The 9 Line

Your teeth play a very important role in your life...not only do they help you chew and eat food, but they are also a big part of talking and speaking clearly, and your smile is one of the first things people notice about you when they meet you.  Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can also have many benefits to keeping other parts of your body in top condition.  The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has a full range of dental professionals here to help Veterans keep their smiles shining, but there can be some confusion about who can access dental care and at what level. On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll talk with two of our dental team about why it is so important to keep your oral health at the top of your personal maintenance checklist, who is eligible for what level of care within our dental clinic, and more.

If you've listened to our show before, you've heard us talk at length about the VA's implementation of the Whole Health concept of caring for our Veterans.  Whole Health is an approach to care that supports Veteran health and well-being while centering around preventative education and finding out what matters to a Veteran.  This means a Veteran's health team will get to know them as a person, before working to develop a personalized health plan based on their values, needs, and goals.   April is Whole Health month, so with that in mind we're dedicating this episode of The 9 Line to speaking with a couple of members of our Whole Health staff about how the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is continuing to integrate Whole Health into our care.

When a new year rolls around, it is a tradition for people to make resolutions to change the things they want to improve in their lives.  But usually, by the end of February, most resolutions have fallen by the wayside, waiting to be picked up again in 10 more months when the next January arrives.  But, did you know the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has coaches who can help you with whatever part of your life you want to improve, year round, to help you stay committed to your health and lifestyle goals?  On this episode of “The 9 Line,” VASNHS' biweekly podcast, Joshua Gray speaks with Lynn Burnham and Trinidad Rosas, two of our Whole Health Coaches, about the Circle of Health concept they use to keep people focused on their goals, how they can help you discover your path to a better you, and some of the populations they enjoy working with the most. 

This week, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System played host to Mr. John Boerstler, the Chief Veterans Experience Officer for the Veterans Administration.  In his role, he oversees all of the surveys and customer service data we use to gauge how satisfied Veterans are with the care they recieve not only locally, but nationwide as well.  During his visit, he toured our North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, had the opportunity to meet with our staff and answer their questions about how the VA judges Veteran sentiment, and got a hands-on look at our GPS-enabled Wayfinding system to assist Veterans getting to their appointments. He also had a few moments to sit down with the crew of The 9 Line, talk about his journey to working for the VA, some of the ways we're looking to leverage technology to get more accurate and timely Veteran satisfaction data, and much more.

Eating well in this day and age can be a challenge…from large portion sizes when you go out to eat to highly processed foods in your kitchen when you're cooking at home, many hurdles exist for those looking to live a healthy lifestyle where your body gets the nutrition it needs.  For Veterans, the task can be made even more difficult because the military lifestyle doesn't always lead to great eating habits.  Fortunately for those Veterans, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has a wide variety of programs to help them unlearn those bad habits while giving them the skills to turn their kitchens at home into a place that helps them lead healthier lives.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll speak with three of our dieticians who work every day with our Veterans about the programs available to those who want to improve what food goes into their bodies, what it takes to break some of those bad eating habits built up over the years, and what led them down the path to being nutritionists here at the VA.

Las Vegas was recently chosen as one of six cities of focus for unsheltered Veterans this winter by the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) is increasing its outreach efforts to help meet VA's goal to house 38,000+ Veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide in 2023. Throughout the winter months, VASNHS Community Resource and Referral Centers (CRRCs) will be working with community partners to identify and assist the population of homeless Veterans in Southern Nevada.  But Veteran homelessness isn't just an issue in the winter months, we're dedicated to making sure every Veteran experiencing homelessness has the opportunity to find housing, if they want it.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll talk to three members of our team who work every day to find Veterans who might be homeless and see what solution we can best apply to help get them off the streets and moving forward.  We'll also discuss the ongoing homeless surge and the upcoming Place in Time Homeless Census.

