Page 15 - Desert Oracle July 2021

• Veterans can now self-certify using the “Fast Pass” screening tool to expedite entrance into the
facility. Download the “Fast Pass” app here: screening tool
o Visitors- Veterans in our medical/surgical inpatient settings can now receive visitors
between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. Veterans in our Mental Health inpatient settings can
receive visitors between 6 and 8 p.m. every day. Visitors to ANY of our facilities for any
reason must be 15 or older, consent to screening at the entrance and wear a non-valve
face covering throughout the entire visit.

• Improved Veteran Experience:
o On May 12, 2021, Terry McDermott shared his “In Our Own Voice” recovery story. In Our
Own Voice is peer driven recovery stories to promote cultural change around mental health
and reducing stigma.
o In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, PVHCS held the virtual event
"Advancing Leaders Through Purpose Driven Service" with guest speakers, Dr. Ayyasamy
Panneer Selvam, Former Chief of Staff to Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, Chief
Medical Officer, VISN 15 and Dr. Connie Mariano, Former White House Physician, Rear
Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired).
o On May 1, 2021, PVAHCS held its third Drive-thru Baby Shower for newly delivered and
third trimester pregnant Veterans. The event was joined by our Women’s Veteran’s
Volunteers and offered COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans and family members.
o VA is designing the health care system of the future. On June 01, 2021, VISN 22 hosted a
virtual listening session to hear from Veterans about their care. If you were not able to
attend the meeting and would like to provide feedback, you may submit your thoughts on
the topics outlined below to VHAMAQs@va.gov
 How Veterans want care to be delivered in the future
 Perception of the quality of health care at VA and VA’s community network
 Experience with the ability to get care at VA and within VA’s community network
 Satisfaction with the condition and location of VA’s facilities.
 VA’s role in research, education, and emergency preparedness

• Other Veteran Information:

o The PVAHCS held the 11th Annual VA2K Walk and Run to promote employee wellness
and support the Phoenix VA Health Care System’s Homeless Program.
o The Phoenix VA Health Care System recently held an event to “Welcome Back” its
volunteers with live music, and free food and merchandise. Nearly 100 Volunteers took part
in the festivities, held after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the normal activities of
thousands of Department of Veterans Affairs volunteers nationwide.
o VISN 22 Emergency Management and Phoenix VA Health Care System Telehealth
Emergency Management and OIT-OEM came together to participate in a Rapid Telehealth
Response Drill at the Southeast Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. This was a focused
exercise to test how they work together to utilize equipment and processes to rapidly
establish connectivity to remote virtual providers to best serve patients in a
disaster/emergency site.
o Diabetes Diet Quality Study -The Phoenix VA is recruiting Veterans to participate in
research comparing two online nutrition education methods. If you have diabetes and are
overweight, and you are ready to change your diet, you may qualify for this study. Your
participation will be for three months during which you will be educated about improving
your diet via an online group education. In addition to five online education session and
PVAHCS Update (June 3, 2021)