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Our Summer 2023 edition of "New England Veteran" is now available! New England Veteran is a magazine published by the VA New England Healthcare System four times a year, each season. "New England Veteran" provides information about Veteran benefits from a military-culture perspective with stories of interest for our Veteran community.
Click on the following PDF link for the Summer 2023 edition:
New England Veteran Summer issue 2023
Inside:
New Rumford CBOC now open for business
Navigating the PACT Act claims process
Physical therapy helps Veteran get active again
VA Boston Brain Bank helps future generations of Veterans with brain disease
Click on the following PDF link for the Spring 2023 edition:
New England Veteran Spring 2023
Inside:
Undersecretary for Health unveils priorities during visit
VA Manchester personnel receive awards for Excellence in Nursing
Annual New England Adaptive Winter Sports Clinic Returns
Click on the following PDF link for the Winter edition:
New England Veteran Winter 2022
Inside:
Helping people an ocean away: One VA doctor responds to an inner call to help in Ukraine
On the scent: Belle, a VA Boston Police Dog, gives German Shorthaired Pointers a good name
76 for a Veteran's 76th: A birthday sparks creativity and joy for Veterans and students
PACT ACT information and resources
Click on the following PDF link for the Fall edition:
New England Veteran Fall 2022
Inside:
Memory care: Studies find that amyloid PET imaging improves care of Veterans with memory problems
Getting the word out
Don't let your hand take the fall: Take steps to avoid common tendon injuries over the holiday season
TeleCritical Care goes live
Click on the following PDF link for the Summer edition:
New England Veteran Summer 2022
Inside:
Mind over matter -VA Connecticut Headache Center of Excellence provides headache relief
Advancing stroke care
A spark of hope - Community residential care team helps Veteran residents recover from fire
The Wall that Heals -Vietnam Veterans Memorial comes to VA Bedford
Click on the following PDF link for the Spring edition:
New England Veteran Spring 2022
Inside:
The Healing Power of Music -Music therapy provides a creative outlet
The Greatest Mission - Caring for those at risk of homelessness
The Upper Hand - Beware of gardening risks
Click on the following PDF link
New England Veteran Winter 2021 EditionNew England Veteran Winter 2021
to take you to the Winter EDITION -- enjoy!
Inside:
Right Time, Right Place -- VA Police Chief helps a Veteran in need
Surfs Up! -- Veterans participate in adaptive surfing clinic
All-Veteran Dragon Boat USA Sails Onward, Together
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Our Summer New England Veteran Issue:
New England Veteran SUMMER 2020 Edition
- The Emergency Librarian -- Meet Army Veteran & pandemic fighter Sarah Carnes
- On the COVID-19 frontlines -- A chat with VA Nurse Mark Zacheis
- Info for Veterans on benefits, wellness, heritage and caregiving
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Our premier New England Veteran Issue:
New England Veteran Spring 2020 Edition
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Link here for previous issues of VA New England's
Veterans' Healthy Living
FOR ADDITIONAL
NEWS FROM AROUND NEW ENGLAND
For current feature articles from VA New England,
link here for our FEATURES page.
For our ARCHIVES,
see our below story list of previous articles, features and media reports of interest.
BEDFORD, Mass., Nov. 16, 2020 -- Great American Smokeout
It’s hard to quit smoking. VA understands this. The message to Veterans from the VA New England Healthcare System is that VA can help Veterans access the resources and one-on-one support needed to quit.
BEDFORD, Mass., Nov. 9, 2020 -- VA New England entrepreneurs shine
From a new process to speed up the time Veterans receive cardiac stress tests to a new device to help Veterans with sleep apnea, VA New England was well represented at this year’s VHA Innovation Experience.
BEDFORD, Mass., Oct. 8, 2020 -- #BeThere conference focuses on partnerships
Community leaders across southern New England met virtually to form stronger relationships to prevent Veteran suicides in their region and to discuss outreach strategies for Veterans who are struggling under COVID-19.
BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 30, 2020 -- Helping homeless Veterans prepare for winter
Specialists with the VA New England Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program are starting to look ahead to the winter months to best reach homeless Veterans in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 3, 2020 -- Labor Day meaningful for VA’s Citizen Soldiers
They were the COVID Cavalry. They are VA New England employees who are Citizen Soldiers and Airmen who mobilized to augment community hospitals and support the local response to the coronavirus outbreak this year.
BEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 17, 2020 -- Peer specialists connect over virtual coffee
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing many Veterans from leaving home, the VA New England Healthcare System has relied on its 80 Veteran peer specialists to ensure Veterans stay connected.
BEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 3, 2020 -- VA New England goes virtual with Veteran outreach
More than 100,000 people have watched a VA New England Healthcare System outreach video since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Segments on benefits are important when Veterans are physically and socially isolated.
BOSTON, July 23, 2020 -- VA Boston Healthcare System announces the opening of the new Women’s Health Center at the Jamaica Plain Campus. Women Veterans are the VA’s largest growing patient population and VA Boston has a comprehensive team dedicated to their care. Link here
MANCHESTER, N.H., July 20, 2020 -- VA secured scarce personal protective equipment, or PPE, via FedEx flights through a first-of-its kind partnership with the state of New Hampshire and inventor Dean Kamen. The flights delivered masks, gowns, test swabs and gloves. Link here
PORTLAND, Maine, July 20, 2020 -- VA officials marked the groundbreaking for a new Portland community-based outpatient clinic at 141 West Commercial Street. The clinic will allow VA Maine to expand services to Veterans in a 62,500 square foot, state-of-the-art, energy efficient facility. Link here
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT., July 20, 2020 -- Researchers at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire announced a study that VA hospitals outperform or match neighboring non-VA hospitals in surgical quality and overall patient safety satisfaction. Link here
WORCESTER, Mass., July 16, 2020 -- Major construction has begun for a new five-story medical building on the University of Massachusetts Medical Center campus that will house the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System’s community-based outpatient clinic. Link here
BEDFORD, Mass., July 6, 2020 -- VA New England surpasses 85,000 video visits
Veterans are choosing virtual care through VA Video Connect during the COVID-19 pandemic. VA New England has conducted more than 87,000 video appointments with Veterans between February and July 1.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass., July 8, 2020 -- Thanks to Tim Moran, a Navy Veteran and VA Registered Nurse, hundreds of letters from the community have been delivered to Veterans in the community living center (CLC) at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. Link here
PROVIDENCE R.I., June 28, 2020 -- Rhode Island native Lawrence Connell joins Providence VA as the new director of the health care system. One of his top priorities, he says, will be hiring the “best and brightest” to care for Veterans. Link here
BEDFORD, Mass., June 19, 2020 --Sreeman Lakshmanan, a 15-year-old sophomore from Chelmsford High School, organized a collection of care packages with food and other goodies and delivered them to the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Link here
NEW HAVEN, Conn. June 15, 2020 -- VA Connecticut medical doctor Theddeus Iheanaco earned an award from Yale University for leading the “Happiness Project,” which works to increase access to primary care, clinical support and other evidence-based treatments in Nigeria. Link here
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VA NAMED AS LEAD FACILITY TO REINTRODUCE HEALTH CARE SERVICES -- May 18, 2020 -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie announced the department will begin to reintroduce health care services at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont on May 18 as one of several lead VA sites of care, as states reopen from COVID-19 shutdowns.
VA ANNOUNCES NEW SITE FOR NEW LONDON, CT., OUTPATIENT CLINIC -- May 6, 2020 -- VA Connecticut Healthcare System announced a 20-year $7.8 million lease and expansion for the John J. McGuirk VA Outpatient Clinic in New London.
WORLD WAR II VETERAN GIVEN HERO'S SENDOFF FROM WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VA -- May 5, 2020 -- VA health care staff serenaded Bernard Mowrey, World War II Veteran, as he left White River Junction VA Medical Center on his 102nd birthday.
