The Albany Minute for Veterans

This special episode our Chief Dietician and Chief of Nutrition and Food Services Regina LaTourette joins to discuss the importance of Nutrition in battling Cancer

This episode we have a discussion with Dr. Swapna Reddy one of the Stratton VA Dermatologists about the services offered and the importance of skin protection as June is Cancer Awareness Month for a general overview of dermatology, click here and scroll to Dermatology For an overview of cancer care at VA click here

A Safety6 Story is something the hospital shares regularly with staff as part of our mission to be a High Reliability Organization (HRO). This Veteran special story highlights the amazing work our Social work and Mental Health staff do everyday, so we sat down with Kelly Manolopoulos one of our outstanding Social Workers and Alisha Reiter our high reliability officer, to re record the Safety Story. For more information check out; VA Resources for Veterans For Albany VA mental Health Resources Click Here the Crisis Line is a 24/7/365 resource for Veterans to learn more click here

Today we were joined by Nicole Melius, Chief Radiation Therapist, Kelsey Miller Radiation Therapist and Dr. Phillip Silverman to provide an overview of the array of Cancer Services Offered at the Albany VA. Give it a listen. If you know a Veteran in need of care please have them call 518 626 6650. for a short video on out True beam in action click hereHere is a short overview video

Today we were joined by the Facility My HealtheVet Coordinator Gina Keller [518-626-5000 Ext 61514] To talk about some of the upcoming security upgrades come for My Health E Vet and what it means to you as a Veteran. To log into My Health E Vet click this hyperlink

Today we interviewed Dr. Farzon Nahvi a physician with the VISN 2 Clinical Contact Center's Tele Emergency Center program. You can reach them at 1 800 877 6976. the takeaway from today's episode is, they should be the 1st call if your not feeling well.

On May 23 2024, FMS employee Jason Sprague and VA Police Officer Carlos Romero were presented HERO awards for their actions to put our a fire at the facility earlier in the year. This is a copy of the awards presentation for our audience. Safety Story read by Joe McDonnell and awards presented by Medical Center Director Darlene Delancey

This month we were joined by Dr. Susan Opar and Sarah Mulhall, Social Worker. To talk about LGTBQ+ Health to find a local coordinator click here to contact Sarah at: Phone: 518-626-7523 Email: Sarah.mulhall@va.gov

Today we interviewed Scott Zimber of the Saratoga Naval Station Commissary about what services are offered there and how it can support Veterans in the community. If your a Veteran with Service Connected injuries, check it out they also have a new Click2Go program where you can order ahead and pick up

In this Episode we interviewed Jason Davis [(315)744-5409 or jason.davis3@va.gov ] of the Binghamton Vet Center on What the Vet Centers are, what services they offer and why are the one of the VA's best Kept secrets. if you want to locate a Vet Center go to Vetcenter.gov or call the Combat Call Center to find the closest Vet Center to you 1-877-927-8387 With September being Suicide Prevention Month we also have a PSA for the Crisis Line ( 9-8-8 press 1) or go to the Veterans Crisis Line to chat with someone 24/7/365

This episode we are joined by Keith Claffey and Reshma Patel, 2 providers from the VISN 2 Clinical Contact Center (1 800 877 6976). In this episode, we unpacked what the VISN 2 Clinical Call Center is and why it should be your 1st call if your not feeling well. As Keith said "a dedicated healthcare professional is just a phone call or click away."

in this episode we profile Facility Maintenance Service (FMS) supervisor and local legend in FMS Mr. Keith Olmstead

Today we were joined by one of our Favorite Social Workers Rebecca Newton of the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program and Chief of Police Thomas Gibbons to talk about the VJO program, the outstanding Veterans in Crisis Training and National Police week. don't Miss this Episode

Today we are joined by Nikki Holt, one of our Outstanding Social Workers to talk about the Caregiver Support program and some upcoming Caregiver events

Fun Fact: Did You Know that our intro is from the unofficial Albany VA anthem and played by Christina Rulison one of our Recreation Therapists Today we are joined by The Hospital's Local Recovery Coordinator, Senior Social Worker Penny Deasy, to talk about May is Mental Health Awareness Month what it is and what is in store at the Hospital this May. Make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast to get all the episodes delivered to your phone

April 24th through the 28th is Laboratory Professionals Week and today we were joined by Dr. Raina Patel, Chief of Pathology and Heather Merkley-Tamburello, the Lab Manager to discuss All Things related to the lab. We discussed the Lab's function during the pandemic and what they do on a day to day basis which is pretty special. in FY 2022, the Stratton VA lab, staffed 24/7 with medical technologists, processed 1.4 million tests, transfused 650 units of blood, 30 units of plasma, and 70 units of platelets. Give a listen to this Episode.

In a new segment we're calling the "wellness minute" we're discussing the VA2K with Rebeka Lange, Physicians Assistant in Occupational Health which is open to Veterans and Staff on May 17th

In this month's special Episode #3 of April's Dignity and Respect Campaign where our front line staff ask senior leader's the same 5 questions on what Dignity and Respect Campaign means to them. for Episode 2, the Front Office Program Support Specialist Miss Sharon Joyner interviewed the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and one of our neurology providers, Dr. Donald Higgins.

In This Episode we speak with Julie Montalbano, RN and the best Systems Redesign Specialist in the Albany VA, Robert Sklenarik, about Julie's Systems Redesign Project to improve the Veterans Experience during a colonoscopy. To see her video click here.

In this month's special Episode #2 of April's Dignity and Respect Campaign where our front line staff ask senior leader's the same 5 questions on what Dignity and Respect Campaign means to them. for Episode 2, the Front Office Administrative Officer Nicole LaChappelle interviewed the Associate Director of Patient Care Services, Our Chief Nurse, Amy Wettig.