CALENDAR - VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System - US ...

For the week of June 28, 2010Veterans are invited to attend aPatient Forum June 30 at VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (VANWIHCS), Omaha from 5 to 6 p.m. in theEducation Conference Room (first floor).Veterans can offer feedback abouttheir experiences receiving health careat VA NWIHCS. They will also receivean update about VA NWIHCS servicesand activities.Representatives from VA NWIHCSleadership, patient advocate, publicaffairs and others will be available toanswer questions.In addition, Mary McElmeel, PatientEducation Coordinator, will presentOmaha Patient Foruminformation about My HealtheVet,VA’s award–winning e–health Web site,which offers Veterans, active dutyservice members, their dependentsand caregivers anywhere, anytimeInternet access to VA health careinformation and servicesThis program is part of VA’s goal tobe better engaged with Veterans andstakeholders, to listen to their opinionsabout their health care experiences,and to continue down the path ofcontinuous improvement of VA’s healthcare system.For more information, contactMaggie Oldham at (402) 995-5547.VA NWIHCS Names New Chief of MedicineGary Gorby, M.D., was recentlynamed the new chief of medicine forVA NWIHCS.Dr. Gorby will assume the positioneffective July 4. He replaces LaurelPreheim, M.D., who is retiring afterserving more than 35 years in the VAhealth care system, the past eightyears as chief of medicine.He will also be the Associate Chair ofMedicine for VA at Creighton UniversitySchool of Medicine and the Universityof Nebraska Medical Center when heassumes the chief of medicine position.Gorby has been an infectious diseaseexpert and staff physician at VA NWIHCS,Omaha for more than 20 years. He isboard certified in internal medicine andinfectious diseases. Gorby maintainedan active research laboratory at theVA medical center until 2006 wherehe investigated the pathogenesis ofgonococcal salpingitis through theGary Gorby, M.D., was recently named thenew chief of medicine for VA NWIHCS.application of molecular biology andcomputerized image analysis techniques.Gorby has also been on the faculty atCreighton University School of Medicinesince 1989, where he is the chief of adult-Continued on page 21CALENDARJuneFireworks Safety MonthNational Safety MonthJulyUltraviolet (UV) Safety Month4 Independence Day4-9 National Veterans WheelchairGames6-12 Alzheimer’s Awareness Week21 VA Created (1930)AugustCataract Awareness MonthNational Immunization Awareness Month4 Coast Guard Day26 Womens Equality DaySeptemberNational Preparedness MonthAlcohol and Drug AddicitonRecovery MonthOvarian Cancer Awareness MonthCholesterol Education MonthProstate Health Month6 Labor Day5-11 Suicide Prevention Week11 Patriot Day17 POW/MIA Recognition Day19-24 National Veterans SummerSports Clinic19-25 National Surgical TechnologistWeekOctoberBreast Cancer Awareness Month

-Gorby continued from page 1infectious diseases and an associateprofessor of medical microbiology andimmunology.He is also a clinical associate professorat the University of Nebraska MedicalCenter. Gorby is the program director forthe adult infectious disease fellowship.In 2002, he became co-director of theCenter for Biopreparedness Education(now the Center for PreparednessEducation), which educates Nebraskahealth care providers and firstresponders about potential terrorismand other public health threats.Dr. Gorby has received myriad awardsincluding the Creighton University Schoolof Medicine Young Investigator Award andInnovative Use of Instructional TechnologyAward. He received the DistinguishedAlumni Award from his medical school,and the Walter J. O’Donohue Award fromthe Nebraska chapter of the AmericanCollege of Physicians.Preheim RetiresAfter DistinguishedVA CareerLaurel C. Preheim, M.D., chief ofmedicine at VA NWIHCS, will retire July3 after 35 years of caring for Veterans.Gary Gorby, M.D., will assume the chiefof medicine position effective July 4.Preheim has served Veterans inmany capacities at VA NWIHCS, Omahasince starting as a staff physicianin 1978, including roles as associatechief of medicine, chief of infectiousdiseases and epidemiologist.He has also been associate chair,Department of Medicine, CreightonUniversity School of Medicine since 1998.Preheim has served in many capacitiesat Creighton including chief, InfectiousDisease Section, Department of MedicalMicrobiology and Immunology; director,Adult Infectious Diseases FellowshipProgram; and professor of medicalmicrobiology and immunology.In addition, he has served in severalroles at the University of NebraskaCollege of Medicine including chief,Infectious Disease Section, Departmentof Medicine; and professor of internalmedicine.Rowen Zetterman, M.D., deanof the Creighton University School ofMedicine, summed up the impact thatPreheim’s retirement will have at theschool and VA NWIHCS.