VA ECHCS News and Stories
Learn How to Unblock VA Calls
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, as well as many other VA facilities across the U.S., are experiencing an issue where our phone numbers are reported as spam by wireless carriers. If a number is marked as spam by a carrier, such as Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, all Veterans who use that phone carrier may miss essential calls from VA. This can include vital calls from providers, schedulers and telephone appointment calls.
Unfortunately, every time the number gets marked as spam it must be submitted to the phone carrier to be removed from that list. Please add the main VA phone number, your local clinic numbers, and any other VA numbers that you frequently use to your contacts list so that you won’t miss calls.
If you discover that a call from VA has gone to your spam folder, follow the link below for your wireless carrier to remove it from the spam list.
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UPDATE: Patient Lab and Test Result Letters Delayed
Last month, we received notification from our printing and distribution partners that there was a delay and backlog of patient letters containing lab and test results. The letters were going out, but they were behind schedule.
Most patient mailings, like appointment letters, are printed and mailed in-house, but lab and some test result letters are printed and mailed off-site.
UPDATE: We've been notified that the delay in printing has been significantly decreased, from 7 down to 4 business days. We are continuing to work with our printing partners to decrease the delay, but all patients with significant test results are being contact directly, as is standard.
Patients wanting to ensure they receive and can review their lab and test results immediately should make certain they are registered for MyHealtheVet. Through MyHealtheVet patients are able to refill VA prescriptions, send secure messages to their healthcare teams, manage appointments as well as view lab and VA health records.
To learn more about MyHealtheVet review their flyer or visit myhealth.va.gov.
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Remembering Our Veterans Program
Meet John Partilla, a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, 100% disabled veteran, and local grief author. Having survived combat in Santo Domingo and Vietnam, John now copes with the death of his son by a drunk driver, which has rekindled his mental wounds. Listen to how he navigates a road filled with daily challenges and tries to help others overcome grief.
John was born and raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. He enlisted with the Marines at age 16 with his parents' approval and later entered boot camp at 17. In April 1965, John landed in Santo Domingo to evacuate American dependents during the Dominican Civil War. It was here that John experienced his first taste of combat while being under sniper fire.
After returning from Santo Domingo, John volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War. In August 1965, John and his team landed at China Beach and moved north. While in Vietnam, he was wounded in Da Nang and tragically lost a friend who is still MIA. He was ultimately promoted to Sergeant E5 at age 19. John spent his last 1.5 years in the Marines as an infantry training platoon commander.
John then returned to civilian life, starting his engineering education and getting married. While society was not friendly to returning Vietnam Veterans at the time, John put his tough, traumatic combat experiences at the back of his mind and continued to try to live a normal life. However, one fateful night he was notified that one of his two sons, Jason, was killed by a drunk driver. The PTSD John tried to bury surfaced in all of its fury.
In response to their son’s death, John and his wife took time to reflect on their emotions and eventually wrote and published several books on surviving grief to help others.
Hear John talk about his journey using the link below.
Remembering Our Veterans is a "living history" video memoir program in which VA staff and volunteers engage Veterans in meaningful conversations about their military service and other significant life experiences. To learn more about the Remembering Our Veterans program and how you can get involved, please email rov.echcs@va.gov or call 720-723-3864.
Visit our YouTube page to hear John talk about his journey.
Remembering Our Veterans is a "living history" video memoir program in which VA staff and volunteers engage veterans in meaningful conversations about their military service and other significant life experiences. To learn more about the Remembering Our Veterans program and how you can get involved, please email rov.echcs@va.gov or call 720-723-3864.
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Recent Stories From VA ECHCS
VA ECHCS Nurses Earn Award Recognition Across Eastern Colorado
By Kenneth Trotter Jr., VECHCS Public Affairs Specialist
Eleven VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System nurses were nominated for Luminary Awards at the 2024 Denver Regional Nightingale Association Luminary Celebration on May 23, at the Hilton Denver Inverness, with four earning the Luminary Award in their respective categories.
