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. |
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Message from the Interim Network Director
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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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