When most people think about the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System's medical facilities, the first thing on their mind is probably our North Las Vegas VA Medical Center.  But, that relatively new and modern building isn't the only place we deliver healthcare in our network, as we have four clinics in Las Vegas and we also have clinics in rural Laughlin and Pahrump.  Providing care at those outlying rural areas comes with some unique challenges when it comes to staffing and other logistics concerns.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll talk to Mike Augustin, Site Manager for our Laughlin Clinic, and TJ Ryan, Laughlin's Administrative Supervisor, about how they manage the care of our outlying Veterans, the logistical challenges they face and how they overcome them, and more.

Smoking cigarettes kills close to 500,000 Americans every year, and even for those who do not die from smoking-related illnesses, smoking costs Americans roughly $600 billion a year in lost productivity and health care costs.  Veterans are not immune to the impacts of smoking and Veterans have multiple factors that increase the likelihood they'll start or continue to smoke.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Janna Broxson, Health Behavior Coordinator, and Dr. Ashley Reich, Behavioral Health Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner about some of the factors that make Veterans more susceptible to smoking, what the VA is doing to help divert Veterans away from the habit, and some of the goings-on for the upcoming Great American Smokeout.

Many organizations talk about having "quality," and the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is no different.  But, what exactly "quality," how do you measure it, and how do you become an organization that is a trusted name for customers and employees to rely on?  Suffice it to say, providing great service using the right mix of taxpayer dollars and manpower resources doesn't just happen.    On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Antoinette Pretto-Sparkuhl, Executive of Quality, Safety, Value and Dottie Grillo, Deputy Executive of Quality, Safety, Value about what steps VASNHS takes to ensure we are providing care at the right time, right place, and for the right cost.  We'll also discuss what goes into evaluating the information they receive and how they determine a path forward based off of that information.  

The VA's Caregiver Support program exists to provide assistance to those who care for Veterans who can't care for themselves.  Taking care of another who needs help with everyday tasks can be a very daunting task, and one that has the potential to take a great toll on the caregiver, both mentally and physically. The Caregiver Support Program is there to help caregivers learn not just what kind of care is needed for their loved ones, but how to best provide that care in a way that helps the Veteran while looking after the caregiver as well. On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to Kristina Ricker-Boles and Sheri Shileika, Caregiver Support Program Coordinators, about how the Caregiver Support Program is there for caregivers, the process of enrolling in the Caregiver Support Program, and some of the upcoming events planned to help caregivers get connected to one another.

On our last episode, we highlighted the fact that September is National Suicide Prevention Month and talked about some of the issues surrounding Veteran Suicide.  One of the issues we didn't address is the barrier that some Veterans feel exists when they need to access immediate care to keep themselves safe from self-harm and they are not exactly sure how it works or how much it will cost them.  Those barriers and the feeling that getting help may worsen the problem by putting them in medical debt is being addressed thanks to the passage of the COMPACT Act, allowing Veterans to get free emergency medical care relating to immediate suicide concerns. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Natalie Wells, COMPACT Act Coordinator and Sheika Adams, Nurse Manager for Transitional Care Community Inpatient, about what the COMPACT Act means for Veterans, some of the types of care covered under this new benefit, and how the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is leading the way for the VA as a whole in implementing this new legislation.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the VA's top clinical priority is preventing suicide among all Veterans, whether they seek their medical care here or not.  When it comes to Veteran suicide, the one statistic you may have heard most prominently is "22 Veterans a day take their own life."  Whether it is on Social Media posts, in conversations with friends or even on bumper stickers, "22 A Day" has become synonymous with the fight to prevent Veterans from ending their own lives.  But, is that number still accurate, and is that number getting smaller? On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll speak with Joe Lasky, VASNHS Suicide Prevention Program Manager, about the steps the VA is taking to combat Veteran Suicide, how that is impacting the numbers, and examine some of the reasons Veterans choose to end their lives.  We'll also let you know how you can help a Veteran in crisis or get help if you are that Veteran.  

