Madison VA Hospital and Clinics Women's Health Newsletter - June 2022

Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 06/03/2022 12:33 PM EDT

Madison VA Hospital & Clinics

Women Veteran’s Program Manager Welcome

Welcome to our summer Women Veteran’s Newsletter! In our second edition, we are excited to share various topics regarding health for your body, mind, and spirit. We hope these articles will help you enhance your self-care and highlight opportunities to celebrate you, including our special Women Veteran’s Day event this June!

In addition to the programs offered at our local Madison VA hospital, I want to provide you information on a national program called the Million Veteran Program (MVP). The goal of the Million Veteran Program (MVP) is to learn more about how genes affect health, in order to improve health for Veterans, and ultimately, everyone. Join other women Veterans in VA’s genetic research program, one of the largest in the world, to help give comrades the best of tomorrow’s medicine. More women Veterans are needed to ensure research is completed to represent you! Check out a new video where Women Veterans invite others to help make this dream a reality by enrolling in VA’s Million Veteran Program. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to sign up. To learn more and enroll today, visit mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075.

I also want to share about our MyHealtheVet program, as it is a great way to stay connected to your healthcare team and view your patient record and lab results. MyHealtheVet is a website that gives you access to secure messaging to your health care teams, view most of your medical records online including lab results, view upcoming scheduled appointments, and refill medications online. Veterans can log into their account from anywhere as long as they have access to a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Click here to sign up! When you sign up you will be creating a basic account. To upgrade your account, you can show your ID at a CBOC front desk or stop in at the Patient Education Resource Center at the main hospital on the first floor. You can also call the My HealtheVet Madison Team at 608-256-1901 ext. 17173 to have a video call to confirm your identity and be upgraded to a premium account. Premium accounts allow you to see more of your chart and have prescription renewal options.

As a part of MyHealtheVet, we have a specific Women’s Health group to connect, provide resources, and communicate Women’s Health related topics to you. This group is separate from your primary care team group. If you have a premium MyHealtheVet account you can find the group by searching for the name “Women’s Health Care Coordinators team” in the secure messaging feature.

Enjoy the following articles and we hope you have a wonderful summer!

- Tami Towne, Acting Women Veteran’s Program Manager

Articles

Therapy 101

Are you wondering what therapy is all about? What actually happens in a therapy session? How is it different than talking to a friend? How change happens?

Read the full story…

Madison Gerofit Program

Can women Veterans participate in Gerofit? YES! Gerofit is a free, supervised exercise program offered to Veterans 65 years and older with exercises focused to improve cardiovascular health, strength, balance and flexibility.

Read the full story…

Moving the Body

Our Whole Health team is available to work with you to match your needs and interests with a physical activity to help you get closer to your best active self this summer!

Read the full story…

Spotlight: Go Red!

According to the American Heart Association’s 2022 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistical Update, cardiovascular disease remains the greatest health threat for women. The VA remains focused on increasing awareness and behavior change in order to address cardiovascular disease and risk factors within the women Veteran population. We held an event at the William S Middleton VA Hospital on Wednesday, May 18^th raising awareness regarding this disease to veterans and staff. When we take charge of our health and unite, there is nothing we can’t achieve. This campaign was vital to promote because nearly half of the women in the United States age 20 and up have some form of cardiovascular disease. At this event we had spokespeople from our whole health, mental health, women’s health, nutrition department and a representative from our local American Heart Association. We additionally had videos shown at the event and displayed on our facilities Facebook page throughout the month of May for individuals who were unable to make it to the main facility and take part in this event. We encourage you to take the pledge to care for you heart and show a commitment to better health. Move More. Eat Smart. Stress Less.

Women Veterans Monthly Campaigns

June: LGBTQ+ Health

Did you know that June is LGBTQ+ Health Month? There are so many resources and services that are specialized and available to our LGBTQ+ Veterans.

Learn more...

July: Menopause

Menopause doesn’t need to slow you down! Symptoms of menopause can be distressing and uncomfortable but we can help you cope and reduce your suffering. Don’t suffer in silence, talk with your VA provider about managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms today!

Learn more...

August: Skin Safety

Spending time outside is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. You can work and play outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun.

Learn more...

Women's Veterans Day is June 12!

“Thank you for service”

We hear it often, but did you know there is a Veterans Day specifically for Women Veterans?

Read more about events...

She Wears the Boots: A Podcast for Women Veterans

For podcast fans, there is a VA podcast that is dedicated to recognizing of the unique needs of women Veterans. She Wears the Boots, a podcast from the Veterans Health Administration Office of Women’s Health, offers veterans resources and services in the VA that can foster resiliency and health.

All episodes are created for Veterans but employees and family members of Veterans may benefit from listening as well. Each episode is around 15-20 minutes long so they can be digested in one sitting. New episodes come out about once a month.