“I have been fortunate to serve withLaurel Preheim as my friend and colleagueat VA and Creighton University,” saidZetterman, who was formerly the chiefof staff at VA NWIHCS. “Both institutionswill greatly miss his exceptional clinicalskills and collaborative managementapproach.”Dr. Preheim has received myriadhonors including being named on theBest Doctors in America list since 1996,Laureate Award and the EvergreenAward from the American College ofPhysicians, and Who’s Who AmongAmerica’s Teachers.Shenandoah CBOCWelcomes NewPhysicianVeterans who receive their care atthe community based outpatient clinic(CBOC) in Shenandoah, Iowa, have anew primary care physician.Timothy Longacre, M.D., recentlybegan his appointment as primarycare physician for the clinic at 512 S.Fremont Street in Shenandoah.Longacre replaced James Billups,M.D., who was promoted to AssociateChief of Medicine for Primary Care atVA NWIHCS, Omaha. Billups helpedopen the clinic in February 2009.Longacre comes to VA NWIHCSafter practicing family medicine in theBellevue and Omaha, Neb., area formore than 15 years.He served 13 years in the U.S.Army Reserves as an emergency roomphysician and unit commander. A greatinterest in patient care led him backinto training. Longacre completed aresidency in family medicine at theUniversity of Nebraska Medical Centerin 1996. Concurrently, he joined theU.S. Air Force and served on activeduty as a flight surgeon, primary careprovider and a flight commander.Longacre said he is “proud” of his morethan 25 years of military service, wherehe served in Operations Desert Shield andDesert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring2Freedom. He deployed to the Republicof Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan,Kyrgyzstan, Qatar and Diego Garcia.“I am very excited about theShenandoah CBOC opportunity,” Longacresaid. “I look forward to continuing my25 years of practice by serving theShenandoah Veteran community.”HIV TestingEvery year, the United States marksJune 27 as National HIV Testing Day,a time to remind all Americans of theimportance of early detection of HumanImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virusthat causes AIDS. In 2010, VA is takingthis one step further, setting aside anentire week, from June 27 to July 3, topromote HIV testing.VHA is the largest single provider ofHIV care in the United States, providingcare to more than 23,000 Veterans withHIV in 2008. Yet, less than 10 percentof Veterans enrolled in VA health carehave been tested for HIV. VHA’s goalis to diagnose HIV as soon as possibleso that Veterans can receive careprovided by VHA and remain healthyfor many years to come.VA recommends that every Veteranpatient be tested for HIV at least oncein their lifetime. Routine voluntary HIVtesting is now official VA policy.A SpecialThank You to EachKorean War VeteranDuring this year marking the 60thanniversary of the Korean War, theRepublic of Korea wants to directlythank U.S. Veterans of the KoreanWar for their courageous service andsacrifice on behalf of freedom. A lettersigned by the president of the Republicof Korea expressing that free nation’sprofound gratitude is available to eachliving Korean War Veteran and can beobtained at http://eng.koreanwar60.go.kr/apply.asp or by writing to: U.S.Branch ROK 60th AKW CommemorationCommittee, 2450 Massachusetts Ave.,NW, Washington, DC 20008.The Korean War left the KoreanPeninsula split into two nations – onefree and prosperous; the other enslavedand starving. The Republic of Korea-Continued on page 3

-Korean War continued from page 2to the south owes its freedom andprosperity to the armed forces of theUnited States and 21 other nations whotook on North Korean and later ChineseCommunist forces as they attacked thesouth on June 27, 1950, 60 years ago.A permanent peace treaty formallyending the war has never been assigned.The Military Armistice Commission,composed of representative of bothsides, North Korea and United Nationsforces, continues to administer thearmistice line and its four kilometerwide(2 1/2 mile) demilitarized zone(DMZ) stretching across the Koreanpeninsula along the 38th parallel.Thousands of U.S. soldiers have servedin Korean since the armistice wassigned guarding the DMZ, along withRepublic of Korea forces, under U.N.auspices. The armistice has maintainedthe peace with only minor incidentsthrough four decades.U.S. SenatePasses ResolutionDesignating NationalPTSD Awareness DayIn an effort to bring greaterattention to Post Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD), the U.S. Senatepassed a resolution last week authoredby Sen. Kent Conrad designating June27 as National PTSD Awareness Day.