If you're a follower of the show, you know we've had multiple conversations with folks involved in managing our Adaptive Sports programs, which help Veterans who have experienced limb loss or some other debilitating condition get out and be active.  However, we've never really had a chance to talk to the Veterans themselves who are a part of these programs and gotten their perspective on what Adaptive Sports means to them.  Last month, the 42nd National Veteran Wheelchair Games wrapped up and we here at The 9 Line felt that would be a great opportunity to have some of our Adaptive Athletes come on the show and talk about their experiences. On this episode, we'll chat with Marine Corps Veteran Jason Kelley and Army Veteran LeToi Adams about their trip to the Wheelchair Games and their successes, how Adaptive Sports helped them in their recovery journey, and more.

On July 26th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recognized the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System with a 5-star rating in their Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings.  The CMS uses 5 categories to determine if hospitals are doing a good job in the realms of safety of care, mortality, readmissions and timely and effective care.  Achieving a rating of 5-stars just doesn't happen out of the blue, it takes a devotion to a culture of care and excellence to make a rating that high a reality.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to VASNHS Executive Director Bill Caron and Grace Cortez, our High Reliability Organization Coordinator, about what it takes to set that culture in motion, where we draw our cultural or practice inspiration from, and much more.

The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances, signed into law in August 2022.  In just under a year, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has screen approximately 48,000 Veterans for toxic substance exposure under the PACT Act, helping to get about half of that number on their way to filing claims for conditions resulting from those exposures.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to Dr. Monica Rawlinson-Maynor, Facility PACT Act Champion and Matthew Boles, Environmental Health Registry Coordinator, about what the PACT Act has meant for Southern Nevada Veterans, the continued outreach to inform Veterans about the benefits available to them thanks to the PACT Act, and much more.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, is something that impacts countless Veterans and if untreated, can have serious consequences for Veterans and for those around them. According to the American Psychiatric Association, those suffering from PTSD may relive a life-threatening event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Pamela Finder, PTSD Clinic Program Coordinator, about what exactly qualifies as PTSD, how the VA is uniquely equipped to help Veterans suffering from PTSD, and more.

The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is committed to creating a welcoming environment and improving healthcare for everyone, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Veterans.  Part of that welcoming environment is recognizing June as Pride Month, where we celebrate the members of our LGBTQ+ Veteran community and help inspire, educate, and inform Veterans about how we provide an affirming and respectful environment where Veterans can feel comfortable being their true selves.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to Sora Lee, our LGBTQ+ Special Emphasis Program Manager, and Tresa Hanshew, LGBTQ+  Patient Care Coordinator about how we'll be recognizing Pride Month, how care for our LGBTQ+ Veterans has evolved over the years, and more.

Recreational Therapy and Adaptive Sports programs provide Veterans with opportunities for health and healing through a multitude of sports and art programs. These specialized rehabilitation events aim to optimize Veterans' independence, community engagement, well-being, and quality of life.  Additionally, they give Veterans an opportunity who may be of a more competitive spirit and outlet to compete against other Veterans.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Everett Lowery, Adaptive Sports Program Coordinator about how we've revitalized our Rec Therapy programs to expand the opportunities for Veterans to participate and what it has taken to send an entire team to the upcoming Wheelchair Games in Portland, Oregon in July.

Going to any hospital can be a stressful experience.  The buildings are usually large and it can be easy to get lost, you may have questions about if you're in the right place, and you may not know exactly who you need to talk to.  Going to a VA hospital can be doubly stressful when you add in benefits and enrollment requirements and a whole slew of other things unique to VA care.  The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System recognizes Veterans can sometimes have a multitude of questions before they even check in for an appointment, and that's why we recently cut the ribbon on our brand new Welcome Center at our North Las Vegas Medical Center to help Veterans find the answers they need when they come to the hospital.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with two of our Patient Navigators about the role the Welcome Center plays, what it means to Veterans and staff to have this resource available, and much more.

