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New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Network

 

VISN 2: Volunteer News Fall 2014

Veterans Volunteer News Cover Fall 2014 - Become a Volunteer

To print, download the full "Voluntary Service Newsletter" in Acrobat PDF Format Acrobat PDF Document
 
 
 
Editorial Board

Darlene DeLancey,
Interim Network Director
Tom Sharpe,
Acting Deputy Network Director
Kathleen Hider,
Network Communications Manager/Editor
Ruth Harvie,
Public Affairs Specialist
Kathleen Laughlin, Design/Layout

Volunteer Staff
Albany
Jim Keller, Manager
(518) 626-5506
Noney Grier  Specialist
(518) 626-5507
 
Bath
Lynn Dinehart, Manager
(607) 664-4965
Mary Harkin, Program Assistant
(607) 664-4771

Canandaigua
Robin Johnson, Manager
(585) 393-7759
Dan Ryan, Public Affairs
(585) 393-7209
Utaw Vines, Specialist
(585) 393-7761
Louise Motyka, Specialist
(585) 393-7729

Syracuse Volunteer Staff
Bob Hawes, Manager
(315) 425-4681
Sheri Valle, Specialist
(315) 425-4898
Lisa Gualtieri,, Specialist
(315) 425-4315

WNY Volunteer Staff
(Buffalo and Batavia)

Mark Francis, Manager
(716) 862-8667
Kelly Roberts, Specialist
(716) 862-8672
Jason Jaskula, Specialist
(585) 297-1196
Sharon Shelton, Program Specialist
(716) 862-8671


Web Site:
www.visn2.va.gov/vet/volunteer.asp 
The VAVS newsletter has been created for all volunteers and potential volunteers of VA Health Care Upstate New York. This publication is meant to showcase the wonderful work our volunteers contribute to VA. Produced by VISN 2 Public Affairs. Printed by Veterans in the Therapeutic Printing Program, Bath VAMC.
 
Message from the Interim Network Director
 
Darlene Delancey Interim Network Director
Volunteers play such an important role in improving the quality of life for Veterans. Your time and monetary donations and the relationships you develop with Veterans are invaluable in improving their health care outcomes.

As VA has expanded its care of Veteran patients in the community, VA volunteers have contributed by assisting staff in respite programs, outpatient clinics, community living centers, home based primary care and outreach centers. Volunteers have also become an integral part of our Welcome Home and Stand Down events. I personally thank you for all that you do and continue to do to support our Veterans.

As Volunteers, you also play an important role in encouraging Veterans to enroll in VA health care. I want you to know, that our medical center staff are diligent in providing timely medical appointments both in primary and specialty care to meet the health care needs of Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs executed an Access Audit Review nationally that included 2 phases to review all VA Medical Centers and their Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), at which time data was collected via site visits, questionnaires and interviews. VISN 2’s data showed that 96.4% of all appointments are scheduled within 30 days. As part of our continuous process improvement program in VISN 2, our Medical Centers and CBOCs continue to offer more appointment times with flexibility to Veterans -

  • Offering, where applicable, early morning, evening and Saturday appointments
  • Expanding the use of telehealth services which provides Veterans, the convenience of getting specialty care without the travel time.
  • Referring Veterans when necessary to an outside community provider under the fee basis program
  • Adding more Mobile Clinic vans to serve Veterans in rural areas
  • Expanding the Binghamton and Rochester CBOCs

I hope the information I have provided will help you to continue to assist us in encouraging Veterans to enroll in VA health care so they can get the care they so well deserve.
Thank you.

Darlene A. DeLancey, M.S.
Interim Network Director





We Want to Hear from You!
If you have any comments, questions, story ideas, etc. contact:
VISN 2 Public Affairs VA at Clinton Crossings
919 Westfall Road, Building B, Suite 115 Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 463-2642
Kathleen.Hider@va.gov

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