“The stress of war can take a tollon one’s heart, mind and soul. Whilethese wounds may be less visible thanothers, they are no less real,” SenatorConrad said. “All too many of ourservice men and women are returningfrom battle with PTSD symptoms likeanxiety, anger, and depression. Moremust be done to educate our troops,Veterans, families and communitiesabout this illness and the resourcesand treatments available to them.”The senator developed the idea fora National PTSD Awareness Day afterlearning of the efforts of North DakotaNational Guardsmen to draw attentionto PTSD and pay tribute to U.S. ArmyStaff Sgt. Joe Biel, a friend andmember of the 164th Engineer CombatBattalion. Biel suffered from PTSDand took his life in April 2007 afterreturning to North Dakota following hissecond tour in Iraq.He also met with friends of SergeantBiel and presented them a copy of theresolution designating June 27—Biel’sbirthday—as National PTSD Awareness Day.According to the National Institutefor Mental Health, PTSD is an anxietydisorder that can develop after exposureto a terrifying event or ordeal in whichgrave physical harm occurred or wasthreatened. Traumatic events that maytrigger PTSD include violent personalassaults, accidents, and military combat.From 2000 to 2009, approximately76,000 Department of Defense patientswere diagnosed with PTSD.“This effort is about awareness,assuring our troops—past and present—that it’s okay to come forward andsay they need help. We want to eraseany stigma associated with PTSD.Our troops need to know it’s a signof strength, not weakness, to seekassistance,” Senator Conrad said.To learn more about PTSD andlocate facilities offering assistance,visit the U.S. Department of VeteransAffairs’ National Center for PTSD athttp://www.ptsd.va.gov.Veterans in need of immediateassistance can call the VHA SuicideHotline at (800) 273-8255 and press 1.You Spoke:We ListenedMore Parking Available forVeterans at VA NWIHCS, OmahaVA NWIHCShas increased thenumber of parkingopportunities forpatients at VA NWIHCS, Omaha.Parking Lot 1: This lot is adjacentto the main hospital entrance and justnorth of the front circle. Parking isreserved (unless specifically posted bysignage) for patients and guests Mondaythrough Friday between 7 a.m. to 2:30p.m. (excluding federal holidays).Service-Connected Lot: This isthe lot adjacent to the EmergencyDepartment entrance. The entire lotis reserved for Emergency Departmentpatients and service-connected Veterans3who are present for an appointment. Thelot is reserved Monday through Friday,excluding federal holidays, during thehours of 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A goldparking placard is used to denote serviceconnection.Lot between Bldg 5 (HumanResources) & Bldg 4 (Engineering):This lot has handicapped parking spacesreserved specifically for employees withhandicapped parking privileges denotedby a blue placard or a handicappedlicense plate. Except for two parkingspaces marked with specific signage, theentire lot is for employee handicappedparking and reserved Monday throughFriday, excluding federal holidays, duringthe hours of 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thereare now three additional spaces for liftequippedvehicles and eight additionalhandicapped spaces.Off-Site Parking: VA NWIHCSleadership is actively looking for offsiteparking that will be used foremployee overflow parking. There arespaces available at the Center Mall. Tofacilitate pedestrian access, steps wereconstructed on the hill along CenterStreet. In addition, two shuttles providetransportation to and from the mainparking lot and the Center Mall. Eachshuttle driver has a cell telephone. Theirnumbers are 547-6972 or 547-8018.The Omaha Parking Committeecontinues to explore options to easethe difficulties associated with findinga place to park at VA NWIHCS, Omaha.MedicationCo-Payment ChangesEffective July 1, Veterans withhigher incomes and no serviceconnecteddisabilities enrolled inPriority Groups 7 and 8 will pay anadditional $1 for each 30-day supply ofoutpatient medications. The increasefrom $8 to $9 is the first change in VA’smedication co-pay since 2006.This change does not impact Veteransin Priority Groups 2 through 6 who willcontinue to pay $8 for each 30-day supplyof medications for their non-serviceconnected conditions unless otherwiseexempted. Veterans in Priority Group 2through 6 will also continue to have theirout-of-pocket expenses for VA outpatientmedications capped at $960 per calendar-Continued on page 4

-Co-Payment continued from page 3year. Veterans who have an injury orillness connected with their militaryservice resulting in a disability rated 50percent or greater—enrolled in PriorityGroup 1—are exempt from this co-pay.Veterans who have difficultypaying co-payments for outpatientmedications should discuss thematter with their local VA enrollmentcoordinator. Veterans may also contactVA at (877) 222-VETS (8387) or visitVA’s health eligibility Web site at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.myPay SystemReplaces EmployeeExpress Pay SystemVA migrated to a new employeepay system June 24. Employee Express(EEX) has been replaced by myPay.MyPay is convenient and easy to use,anytime, anywhere, by users withaccess to the Internet.Starting June 15, myPay begannotifying VA employees (onlyemployees without a myPay account)of their new myPay temporarypasswords.Employees should notcontact myPay staff membersbefore they receive their temporarypassword. MyPay staff memberscannot set up employees until theofficial temporary