For many people, warmer weather means an uptick in the amount of physical activity they end up doing, as they get outside, take walks, and start shaking off the winter rust.  That also holds true at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare system as we use the spring to stress activity among both our Veterans and our Staff through many initiatives, including the upcoming VA2K Walk and Roll.    On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Lauren McKinney, Employee Whole Health Program Manager and Caress Baltimore, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program Manager about who can participate in the VA2K, what we're doing to get our employees on the move, and much more! 

The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System sees patients every day who have experienced limb loss, or have limb difference requiring them to have prosthetic devices that allow them to live as close to normal as possible.  But, the Prosthetics Department here is just part of the story, we also have staff at our facility that helps Veterans learn HOW to use their prosthetics to regain mobility and maneuver life without a limb.  Together, our Prosthetics Department and our Kinesiotherapists help to get Veterans back on their feet, both figuratively and literally.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Joel Stunz, Prosthetics Lab Supervisor, and Jessica Blackwell, Kinesiotherapist, about how they work together to assist Veterans with limb loss or limb difference, the advances in prosthetics that are making amputee Veterans' lives easier, and how helping Veterans with limb loss requires them to be cheerleaders in addition to therapists and technicians.

March 29th marks the 50th Anniversary of the removal of American combat troops from the Vietnam War.  In 14 years of American involvement in Vietnam, 2.7 million servicemembers saw time in-country and close to 60,000 lost their lives.  The war in Vietnam also dramatically reshaped American culture, how Veterans were treated when returning from combat, and transformed many elements of the American military.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll talk to Paul Solid, an Army Veteran who saw combat in Vietnam, about his experiences while serving in that conflict, what impact the war in Vietnam and the resulting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder had on his life, and the hard-learned lessons he carries forward with him to this day.  We'll also speak to Chris Fairweather, a VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Peer Specialist, about his role in supporting our Vietnam Veterans through our Vietnam Veterans PTSD Support Group.

Becoming a medical professional is a lot of work and requires a lot of training.  Not only do hopeful future doctors, dentists and optometrists need to complete medical schooling in their chosen profession, but they also have to take part in a residency program that tacks on a few additional years to their training before they can practice on their own.  At the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, we have a multitude of residency programs to help grow the future of medicine and it is estimated that 70% of physicians in America serve at least part of their residency in a VA facility.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Eric Agulia, Residency Program Educator and Dr. Carlos Rodriguez, VASNHS Resident, about the ins and outs of choosing both residency programs and residents, the advantages of doing a residency with the VA, and how the VASNHS adapted their residency programs during the COVID pandemic.

'Degree inflation': the rising demand for bachelor's degrees in jobs that didn't always require one, is something workers in just about every American industry is facing.  It is an issue where the people currently doing the work don't have degrees, but as they retire or leave their positions, their replacements will be expected to. In the United States today, 37.9% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 65 have a bachelor's degree or higher. Among Veterans in the same age demographic, that number increases to 42%.  No matter which way you look at it, a four-year degree is becoming an increasingly vital thing in society but some Veterans are leaving the service seriously behind the power curve in getting a degree. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with James Taylor, VA VITAL Program Manager and Jeff Detrich, UNLV Director of Adult Education Services and their respective programs, how they help Veterans navigate the higher education process once they've left service, and how they coach Veterans to remain enrolled in education programs.

Every year, almost five million people will need a blood transfusion, which translates to someone needing a blood transfusion every two seconds.  But even with such a vital component of life being needed so frequently and constantly, only three percent of eligible people in the United States donate blood every year.  So few people donating blood is critical enough, but when you add in the fact that blood has an extremely short shelf life, the need for more donors more frequently is critical.  So critical, the United States is currently facing a deep blood shortage.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak to Leanne Beasley, VASNHS Blood Bank Supervisor, and Brittany Estrella, Communications Manager for Vitalant, about the current blood shortage, who can give blood and some of the requirements, and how the process works from the point of donation to using that blood to save a life.

