For the Veterans Affairs’ first-ever National Access Stand Down, employees were encouraged to spend the day catching up on work and refocusing their efforts on tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the VA — access.
“What we’ve done today is get out of the fray of everyday work and look at specific processes and making sure that we have things in place,” said Linda Boyle, the interim director of the Alaska VA.
She said Alaskan veterans face access challenges not seen in the Lower 48. Notably, travel expenses to medical appointments from remote areas are pricier than elsewhere. Moreover, if a veteran here cannot find the care they need, they might be forced to seek treatment out-of-state. However, Boyle said being a veteran in Alaska has its advantages.
“We’re able to use partnerships that people in the Lower 48 don’t have access to,” said Boyle, adding that veterans in the Bush have access to Native health centers so they don’t always have to travel to Fairbanks or Anchorage for treatment.
The VA hosted medical appointments on Saturday at their Muldoon Road clinic to allow veterans who work Monday through Friday an opportunity to get treated.
“Today is fabulous,” said Navy veteran Joe Lozano. He said coming in on a Saturday prevents him from “missing the opportunity to do work.”
Nine veterans came in for scheduled appointments Saturday. The VA has roughly 70,000 veterans in Alaska, 17,000 of which are active in the healthcare system.
Employees came in on a voluntary basis, although they were paid.
“The VA is very serious about bringing people in and providing access timely to patients and taking time to step away from our regular workday to focus on this today,” said Alaska VA Healthcare System chief of staff Cynthia Joe.
Saturday’s event was separate from previous stand downs hosted by the VA, which were outreach programs aimed at helping homeless veterans.
Friday, February 17 2017 12:06 PM EST2017-02-17 17:06:28 GMT
Thursday, June 21 2018 4:03 PM EDT2018-06-21 20:03:55 GMT
You’re my friends now. We’re having soft tacos later. Yeah but I don’t know how to make myself go there. Maybe it might never happen again. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Put a little fence around it! Ralph Waldo Pickle Chips! I don’t know him.Pony Lords, jump for you
PersonalityCatbug may be about 10 years old, and has a very sweet and childlike personality. Catbug's personality also makes him seem simpler and more carefree, like in the episode "Gas-Powered Stick," where he was seen talking to a spider, and in the ep
PersonalityCatbug may be about 10 years old, and has a very sweet and childlike personality. Catbug's personality also makes him seem simpler and more carefree, like in the episode "Gas-Powered Stick," where he was seen talking to a spider, and in the ep
Thursday, February 23 2017 9:17 PM EST2017-02-24 02:17:22 GMT
Thursday, March 16 2017 1:27 PM EDT2017-03-16 17:27:38 GMT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) - A woman was trapped early Friday morning in her home after her bedroom ceiling collapsed on her while she was in bed. Fort Wayne fire crews and paramedics rushed to the sceneMore>>
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) - A woman was trapped early Friday morning in her home after her bedroom ceiling collapsed on her while she was in bed. Fort Wayne fire crews and paramedics rushed to the sceneMore>>
Monday, August 27 2018 5:26 PM EDT2018-08-27 21:26:00 GMT
Tuesday, May 5 2020 10:40 AM EDT2020-05-05 14:40:00 GMT
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vel efficitur diam, ut tempus lorem. In laoreet velit eget magna malesuada, sit amet mollis diam pretium. Suspendisse vulputate erat et maximus commodo. Proin ullamcorper, neque quis commodo vMore>>
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vel efficitur diam, ut tempus lorem. In laoreet velit eget magna malesuada, sit amet mollis diam pretium. Suspendisse vulputate erat et maximus commodo. Proin ullamcorper, neque quis commodo vMore>>