VA NEW ENGLAND DEPLOYS STAFF TO FIGHT COVID-19 -- April 28, 2020 -- In support of VA’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Northeast this month, more than 120 health care providers from the VA New England Healthcare System have deployed to join clinical staff in New York City and in the greater Boston area.
CORONAVIRUS BRINGS RETIRED NURSE BACK TO WORK AT VA HOSPITAL -- April 28, 2020 -- Denise Dulude was a nurse for 37 years at the V.A. Hospital in West Roxbury and Brockton. She finally retired in January, but COVID-19 brought her out of retirement.
VA NEW ENGLAND ANNOUNCES NEW MEDICAL CENTER DIRECTOR -- April 27, 2020 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Duane B. Gill as the new director of VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, based in Leeds, Mass.
VA NEW ENGLAND COVID-19 UPDATE -- April 26, 2020 -- The Veterans Health Administration and VA New England Healthcare System are paying special attention to Veteran health due to the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.
VA PHYSICIAN HELPS SET UP COVID-RESPONSE FACILITY FOR HOMELESS -- April 20, 2020 -- Dr. David Rosenthal, M.D., at VA Connecticut Healthcare System helps establish a facility for the homeless during the pandemic, the first in Connecticut.
PRIEST OFFERS COMFORT TO VETERANS DURING PANDEMIC -- March 29, 2020 -- The Rev. Varghese of St. Luke Parish in Barrington, R.I., dons protective fear and brings spiritual assistance to patients and clinicians at the VA Medical Center in Providence.
VA NEW ENGLAND FACILITIES ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO USE TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS -- March 27, 2020 -- VA Manchester Healthcare System has seen a triple fold increase in the number of Veterans who are using telemedicne to meet with their providers.
VA PHYSICIAN OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO SEEK A SAFE RESPITE OUTDOORS WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING -- March 25, 2020 -- Dr. Richard Serrao, an infectious disease physician with the VA Boston Healthcare System notes how people can spend time outside but should keep their distance from others during the pandemic.
VA INVITES RETIRED MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO WORK -- March 24, 2020 -- In VA New England, we are especially looking for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and respiratory therapists among others. To our retired VA health care colleagues: Our primary focus right now is on reducing workload across all sites to reallocate these resources to inpatient surge capacity, and, with your help, we can make this transition. Nationally, VA also continues to prepare to potentially support our larger community efforts.
MAINE'S HIRE-A-VET CAMPAIGN EXCEEDS GOALS -- Augusta, Maine, Feb. 12, 2020 – A total of 283 Veterans were hired during the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign, exceeding the program’s goal for 100-plus employers to hire 100-plus Veterans during 100 days. The VA was one of the top agencies that had the most hires during the campaign.
VIRTUAL LIVING ROOM TO CONNECT VETERANS TO VA HEALTH CARE OPENS IN BRISTOL, VERMONT -- Bristol, Vt., Feb. 10, 2020 – The Virtual Living Room, a space where veterans can use broadband connections provided by local telecommunications providers to access VA telehealth services, opened in February. See VA New England Healthcare System feature article by linking here.
REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE OF THE FOUR CHAPLAINS -- Leeds, Mass., Feb. 2, 2020 -- Veterans gathered at ceremonies across New England on Sunday, Feb. 2 to mark the 77th anniversary of the sinking of the United States Army Transport Dorchester and the selfless acts of four Army chaplains who sacrificed their lives to save others.
VA PHYSICIANS ARE WRITING "FARMACY" PRESCRIPTIONS FOR FOOD -- Boston, Mass., Jan. 28, 2020 – The Veterans Administration Repurposing Agriculture for Nutrition and Diet Awareness program, or “VARANDA,” will create a network of sustainable food gardens at VA hospitals to provide fresh food – for free – to Veterans and their families.
VA NEW ENGLAND ANNOUNCES 2020 VETERAN OUTREACH DATES -- Bedford, Mass., Jan. 24, 2020 -- In 2020, the VA New England Healthcare System will support more than 150 events across the region where Veterans will have an opportunity to enroll in VA health care and learn about VA programs and services.