A new year is here and for a lot of people, that means a renews drive to get healthier as part of a New Year's resolution.  For some people, it is a resolution to exercise more, for others it is eating healthier.  But, as motivated as people can be to stick with their resolutions, by the time February rolls around, many people have already lost the drive to continue.  However, did you know that the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has Whole Health coaches who can help you live a healthier lifestyle no matter what time of the year, whether part of a resolution or not?   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with two of our Whole Health coaches about the role they play in a Veteran's health, some of the ways they help to keep Veterans motivated, and what qualities make a good Whole Health coach.

On August 10th, President Biden signed into law a piece of legislation to address the healthcare challenges brought on by Veterans being exposed to a range of toxins through military service.  That law is what is known as the PACT Act, and aims to expand VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.  The Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they've earned and deserve.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Tina Tallerico, the Acting Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's Reno office, and Lauren Castillo, Veteran's Readiness and Employment Program Officer, about what the PACT Act means for our Veterans, who it impacts and who's eligible, and also talk about some of the benefits available to Veterans through the VBA. 

November 11th is Veterans Day, when we come together as a nation to recognize Veterans and the role they've played through history in making America the country that it is today.  Here are the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, our Veterans are our mission and reason for existing, and we honor our nation's Veterans every day of the year by delivering high-quality healthcare in the ways that best suit their needs.  Everything we do is focused on one thing, and one thing only...our Veterans. On this episode of The 9 Line, we're joined by VASNHS Executive Director Bill Caron, as we talk about what Veterans Day means to him.  We'll also talk with him about some of the methodology we use to track employee satisfaction, in addition to discussing the PACT Act and what that means for our OIF-OEF era Veterans.

Sleep might be the one thing that can make or break your day before it is even started.  Get a good night's sleep, and it sets you up for a good day ahead.  Have a poor night of sleep, and chances are you'll be cranky, unfocused, and unproductive.  That's why the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare system has a group of folks dedicated to making sure Veterans can get a great night of sleep through diagnosing sleep disorders and then prescribing a course of action, whether it is medication or something like a CPAP machine.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Susan Bannick-Mohrland about some of the issues that keep Veterans from having a good night's sleep, how we diagnose those issues, and talk about the nationwide shortage of CPAP machines and how we're filling the gap in the meantime.

If you ask people what's one thing that gets taken for granted in our everyday life, some people would respond with the creature comforts we enjoy. Things like having lights on in your house, hot water to wash clothes and dishes and air conditioning to keep your house cool.  In a hospital setting, those things aren't just a creature comfort, they are vital to being able to providing quality health care.  Without electricity, life sustaining equipment doesn't work.  Without hot water, we'd have a hard time maintaining a sanitary environment, and without cooling our hospital would be a lot less comfortable and wouldn't be an ideal healing environment for our Veterans. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with three members of our Engineering staff about what it takes to keep the lights on at VASNHS, how they manage all of the construction and upgrades continuously underway in our facility, and talk a little bit about why they choose the VA as their place of employment in career fields they could work anywhere.

Fall means many things...the temperature starts cooling off, football comes back on TV, and the yearly flu shots start hitting the pharmacies around the country.  This flu season has the potential to be a very interesting one as COVID wanes and life gets back to normal for many people.  However, COVID still lurks and many of the measures taken to guard against COVID have fallen by the wayside, potentially leading to an increase in flu cases over the last couple of years.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to Dr. Jason Dazley, our Chief of Infectious Disease and Leslie Murphy, one of our Outpatient Clinical Nurse Leaders about this year's flu vaccine, why it's so important to get it this year as compared to years past, and where Veterans can get their flu shots should they so choose.

