VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Winter 2007

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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2

Winter 2007

VA News and Updates

Become a part of our team!
VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York is an employer of choice. We believe that a diverse workforce makes our organization stronger, and we want our workforce to represent our veteran population. If you’re interested in working for VA, log on to www.vacareers.va.gov or www.va.gov/jobs,
or visit your local VA human resources department to learn more.

Focus on minority veterans
VA has created a focused outreach program with special emphasis on increasing local awareness of minority veteran–related issues and developing strategies to increase their enrollment and participation in VA health care programs. The minority veterans program promotes:

VA benefits, programs and services for minority veterans

producing activities that sensitize internal staff to the needs of minority veterans

targeting outreach efforts to minority veterans through community networks

identifying gaps in health care for minority veterans and making recommendations to improve service within facilities

For more information about VA’s minority veterans program, log on to www1.va.gov/visns/visn02/vet/minority.cfm or call your local VA medical center and ask to speak with the minority veterans program coordinator.

New study aimed at women in the military
The Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services conducted a study on why women were more likely than men to leave the military after only five to eight years of service.

The main reason for early departure was family. The number of women veterans in need of transition assistance from military life to civilian life increases every day, and the study concluded that women should be allowed to re-enter the service after a leave of absence, as many military service members do for educational reasons.

Angel Flight Northeast helps veterans
Angel Flight Northeast is a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for patients in need of access to medical care. For more information, visit www.angelflightne.org* or call (800) 549-9980. You can also contact the Patient Advocate at your nearest VA:

Albany: Maura Catano (518) 626-6934
Bath: Judy Harris (607) 664-4797
Canandaigua: Laurie Guererri (585) 393-7612
Syracuse: Colleen Lancette (315) 425-4345
Western New York Health Care at Buffalo: Henry Patronski (716) 862-8852
Western New York Health Care at Batavia: Tom Bligh (585) 297-1121

Attention Rochester vets with back pain
More patients are needed for a chronic lower back pain study that evaluates the effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy and active exercise therapy. Conducted by the New York Chiropractic College partnering with the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, therapy will take place at the Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic and private chiropractic and physical therapy practices within the Rochester community.

If you’re suffering from lower back pain and are interested in learning more about the study, please call (585) 463-2673.

* Links will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked web sites. The link will open in a new window.

Reviewed/Updated Date: February 20, 2007