The Nightingale Awards, so named for British nurse, Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale served as a field manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, where she improved hygiene and living standards for injured troops. The award is presented by the Colorado Nurses Foundation to nurses across Colorado who “...represent the best of more than 110,000 registered nurses in Colorado and are recognized for their leadership, advocacy, and innovation,” according to the organization’s website.
“The nursing body is the heart of the VA,” said Damon Toczylowski, VA ECHCS cardiology nurse practitioner, Luminary Award recipient and Air Force retiree. “We’re the group that keeps the functioning within inpatient work, within clinics, every touchpoint you can think of in our institution. Nurses are the voice of patients, the voice of patient advocacy. We’re the agents of healthcare to ensure that the plan of care established by the providers is maintained and implemented, and without the nurses present, either at the local or the large VA level, then that wouldn’t happen.”
The VA ECHCS winners were chosen based on their “...commitment to actions and outcomes in caring for their patients, their profession, and their communities,” according to the CNF.
“It’s important for our Veteran patients to know that they are being cared for by the best of the best,” said Dr. Michelle Mountfort, VA ECHCS Associate Director Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive. “VA nurses take their commitment to Veterans very seriously and take action to ensure Veterans have the best possible outcomes. Veterans should find comfort and pride on our staff – especially in those nurses that have been recognized this year.”
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For your Whole Health, Mindfulness Matters
Whole Health centers around mindful awareness, also known as “mindfulness.” This focused awareness helps you determine what’s most important to you, which is what Whole Health is all about. It is the doorway through which you can connect to all aspects of your health and well-being.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness involves noticing what is happening when it happens. It is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.
Why is mindfulness important for health?
Practicing mindfulness unlocks the connection between our minds and our bodies. Our thoughts impact our health in a powerful way—our minds affect our bodies, and our bodies affect our minds. For example, sometimes when you think about stressful things, your heart rate and blood pressure go up. But changing your mindset can aid in healing and coping.
Mindfulness improves well-being by reducing stress, developing resilience, managing pain, increasing focus, and improving anxiety and depression. In addition, as you practice mindfulness, you will deepen your appreciation of your own life.
What does a mindfulness practice involve?
Mindfulness activities may include meditation, grounding, guided imagery, even art and music. Physical mind-body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong have the added benefit of improving strength and flexibility.
Learn more about the power of the mind and its role in Whole Health, including resources to help you get started with a mindful awareness practice.
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VA Healthy Living Message
Playing an active role in your health care is key to meeting your health goals. To get the most out of your visit, plan the questions you want to ask and the things you want to discuss. When you leave your visit, know what actions to take to best manage your health. Here are some specific ways to be more involved:
Before your visit:
- Write down your health goals, needs, questions, and concerns.
- Make a list of all the medicines you take, including vitamins and supplements.
- Get additional information from the Veterans Health Library and My HealtheVet.
During your visit:
- Tell your team about your health goals, needs, and treatment preferences.
- Share any health questions and concerns with your team at the beginning of your visit.
- Tell your team about your past illnesses, hospital stays, surgeries, and any other health issues you may be experiencing.
- Share your list of medicines and why you take them. Ask for written instructions to take home with you for any current or new medicines.
- Work together with your team to create a treatment plan that meets your health goals, needs, and preferences, and that addresses what matters most to you.
- Take notes about what you and your health care team discuss and decide. Bring a family member or friend to help.
- Ask about next steps in your health care plan, such as additional appointments and treatments or how you will access test results.
- Share steps that you plan to take reach your health goals. If you are unsure, ask your team for help in identifying specific actions you might take to follow through with your plan.
- Ask your team any other questions you have at the end of your visit. Speak up if you have concerns or think something is wrong.
After your visit:
Resources
Work with VA ECHCS
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System is always looking for individuals with a passion for serving Veterans. In fact, many of our employees are Veterans. We have open positions in clinical, administrative and facility management positions. Make the difference in the lives of Veterans and apply to work with us!
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