We do our absolute best to make sure we can meet all the healthcare needs of our Veterans, but sometimes there is a specific service we can't provide and we have to send one of our Veterans out into the community to get their care.  But how exactly does that system work?  What's the deciding factor on what Veterans can get what care in the community, and when?  That's where our Community Care teams come in. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Samantha Matthews, Shavonne Martin and Dr. Monica Rawlinson-Maynor about our Community Care program, what Veterans are eligible to be seen out in the community, and some of the work that it takes to coordinate care with outside providers.

It's always a joyous occasion whenever someone celebrates a birthday or anniversary, and here at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, we're in a celebratory mood as we quickly approach the 10 year anniversary of the opening of our North Las Vegas Medical Center.  Opening our North Las Vegas Medical Center was an important step in our continuing mission to provide America's Veterans with the best possible healthcare, as it allowed us to gather many of our resources under one roof in a modern facility. On this episode of The 9 Line, we're joined by VASNHS Executive Director Bill Caron, VASNHS Chief of Staff Dr. Ramu Komanduri, and VASNHS Assistant Director John Stelsel to talk about the planning that went into building our Medical Center, some of the roadblocks and challenges to making it a reality, and what the next ten years holds for our Healthcare System.

As a Healthcare System, we need to be prepared to not only deal with a health emergency that a Veteran may have, like a heart attack or a stroke, but we also have to be ready to deal with any situation life my throw at us like a natural disaster or a pandemic.  Since March 2020, we've been confronted with the many challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and one of the reasons we've been able to deal with COVID as well as we have is because our staff has been trained and drilled on many occasions of exactly what to do during a pandemic.  The people who manage and administer that training and planning work as part of our Emergency Management department. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Felix Acevedo and Adrian Allen, two of the individuals here at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System who come to work every day thinking about the worst case scenarios, and then planning and devising ways to keep those scenarios at bay.

Healthcare has evolved rapidly and in unexpected directions over the past two years, and the kinds of services we deliver to Veterans and they way we serve them has changed just as rapidly and unexpectedly.  It goes without saying the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted day-to-day healthcare services, but it has had far-ranging effects on how we staff those services and how we plan for our future. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Executive Director and CEO Bill Caron about what's gone on in our facilities in the past six months, the challenges in staffing our facilities so we can continue to provide healthcare to America's Veterans, and some ways we're looking to the future and planning around the COVID-19 virus.

When you think about Mental Health or Behavioral Health inside of the VA, many people will think about helping Veterans overcome PTSD issues related to service.  However, here at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, we also offer some help that a lot of people probably don't think of when they think "mental health" and that's helping Veterans with interpersonal relationships with a spouse or partner through our Couples and Family Service program. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Ben Loew, our Couples and Family Services Coordinator, about the wide range of programs available to anyone seeking couples counseling or help with relationships, some of the unique aspects of how life in the military can impact a Veteran's relationships once they leave service, and some of his personal successes in helping Veterans become better communicators with their spouses or partners.

Technology has always been something that promised an easier, more convenient life.  From the fantasy of flying cars in the 1960s, or the real application of how the Information Superhighway changed how we go about many tasks in the late 1990s and early 2000s, integrating technology has not only held promise, but excitement as well.  Here at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, we're constantly rolling out new technological initiatives to improve the experience our Veterans have during their appointments and even before they even walk into any of our facilities. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Charles Ramey, Chief of Communications and Customer Experience, Dr. Lowryanne Vick, Chief of Telehealth Services, and Brandi Ruiz, MyHealtheVet Coordinator about some of the ways we're using technology to cut wait times, put more information at Veterans' fingertips, and help them see providers in a setting that works best for their lives.

If you've ever been inside one of our medical facilities, chances are very good you have seen, or even had an interaction with, one of our many volunteers.  Working in areas ranging from hospitality and our information desk, to clerical and even printing duties, our volunteers are absolutely vital to ensuring everything we do runs smoothly.  Before COVID, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System had over 600 volunteers working hard to make sure every Veteran visit was a good one.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Robert Johnson, the Chief of our Center for Development and Civic Engagement about the many roles our volunteers play, in addition to the vital contributions of the CDCE in managing donations to VASNHS and managing our relationships with any number of outside organizations who also want to help us provide Veterans with top-quality healthcare.

