James E. Van Zandt Newsletter
The VA's My HealtheVet is moving to VA.gov
The VA's My HealtheVet is moving to VA.gov Heather McFadden, My HealtheVet Coordinator, spoke with Jack McCune from Studio 814. McFadden spoke about how the new MyHeatlheVet page will be moving to VA.gov. The interview talks about what to expect along with how to share your feedback.
Director's Message
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Welcome to our first edition of our Newsletter.
Let me start by saying Thank You. We appreciate that you choose to get your care at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center.
We don’t take your choice for granted.
We are continually working to improve our facility to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible and make it a comfortable environment.
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Around the Medical Center
- Meet prosthetist and orthotist Herb Niehuus. The work this team does on
behalf of our Veterans is life changing. Learn more about what they do
when you.
- The Altoona VA is helping veterans have access to their prescriptions
making it easier than ever. Whether they are using the mail order option,
or picking up at the facility, they try to make the process smooth and
simple. They also have a program where veterans can get tested to predict
how certain medications will work together before taking them called PGX
or Phaser testing. (WTAJ)
Event Spotlight
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Come out and learn about VA healthcare services and start the application process!
- February 8, 2025
- Duncansville VFW (1665 Newry Lane, Duncansville, PA 16635)
- 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
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We will have enrollment specialists and services at the event that you can speak with to learn more about VA healthcare. Please bring your DD214 and any insurance information to start the enrollment process.
The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center has partnered with UPMC Altoona… What does that mean for you, the Veteran?
On January 16, 2025, leaders from UPMC Altoona and the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center signed a Veterans’ Care Pledge recognizing the start of the VA-UPMC Community Nurse Liaison Program at UPMC Altoona. The Community Nurse Liaison Program model consists of embedding a VA nurse liaison at UPMC Altoona to enhance admission, inpatient stay, and discharge processes for our Veterans. Each phase of care from admission to discharge is streamlined and tailored to you, the Veteran.
With this partnership, our VA Medical Center is now able to directly coordinate your continued care to include things like physical therapy, prescriptions, and follow-up appointments by working hand in hand with community case managers. This collaboration provides a strengthened opportunity for VA to have access into UPMC Altoona with notification when Veterans need VA support and resources which will allow us to help Veterans directly. This expands VA’s ability to meet the needs of all Veterans in our area in their time of need, enroll them in VA care if not already in our system, and will allow us to provide current and ongoing services to Veterans for all current and future needs.
This partnership also provides the opportunity to:
- identify Veterans who present to a non-VA hospital the same day or next business day,
- repatriation into VA post-discharge,
- decrease length of stay,
- improve trust in VA and
- improve collaboration with primary care, social work, and supportive housing,
care coordination and integrated case management.
The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center is constantly working to improve the quality of care for you, our Veterans. With this partnership, we are ensuring direct collaboration with our community providers to do just that. UPMC Altoona and the Altoona VA are working together to set a standard of care our Veterans when you come to us with health care needs.
You served us, let us serve you!
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