716) 862-3237
Canandaigua (585) 393-7901

New Patient Orientation

Rochester Outpatient Clinic
Learn how the VA system works and how to access services. Includes information on pharmacy services, eligibility and mental health services. Can also be attended by existing patients for a refresher. Held every other Friday afternoon. For dates and times, call Geri Wiess at (585) 463-2747.

Reviewed/Updated Date: January 16, 2007