For some Veterans coming to the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System isn't just a quick trip around the corner.  Sometimes they come from many hours away due to the size of our catchment area, and sometimes they're here for a very long time and their families need a place to stay.  That's where the Fisher House comes into play.  Located on our campus, the Fisher House is a 16 room lodging facility where the families of any Veteran or Active Duty servicemember undergoing care in Las Vegas can stay free of charge. On this episode of The Nine Line, we talk with the staff of the Fisher House here in Las Vegas about how the House serves members of our Veteran and Active Duty community, what kind of support it takes from the local community to provide that service, and what drew them to working for the Fisher House.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and statistics show that one in three women and one in four men will be subjected to some form of sexual assault during their lifetimes.  Sexual Assault, and how the military and Veteran populations deal with it, has become a hot-button issue in many corners of American society as the focus turns towards rooting out predators and giving those who have experienced sexual assault more encouragement to come forward and tell their stories. On this episode of The 9 Line, we're joined by Dr. Nicole Anders and Felicia Douville to talk about VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System's Military Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence programs, some of the data that drives the programs to be more effective, and also about Denim Day, the upcoming capstone event of April's Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

There are many professions and industries that have simulators to allow staff to practice high-pressure or important scenarios in a practice environment.  Airline pilots have very involved simulators that let them see what it is like to suffer any number of technical failures without putting lives and aircraft at risk and police have simulators that let them see what it is like to deal with potentially armed individuals or hostage situations without putting real lives in danger.  But did you know the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System also has a robust training facility that allows our staff to see any number of potentially life-threatening medical conditions so they can practice responding to them if they should ever occur in our hospital or clinics? On this episode of The 9 Line, we talk to Dr. Eddie Avallone, Clinician Educator, and Quentin Hart, Simulation Coordinator about our Simulation Lab and how we use it to train staff to be ready for situations, how those training programs and situations are planned and tested, and how they decide on how to focus on what training our staff needs to see the most.  

The VA strives to provide care to patients that is safe, high quality, and centered on the needs of the patient.  But care like that doesn't just happen naturally, it takes a tremendous effort from a multitude of people to ensure the safety of our Veterans.  It involves not only the people who directly see a patient, but also supporting staff like our housekeepers and even the Veteran themselves.   On this episode of The Nine Line, we speak with representatives from Patient Safety and Quality, Safety, Value Departments to talk about the ways we create a culture of safety, some of the reporting methods to identify and correct potential patient safety concerns, and discuss some of the ways Veterans can be a part of the patient safety process.

Homelessness is an issue that impacts every major city in America, but for a variety of reasons from weather to infrastructure, Las Vegas has the fourth highest rate of Veteran homelessness in the country.  There's also a lot of factors that contribute to an individual falling into housing insecurity, such as loss of employment, economic pressures, or even addiction.  All of those factors mean that combating homelessness is not an issue with a one-size-fits-all solution but rather must be confronted with a variety of different means.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we take a look at Veteran homelessness in Southern Nevada and speak with Liz Jarman, our Community Resource and Referral Center Program Coordinator, Gigi Simmons, HCHV Program Coordinator, and Danielle Zuber, HUD-VASH Supervisor about the many, many avenues the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System uses to help get homeless Veterans off of the streets.

When you think of a hospital, you may think of doctors, nurses, and medical examinations.  Chances are you probably don't think a hospital would have its own police force.  However, even though the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System has our own police force, our officers aren't out busting crime and solving mysteries.  They're primarily here to ensure a safe environment for both patients and providers and are one of the first resources called upon if there is ever a need to de-escalate a situation. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Deputy Chief Travis Payne, and Captain Jim Karahalios about how the VA Police go about keeping everyone safe, what's on the horizon as the facility looks to keeping security a priority, and a little bit about the newest four-legged member of the force who will be on duty here soon.

