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VETERANS'VA New England Healthcare SystemSUMMER 2019healthy livingEmbracingchange

Message fromthe NetworkDirectorRyan Lilly, MPAVeterans’ Healthy LivingEDITORIAL BOARDDear Veterans,Like the seasons, change is inevitable and a sign of renewal. Theimplementation of the VA MISSION Act of 2018, rolled out thisJune, brings a new season of change for VA. New processes andpartnerships will improve Veteran access to healthcare. It will alsohelp VA deliver the right care at the right time in the right place toevery veteran, every time.What will never change is our dedication and immeasurablegratitude to our Veterans. The MISSION Act exists to improvethe healthcare and lives of our Veteran patients, their families,our employees and community partners. Read about four majorcomponents of the MISSION Act, and how they affect Veterans, onpages 4-5.Maureen HeardVISN 1 Chief CommunicationsOfficer / Public Affairs OfficerPallas WahlVA Boston HCS Public Affairs OfficerWEBSITE: www.newengland.va.govVeterans’ Healthy Living is published as apatient education service by VA New EnglandHealthcare System. The publication is intendedto provide information to help you maintaingood health and learn about the many healthservices available through VA. This publicationis not intended as a substitute for professionalmedical advice, which should be obtained fromyour VA health care provider. All articles may bereproduced for educational purposes.Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie discussed the MISSIONAct with Veterans and staff during his tri-state tour of NewEngland in April. He toured the medical centers in Togus, WhiteRiver Junction, and Manchester, visiting patients and deliveringan important announcement to White River Junction. Read moreabout his visit on page 3.The spirit of change was an ongoing theme this spring with theappointment of three new leadership positions at VA Maine,Manchester VAMC, and White River Junction VAMC. See page 6 forbiographies of our outstanding new staff.In the end, change is about the people we serve and the lives wetouch. Enjoy three examples of how we touch lives at a personallevel on page 7.We could not be prouder of our Veterans, staff, and partners.With thanks for your service,VA MISSION:Ryan Lilly, MPANetwork Director2Veterans’ Healthy Living »Honor America’s Veterans byproviding exceptional healthcare that improves their healthand well-being.Spring 2019

Secretary of Veterans AffairsRobert Wilkie visitsVA New EnglandAt the Manchester VA MedicalCenter, Secretary Wilkierecognized staff improvementwork as part of the Department’sefforts to transform theintegrated health care systeminto a high reliability organization(HRO). HROs adopt proceduresand protocols to maximize safety,promising even higher qualitycare for our Veterans.The Honorable Robert Wilkie, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs,speaks to staff and Veterans at White River Junction VA Medical CenterOn April 19, the medical centersin Togus, ME, White RiverJunction, VT, and Manchester,NH enjoyed a visit from theHonorable Robert Wilkie,Secretary of the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA).Secretary Wilkie began hisvisit to New England at the VAMedical Center in Togus, MEbefore traveling to White RiverJunction, where he met with thelocal AFGE President and WhiteRiver Junction VAMC staff. Whilethere, the Secretary visited staffand Veteran patients on inpatientunits, where he presented bothwith challenge coins.His visit to White River Junctionculminated in an employeetown hall where he addressedtopics such as the MISSION Act,budget, and the excellent workof the staff. He also presentedseveral awards and challengecoins. He concluded his visit byannouncing the appointmentof Dr. Brett Rusch as the newMedical Center Director.Manchester VAMC was selectedas the first VAMC to lead theHRO journey based on highperformance. Seventeenadditional VAMC’s will joinManchester in leading the effortto adopt HRO principles andvalues, which include preventingpatient harm, reducing errors, anddeference to expertise whetherstaff, Veterans, or caregivers. VArecognizes that becoming anHRO will not only create a saferenvironment with continuousprocess improvements, butwill also empower employees,Veterans and their caregivers topositively impact patient care.The Honorable Robert Wilkiewas nominated by PresidentTrump to serve as the tenthSecretary of Veterans Affairs. Hewas confirmed by the UnitedStates Senate on July 23, 2018and sworn in on July 30, 2018. Mr.Wilkie previously served as theacting Secretary of VA from March28 to May 29, 2018.Thank you for your service. Now let us serve you.3

MISSION Act 2018strengthens VA commitmentto VeteransDid you know?A study fromDartmouth foundthat VA hospitalsoutperformprivatehealthcare inmost of thecountry.More Veterans are using VAhealthcare — and are happierwith their VA healthcare — thanever before. Veterans trust VAcare. The MISSION Act of 2018honors that trust, and recognizesthat our Veterans deserve thevery best, by enacting plansto strengthen the quality andtimeliness of care across VA.The VA MISSION Act of 2018,contains over 50 sections oflegislation to improve VA’sdelivery of timely, qualityhealthcare. The four majorcomponents include improvedaccess to healthcare fromanywhere and more communitybased options, with thelarger goal of providing morehealthcare access to moreVeterans, where and when theyneed it.4Veterans’ Healthy Living »Spring 2019Community careprograms provide moreaccess to careThe VA has recently earned apatient trust score of 87.7 percentby giving Veteran patientsaccess to the healthcare theyneed, when they need it. Pastimprovements to access haveresulted in VA wait times that areshorter than private wait timesin a number of areas, same dayservices available in primary careand mental health, and directscheduling without a referral in anumber of services.Remote care throughtelehealthThe MISSION Act authorizes theuse of telehealth technologies toprovide care to Veterans in theirhomes, even across state lines.New telehealth technologies letVA offer enhanced accessibility,capacity, and quality of care tomore Veterans.More communityhealthcare optionsVeterans currently have a numberof community care options,including Veterans Choice.The MISSION Act consolidatesChoice into a single programthat is easier to manage. Aconsolidated program is alsoeasier for Veterans, their families,VA employees, and communityproviders to navigate.Veterans using communitycare will see a familiar processimproved with a new urgentcare benefit, expanded eligibilitycriteria, and improved care.Community providers will benefitfrom new IT systems, improvedcommunications, and moretimely payments.For more information onthe MISSION Act, visitwww.missionact.va.gov.

