Important Veteran Newsletter, June 2022 Edition

Whole Health Wellness Offerings

All Classes available via Whole Health Consult – Contact your primary care team for a referral!

Whole Health Introduction Groups

During this class you will take part in a discussion about your well-being, healthy lifestyle choices and learn ways to identify and reach your goals. Great place to learn more about the other wellness offerings as well.

1st Wednesdays 10am, 2nd Tuesdays 2pm, 4^th Tuesdays 1pm (VVC) 

VA-CALM Mindfulness Group

The mindfulness group focuses on learning mindfulness meditation skills and help vets live more fully in the moment. Mindful practices can help reduce stress and promote health and wellness. This is a 6-week cohort-based group.

Mondays 11am-12-30pm (Webex) 

Taking Charge of My Life and Health Group

Peer-led group education 9-week series exploring the 8 domains of proactive self-care. Assists veterans to explore what matters most and what they want their health for. Support given for goal setting and self-directed action towards those goals.

Thursdays 10:30am-12pm (VVC)

Guided Imagery

Guided Imagery is a form of silent meditation using all the senses to relax and promote healing. It has been shown to be beneficial for lowering anxiety & pain.

Mondays 11:30 AM (VVC)

Yoga

We offer 3 levels of yoga. Yoga Stretch is a 30-minute seated class suitable for all levels. Chair yoga is a 60-minute class blending seated and standing poses using the chair for balance. Vinyasa yoga is a 60-minute class for beginner/intermediate students.

Yoga Stretch: Wednesdays 11am (VVC)

Chair Yoga: Mondays 2:30pm (VVC)

Vinyasa: Wednesdays 3pm (VVC) 

Whole Health for Tobacco Cessation

4- Week group focused on learning skills for quitting tobacco while highlighting what matters most to you. Medication assistance for quitting available as part of the group.

Mondays 2pm (VVC)

Tai Chi:

Join us for a Tai Chi class! We offer Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Rehabilitation & Tai Chi for Energy. Both the rehab and arthritis classes are focused on learning the fundamentals of the Sun style of tai chi, which is centered around slow, purposeful movements coupled with deep breathing techniques. The Tai Chi for Rehabilitation Class teaches 6 side to side movements- a perfect beginner’s class. The Tai Chi for Arthritis class teaches 12 more complex movements as you hone your skills! Tai Chi for Energy is more complex but can be learned by all!

Tai Chi for Rehabilitation: Tuesdays 1pm

Tai Chi for Arthritis 1: Tuesday 11am; Thursday 3:30pm

Tai Chi for Arthritis 2: Tuesday 3:30pm

Tai Chi for Energy: Thursday 11am

All available VVC or in person Room 7070

Call 302-633-5349 to reserve in person spot 

Whole Health for Pain Self-Management Group Education Program:

Includes an introductory session, followed by seven weekly active sessions. Each session is 60 minutes in length. The program will work on a cohort basis to limit each class size, ensuring individual attention to each participant. Participants must be willing to attend all sessions in each cohort.

Sessions :Introductory Class; Physiology of Pain/ Introduction to Exercise for Pain; Coping with Pain; Nutrition for Pain; Medication for Pain; Stress Management; Tai Chi; Yoga.

Thursdays 9:30am (VVC)

Battlefield Acupuncture Clinic

Over the years research has shown that acupuncture works not only on the area with the needles but all over the body as well to reduce pain. This works by suppressing pain transmission at the spinal cord as well as releasing chemicals to reduce the feeling of pain. It has been proven a safe and effective way to treat pain over thousands of years.

What is Battlefield Acupuncture?

While traditionally you may think of acupuncture as many needles all over the body, Battlefield Acupuncture is just in the ear. The theory is that the entire body is represented in the ear and by placing small needles in the surface some of the pain can be suppressed.

Wednesdays 4-6:30pm; Fridays 10am-12pm

*IN PERSON

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VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SERVICES TEAM

The VIST program provides comprehensive case management to visually impaired and blind Veterans to ensure they have equitable access to low vision services and blind rehabilitation. Veterans with low vision have sight loss that cannot be corrected with conventional lenses and their sight loss impairs their daily functioning.

Blind rehabilitation includes assessment, low vision exam, and blind skills training using low vision devices, which can be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The VIST Coordinator will make the necessary referrals based on the Veteran’s unique needs. The goal of the VIST program is to improve Veteran’s visual functioning and maximize their independence to accomplish their identified goals.