Every day, 17 Veterans take the actions to end their own life.  While this number is a decrease in years past, it is still entirely too high and a main reason that suicide prevention is one of the VA's highest priorities.  One of the key facets to this battle is fighting the loneliness and isolation a lot of Veterans feel both during the holidays and as weather changes, and also the transition from military life to civilian life with regards to routine and camaraderie.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Alphonso Gibbs Jr. and Ben Starks, two of our suicide prevention coordinators, about how we're looking at facing the challenges of socialization and loneliness as it impacts Veteran suicide and also how they're taking a public health approach to further reducing the number of suicides from 17 to 0.

2021 has been a year of many hopes, and many challenges for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System.  We've seen the hope brought by the COVID-19 vaccines, and the resurgence of COVID through the Delta variant, in addition to a record number of unique Veterans to our facilities and any number of patient care success stories we've shared with you throughout the year. On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with VASNHS Executive Director Bill Caron and recap the year about to go into the history books, and take a look forward at what 2022 could bring to Veteran healthcare in Southern Nevada.  

No matter how motivated you are to eat healthy and provide your body with the nourishment it needs, there are so many factors in today's society working against the right kinds of diet.  Convenience of unhealthy food, massive portion sizes, and using food as a means to help eliminate stress are just a few of the reasons why today's Americans have issues maintaining a healthy diet and weight.  In addition to all those challenges, some Veterans have additional roadblocks that keep them away from a healthy lifestyle.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we'll speak with our dietary staff about some of those unique challenges Veterans face in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, how VASNHS is addressing health issues brought on by poor dietary habits, and some of the exciting classes available for Veterans to learn to eat a more healthy diet.

More than 34 million Americans currently smoke in some form, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States.  Acceptance of smoking in public has seen a dramatic decline in recent years, as more and more places become smoke free environments.  But just because smoking is less accepted in public spaces doesn't mean smoking itself is in decline.  In fact, due to COVID-19 related stress issues, the United States has actually seen an uptick in the number of smokers.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Dr. Melissa LaVan and Dr. Stephen Slubar about what the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is doing to help Veterans kick the habit, how smoking can make you more susceptible to the worst impacts of COVID-19, and the upcoming Great American Smokeout on the 18th of this month.

There are plenty of resources and clinics here at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System devoted to physical and mental health of Veterans, but one of the pillars of the Whole Health model we use here is that of spiritual health.  Spiritual health of Veterans is attended to by our small cadre of Chaplains, and with close to 300 religious preferences among the Veterans we serve, our Chaplains are plenty busy.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with Chief of Chaplain Service Dr. Dwight Webster, and Chaplain Esther Geevarghese about how we're growing our Chaplain corps here at the VASNHS, some insight as to what a Chaplain does at a VA facility, and much, much more.  

Whole Health is VA's cutting-edge approach to care that supports Veteran health and well-being. Whole Health centers around preventative education and finding out what matters to a Veteran, not what is "wrong". This means a Veteran's health team will get to know them as a person, before working  to develop a personalized health plan based on their values, needs, and goals.   On this Episode of The 9 Line, we speak with a couple of members of our Whole Health staff about how the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is incorporating this modality, what we're doing new with Whole Health, and a host of other issues involving this new way of approaching Veteran health.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and nationwide you'll see events aiming to increase visibility and raise funding for breast cancer research.  Women Veterans also happen to be the fastest growing single demographic served by the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, and we continue to add more and more services to better meet their needs.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we're joined by Cindy Clements-Miller, our Woman Veteran Program Manager, to talk about all of the work that's being done to improve our care for Woman Veterans, from conducting focus groups and town halls specifically geared towards women Veterans, to planning out a new Women's Health clinic building.  Not only will we talk about what we're doing locally, we'll also discuss with her the full slate of events we've planned for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.