Expanded Programof ComprehensiveAssistance for FamilyCaregiversThe MISSION Act expandseligibility for VA’s Program ofComprehensive Assistance forFamily Caregivers (PCAFC) underthe Caregiver Support Program.Under the MISSION Act, benefitswill be extended to caregivers ofVeterans from all eras. Expansionof these benefits can beginafter VA implements a newinformation technology systemas required by the Act.To learn more about the supportand programs available throughthe Caregiver Support Program,visit www.caregiver.va.gov orcontact the Caregiver SupportLine toll-free at 1-855-260-3274.Strengthen VA’sinfrastructureLooking aheadThe MISSION Act will betteralign VA’s property portfolioand infrastructure with theneeds of America’s Veterans.To achieve this, an Assetand Infrastructure ReviewCommission will be establishedto hold public hearingsregarding the modernization orrealignment of VHA facilities.Incentives also include a pilotscholarship program to providemedical training to eligibleVeterans in return for a servicecommitment of four years in a VAhospital or clinic.The VA MISSION Act, endorsed bymore than 30 Veterans ServiceOrganizations, was signed into lawin June 2018.VA MISSION Act for VeteransThe right care at the right place at the right timeGreateraccess tocommunitycareStrengthen VA’sworkforceThe MISSION Act providesfor access to education debtreduction and allows forflexibility for bonuses forrecruitment, relocation andretention. These incentives willhelp attract and retain top healthcare professionals in a time wherethere is a shortage of healthcareprofessionals nationwide.Improvement is a continuousprocess, and one VA does nottake lightly. Our Veterans deservethe very best. The MISSION Actof 2018 opens new avenuesto improved healthcare andsupport, leading us solidly into abetter future for all Veterans.PeerspecialistsCare at homeusing telehealthBENEFITS TOVETERANSEducation onhealth careoptionsAdditionalsupport whereservices arelimitedEasier accessto VA careExpandedcaregiversprogramsThank you for your service. Now let us serve you.5

Tracye Davis,MedicalCenterDirectorNancy Bedard,PatientExperienceCoordinatorDr. BrettRusch,ExecutiveDirectorTracye B. Davis was appointedMedical Center Director of VAMaine Healthcare System in April.Nancy Bedard was appointedPatient Experience Coordinatorof Manchester VA MedicalCenter in April.Brett Rusch, MD, was appointedExecutive Director of White RiverJunction VA Medical Centerin April.Ms. Bedard brings with hermore than 15 years of variedand valuable experiencein the greater Manchesterarea in management, casemanagement, surgery, andlabor and delivery.Dr. Rusch is a practicingpsychiatrist and mental healthexpert and has been providingcare to Veterans throughout hismedical career.Ms. Davis began at VA as a healthadministration fellow at VAPittsburgh Health Care System in2004. From 2013-2015 she servedas Associate Director for VA MaineHealthcare System.Her most recent positions haveincluded Deputy Director, VAPortland Health Care Systemand Interim Director at MannGrandstaff VA Medical Center inSpokane, Washington and at VALong Beach Health Care System.Ms. Davis is a board-certifiedhealth care executive and Fellowin the American College ofHealthcare Executives (FACHE).She is a graduate of VHA’s HealthCare Leadership DevelopmentProgram and the Office ofPersonnel Management’s SeniorExecutive Assessment Program.She holds degrees fromWashington School of Medicineand Trinity University.6Veterans’ Healthy Living »Spring 2019Together with Patient AdvocateLiaisons in each department, thePatient Experience Coordinatorhelps patients navigate thesystem and ensures thattheir ideas, complaints, andcompliments are addressed.She will also work to ensurethe medical center meets itsstrategic goals associated withdelivery of care and qualityoutcomes, advocacy andcustomer service.Ms. Bedard holds degreesfrom Walden University, theUniversity of Maryland, andNichols College.He is active as an AssistantProfessor of Psychiatry atDartmouth's Geisel School ofMedicine and, as White RiverJunction’s Executive Director,he represents VA as an ex-officiomember of Geisel’s Boardof Advisors.Dr. Rusch joined White RiverJunction VA in 2015 as Chief ofMental Health and BehavioralScience Services. He then servedas Chief of Staff from December2016 through April 2019.Dr. Rusch completed his medicaldegree and residency at theUniversity of Wisconsin School ofMedicine and Public Health.