If you have any questions or are interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to contact me via phone, e-mail. 

VIST Coordinator Contact - Susan Barton, LCSW, Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

Sue.barton@va.gov : 302-994-2511 Ext. 4733

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Share Your Story

Have you had success in reducing your medications and improving your health conditions such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Obesity, or Pain? We’d like to hear your story! Your experience may inspire other Veterans to do the same.

If you’re interested in sharing your story, please let your Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner know today, or email us at ShareYourStory@va.gov

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VA Health Chat 

If you have a non-urgent health care question, VA Health Chat can quickly connect you with a VISN 4 Clinical Contact Center nurse. Chat is available 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday except holidays. Learn more at https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-chat.

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PrEP Therapy  

PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) is an antiviral medication such as Truvada or Descovy or Apretude taken to prevent HIV infection. 

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) - YouTube

If Veteran is interested, please encourage contacting VISN 4 CRH Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at 302-994-2511 #7123 (VISN 4 CRH TelePrEP).

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Bridging the Digital Divide

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ telehealth services enable you to meet with your trusted VA provider anytime, anywhere, without sacrificing the personalized care you expect from VA. More and more Veterans have turned to telehealth to save time while still benefiting from face-to-face interaction with their providers. 

The digital divide is the gap between people who do and do not have access to the internet and internet-connected devices. This divide prevents many Veterans from receiving telehealth care. If you would benefit from video visits but don’t have internet access or a video-capable device, VA’s Digital Divide Consult can help. Through the Digital Divide Consult, a VA social worker can determine if you are eligible for the following programs: 

VA’s Connected Devices Program – Provides eligible Veterans with internet-connected tablets at no cost so they can access VA care through telehealth. VA helps with initial device setup and provides 24/7 tech support for VA-loaned devices. 

Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Lifeline program – Subsidizes the cost of broadband and phone services. Many Veterans are eligible for FCC Lifeline benefits, including Veterans with low incomes and Veterans who participate in Medicaid, VA pension, VA Survivors Pension, and other federal programs. 

FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program – Provides eligible households with discounts toward home internet service. Households can also receive a one-time discount to purchase a computer or tablet. 

EveryoneOn program – Works to connect people living in the U.S. with low-cost home internet service, affordable computers and tablets, and digital literacy training. 

To get started with the Digital Divide Consult, talk with your VA provider today. For more information, visit the Digital Divide Consult page. 

To learn about VA telehealth, visit the VA Telehealth Services website.

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Liver and Kidney Transplant Program

VA Pittsburgh's Liver and Kidney Transplant Program is one of the top VA transplant centers with some of the best one-year survival rates in the country. Talk to your VA primary care provider if you think you may benefit from a referral for a transplant.

https://www.visn4.va.gov/VISN4/services/transplant.asp

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June Nutrition Classes

Healthy Teaching Kitchen: Video Series

VA Video Connect Web Users

Web Browser users

VA Video Connect works on the following browsers on desktop, laptop, tablets that have an internet connection and a web camera. No application download is required.

• Google Chrome version 61 and later (64-bit only)
• Mozilla Firefox version 68 and later
• Microsoft Edge — all chromium-based versions
• Opera version 53 and later
• Apple Safari version 11.1 and later on macOS
• Apple Safari on iOS 11.2 and later (you must use Safari on iOS devices)

Ahead of a VA Video Connect appointment, you will receive an email or calendar invite with a link to launch the session. The session will launch automatically in your web browser after the session link is selected. 

More detailed Web instructions with images can be found here. 

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Travel Pay

Eligible for travel pay? A My HealtheVet Premium account grants access to the BTSSS travel pay system, Secure Messaging with your care provider, and online appointment scheduling. Upgrade to a Premium Account to use a single username and password. 

https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/ss20200416-upgrade-to-premium-now

Combining electronic filing with direct deposit is the fastest way to get your beneficiary travel payment. While you may still file a paper claim or receive a paper check, paper methods will take longer for staff to process. Here’s how to speed up your claims processing:

1. Sign up for Direct Deposit.

2. Add your banking information to your Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) profile.

3. File a travel claim electronically with BTSS

The Wilmington VA Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be hosting a presentation on information regarding enrollment, eligibility, services and how to navigate through the VA.

Q & A and one-on-one time will be provided for all Veterans, their families, and caregivers in attendance. VHAWIMOutreachTeam@va.gov