VA NEW ENGLAND'S MOUNTAIN OF MIRACLES -- Newbury, N.H., Jan. 17, 2020 -- The 23rd annual New England Winter Sports Clinic for veterans with disabilities was held at Mount Sunapee Ski Resort in January. More than 50 Veterans who receive VA health care participated in this year’s clinic.
VA CONNECTICUT RESEARCHERS STUDY GENETIC LINK TO ANXIETY -- New Haven, Conn., Jan. 7, 2020 – In one of the largest genetic studies on anxiety, VA researchers at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale University, have found new evidence that could lead to a new understanding and treatment of the condition.
COLLEGE FOR AMERICA PROGRAM GRADUATES VA NEW ENGLAND PROFESSIONALS -- Bedford, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 -- Geared to support VA workforce skills, the College for America program offers VA New England employees the opportunity to obtain college degrees with Southern New Hampshire.
VA NEW ENGLAND EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR NURSE PROFESSIONALS -- Bedford, Mass., Dec. 26, 2019 -- Three VA New England employees received top honors from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the annual Excellence in Nursing and for the Advancement of Nursing award program.
VA NEW ENGLAND PARTICIPATES IN WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA -- Bourne, Mass., Dec. 15, 2019 -- An annual tradition to honor servicemen and women brought thousands of volunteers, including staff from VA New England Healthcare, together for Wreaths Across America at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.
VA NEW ENGLAND EXTENDS A SALUTE TO SERVICE -- Foxborough, Mass., Nov. 24, 2019 -- Outreach specialists from the VA New England Healthcare System and Vet Centers from across the region were part of the annual Salute to Service game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 24.
VET CENTER OUTREACH SPECIALIST GETS NEW HOME -- Glastonbury, Conn., Nov. 21, 2019 – Building Homes for Heroes provided a mortgage-free home for Veteran U.S. Army Specialist Craig Hall. Hall, a VA Vet Center outreach specialist, was injured during a mission in Iraq in 2007.
BOSTON GLOBE NAMES VA BOSTON ONE OF TOP PLACES TO WORK -- Boston, Mass., Nov. 15, 2019 – VA Boston Healthcare System was named one of the top places to work in Massachusetts in the 12th annual Boston Globe employee survey. The survey covers factors such as leadership, training and the ability for employee to work to their full potential.
OFFICIALS BREAK GROUND ON NEW VA PROVIDENCE RESEARCH SERVICE -- Providence, R.I., Nov. 8, 2019 – A new facility will be dedicated in 2020 to the Providence VA Medical Center Research Service following a renovation of the former Jonathan H. Harwood U.S. Army Reserve Center.
WAYNE SOARES VISITS VA NEW ENGLAND -- Bedford, Mass., Nov. 8, 2019 -- Actor and entertainer Wayne Soares says his best audiences when he performs are military Veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Soares, a former ESPN broadcaster, visited the VA Bedford medical center recently.
VETERANS VISIT VA NEW ENGLAND AT THE BIG E -- West Springfield, Mass., Sept. 19, 2019 -- More than 3,000 Veterans visited the VA New England outreach area at The Big E on Military Appreciation Day at Eastern States Exposition.
VETERANS' HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE
Veterans' Healthy Living magazine
was our previous quarterly publication
featuring news and information
for New England Veterans.
PREVIOUS ISSUE:
Featured articles:
- Honor Bus Tour at VA Bedford salutes local heroes
- Telehealth technology helps New England Veteran patients stay connected
- Veterans connect with VA at The Big E "Military Appreciation Day
- Water Fire honors Women Veterans at Providence, R.I., event
- 2020 Outreach "Save the Dates" announced
- VA officials announce plans for new Worcester VA outpatient clinic
- Community leaders open new Somersworth, N.H., outpatient clinic
ARCHIVED ISSUES
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Summer 2019 |
Spring 2019 |
Spring 2018  |
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