VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

If we have not seen you recently but you plan to attend our COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Veterans age 65 and older on Saturday, Jan. 30, you can save time in line by confirming in advance that you are still eligible for VA health care. To confirm your eligibility before you arrive, please call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Not yet enrolled in VA health care? Find out if you are eligible to enroll in VA health care: Apply at https://bdd...y.me/3clGNWd Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ at https://bddy.me/3ad8xKe Note: You may be asked for your DD214 and to provide income information. For information on Saturday's walk-in clinic, please see https://bddy.me/3akSQRk #COVIDVaccine

In this Vantage Point blog post, a VA nurse explains why she received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. We at VA Pittsburgh provide the Pfizer vaccine: If we have not seen you recently but you plan to attend our COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Veterans age 65 and older on Saturday, Jan. 30, you can save time in line by confirming in advance that you are still eligible for VA health care. To confirm your eligibility before you arrive, please call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday thr...ough Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Not yet enrolled in VA health care? Find out if you are eligible to enroll in VA health care: Apply at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/ Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ at https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-10EZ-fillable.pdf Note: You may be asked for your DD214 and to provide income information. For information on Saturday's walk-in clinic, please see https://www.facebook.com/VAPHS/posts/10157613547226820 #COVIDVaccine See more

We will hold a walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic for eligible Veterans age 65 and older from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at University Drive. For details, please see our Facebook post at https://bddy.me/2KX4Hw2

Join us and the Pittsburgh and White Oak vet centers at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, for Persian Gulf War: 30th Anniversary Virtual Event. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/248720496629164 (photo courtesy https://www.dvidshub.net/)

#Congratulations to Linda Kurtz, our DAISY Award winner for January. Linda is one of our critical care RNs. She was nominated by Army Veteran Ron Dambrosia, who was delighted with the way that Linda showed that nursing skills go way beyond medical knowledge. All of the nurses at University Drive VAMC deserve awards. They are dedicated and incredibly kind. Even in the midst of their professionalism, sometimes one nurse stands out. Linda got me out of bed and subsequently o...ut of my growing depression. We joked with one another, sang with one another, and shared family stories. Amazingly, this was all in one twelve-hour shift. I learned that good nursing skills go way beyond medical knowledge. Linda demonstrates that real nursing also means laughter, teasing, caring and sharing. Among the great, the cream always rises to the top. Linda is the ‘la crème de la crème.’ --Ron Dambrosia Our DAISY Award honorees demonstrate VA’s ICARE principles, excellence through their clinical expertise, and compassionate care. They are recognized as role models in our nursing community. To learn more or nominate a VAPHS nurse for a Daisy Award, please visit https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/daisy-award/

Virtual Reiki is coming soon to VAPHS! Reiki is an energy-based practice for Whole Health. It induces a deep state of relaxation and restores balance so the body can heal. Participants report:... Improved mood and sense of well-being Less pain And more! Attend* our Virtual Reiki Circle virtually via VA Video Connect starting in January: First Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m. Second Wednesday of every month at 4 p.m. Fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. For more information: Call Rosanne Zawinski at 412-360-6445 Send a secure message via MyHealtheVet to PITTSBURGH-WHOLE HEALTH_WH *Except federal holidays

Learn about the initial VA plans to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine.

Our DAISY Award honorees demonstrate VA’s ICARE principles, excellence through their clinical expertise, and compassionate care. They are recognized as role models in our nursing community. To learn more or nominate a VAPHS nurse for a Daisy Award, please visit https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/daisy-award/

Happy 384th birthday, National Guard! Always ready, always there. Thank you for your service, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guardsmen: To learn about VA education, home loans, pension and disability compensation benefits, please visit https://bddy.me/3mcE7f6 In these photos: Three Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen with the 171st Air Refueling Wing’s Aerospace Medical Squadron and Public Health office assist with drive-through COVID-19 testing for fellow unit memb...ers on July 16 at the air base in Pittsburgh. The testing was for unit members who were asymptomatic as part of a proactive precaution. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Zoe M. Wockenfuss) A soldier with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 128th Brigade Support Battalion assists with food distribution on April 2 at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency activated 17 Pennsylvania National Guard members on April 2 to assist with the mass packing of emergency food boxes, large scale drive-up distributions and general operations at the food bank. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. David Boyles)

Physical activity is important all year round. Click the link to check out tips for staying physically active during the winter months. https://bddy.me/37V5Fk1

VA Pittsburgh and Ompractice provide free, unlimited yoga, tai chi and meditation classes for Veterans now through January 2021. You can livestream classes via two-way video from the comfort of your home. Get instant feedback and support from your instructor! Beginner or expert, we have a class for you. To sign up: Go to https://bddy.me/3oOzUzE affairs Select I’m a Veteran and click Sign up Now under Pittsburgh, PA... Click Sign up now to add the free membership to your cart, then click Proceed to checkout (cart should show $0). Enter your information and click Sign up Now. To take a class: Choose any scheduled class at https://bddy.me/2JXD2uu. Add the class to your cart. Classes should show as $0 if you are logged in. If you are prompted for a credit card, you are not logged in. Click Proceed to checkout. Verify your basic information and include any notes for the teacher In the Additional Information section (injuries, requests, etc.). Click Place Order at the bottom of the page (again, will be $0). When you’re done, you will receive an email with a unique link to access the class in Zoom. Online help is available through the orange button at the bottom of any page on Ompractice’s website. Speak directly with customer support who can answer any questions or provide class recommendations. Personal improvement is an integral part of VA’s Whole Health philosophy and these classes will be of great benefit to Veterans.

Help prevent suicide by saving the Veterans Crisis Line to your phone. Be prepared in case a Veteran in your life needs it. https://bddy.me/36xUQ6C

Our virtual hiring fair for nursing assistants is going on until Nov. 18. Send your resume or call our recruiters now. Details in event post: https://www.facebook.com/events/789471608281979/ @PACareerLinkPgh @paclbutler