Page 9 - Desert Oracle July 2021

Stakeholder Update
June 2021

Updated Positions:
• Stacy Perona is the new Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Service Line Manager
• Elizabeth ‘Jane’ Despiegelaere is the new Privacy Officer

COVID-19 Plan (as of 06/01/2021):
• Effective April 5, 2021 NAVAHCS moved to Phase 3 for outpatients. This means our outpatient
clinics are seeing approximately 75% of patients face-to-face. NAVAHCS will continue serving
healthcare needs through video and telephone visits as well as maintaining 100% scheduling
overall.
• Visitors are now authorized in the inpatient areas. Everyone is still required to go through the
screening process and wear a mask and check-in at the nurses’ stations before visiting any
Veterans in 3B or the CLC.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all Veterans. For Prescott vaccine clinic, schedule by
calling 928-717-7406 for an appointment. The Prescott clinic is open Tuesday and Wednesday
for Moderna vaccine and Friday for the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For Veterans
wishing to receive the vaccine at a NAVAHCS’ CBOC, call the CBOC for a date and time for
both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Veterans can also go to MyHealtheVet to
OPT-IN to be placed on the call list for scheduling.
• Walk-ins are welcome at all NAVAHCS vaccination sites based on vaccine availability. If the
vaccine is not available on that day, Veterans will be offered an appointment in the next
vaccine clinic for either the choice of the two dose Modera vaccine or the single dose Johnson
& Johnson vaccine.
• NAVAHCS continues to provide vaccines in line with the SAVE Lives Act at all vaccination
sites for non-enrolled Veterans, their spouses, and caregivers. Veterans, spouses, and
caregivers can now receive vaccinations at any of the NAVAHCS vaccination sites.
• As of June 1, 2021, NAVAHCS has given a total of 20,335 doses of the Moderna and a total of
402 doses of the single dose Janssen COVID vaccine.
• We are continuing to vaccinate our Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Veterans as well as
our Homeless Veteran population.
Secretary of VA Message

Secretary McDonough announced two changes to the service connection benefits for Veterans with
Toxic Exposures. The first change is the VA has added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and
Parkinsonism to the list of those conditions presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange
for Vietnam Veterans. The second change includes chronic respiratory conditions associated with
exposure to airborne hazards for Veterans who served in Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, and
Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War and after September 11, 2001.