passwords havebeen sent.Employees with a valid VA emailaddress in PAID will be able toreceive smartdocs notification emailsfrom myPay, including their newtemporary password. Employeeswithout a valid va.gov e-mail addressin PAID will be notified by regularU.S. mail after June 23.Employees should check theire-mail address printed on the bottomof their pay period 11 earningsstatement and notify HR officeimmediately if their email address ismissing or incorrect.Employees will have “view only”access to EEX to view and printhistorical data such as LES for paycovering May 12, 2007, through June19, and W-2’s for calendar years 2006through 2009.Microsoft OfficeHome Use ProgramOffers Discount forVA EmployeesEmployees can purchase MicrosoftOffice 2010 (Home Use Program) at avery low price ($9.95 for download onlyor $21.95 with DVD). The instructionson how to proceed are at http://vaww.r02.portal.va.gov/sites/VISN%2023/Document%20Library/HomeUse.aspx.Although the Web page may still statethis purchase is for Office 2007, once youclick the link on the page, it will take youto the page listing the purchase for Office2010. VA has not yet transitioned to Office2010 and does not currently supportOffice 2010 applications. Microsoft Office2010 is only for use at home.Check Your Listingin the NWI IntranetTelephone DirectoryTelephone Operations is askingall employees to check their contactinformation in the intranet phonedirectory. Employees should visithttp://vaw w.visn23.med.va.gov/nwi/Telephone/branch.asp, select“Employee Extensions” from the dropdownmenu, and enter their name tocheck the listing for errors or omissions.Services should also check their listing.If you need to make a change, sendan e-mail to PhoneDirectory.NWIHCS@va.gov with the change.Personnel NotesJames Mazurek was selected asthe Supervisory Biomedical EquipmentSupport Specialist (BESS) in BiomedicalEngineering. Jim has been working atVA NWIHCS as a biomedical equipmentsupport specialist since July 2008.Previously, Jim served in the U.S. AirForce for 23 years. He started his careeras a Medical Equipment Repair Specialistand held various positions includingClinical Engineering Branch OperationsChief at Landstuhl Army Medical Center,Germany. His last appointment was asa Medical Logistics Operations Managerat Offutt Air Force Base. Jim can bereached at Omaha, ext. 44684Casual WearVA NWIHCS dress code policy appliesto all employees, work-study, residents,students, contract personnel, andvolunteers while on official duty inthe health care system. As summerbegins, it’s a good time to rememberwhat you choose to wear affects howyou are perceived by patients, fellowemployees, and the public.Proper attire demonstratescompetence and respect for others.Shorts, flip flops and spaghetti straptops are among the items not consideredappropriate dress while on duty. If indoubt, refer to Health Systems Policy,DIR-012 Dress Code, dated July 25,2008. The policy is available at http://vaww.nebraska.va.gov/. From the leftmenu, click on “policies,” and thensearch on the words “dress code.”Employees with questions aboutwhether a particular item of attire isappropriate should discuss it with theirsupervisor and/or union representative.Employees Earn 4-HourTime-Off AwardCongratulations to VA NWIHCSemployees who helped reach the goalfor the All Employee Survey (AES). The90-percent participation mark wasreached during the April-May 2010all-employee forums. All employeeswill enjoy four hours off as a reward.Intermittent, fee basis, students (withoutcompensation) and trainees are excludedfrom the award.This newsletter is for VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System(Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk,Holdrege, North Platte, Bellevue,Nebraska and Shenandoah, Iowa). It ispublished weekly to provide employees,patients and visitors with informationabout VA programs and activities.This newsletter may be found on theIntranet at http://vaww.visn23.med.va.gov/nwi/index.asp. Submit newsitems through e-mail to G. POSTINGSin VistA or to VHANWI MESSENGERin Outlook by close of businesseach Tuesday.For further information, call MaggieOldham at (402) 995-5547.

VA Nebraska-Western IowaHealth Care SystemVA NWIHCS 2010Communications SurveyThe purpose of this survey is to seek feedback from employees, patients and other stakeholders of VANWIHCS publications and communication mediums. Your participation is voluntary and anonymous.Please return completed paper surveys to Maggie Oldham, Deputy Public Affairs Officer (00PA) by July 15.You may also mail your completed survey to:VA NWIHCS Office of Public Affairs (00PA), 4101 Woolworth Ave., Omaha, NE 68105.Thank you for participating!1. How often do you read the NWIHCS Daily Briefs?Never Occasionally Frequently1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access2. How much of the NWIHCS Daily Briefs do you read?Little Some All1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access3. Which items in the NWIHCS Daily Briefs are most useful to you? Check as many as apply.c NWIHCS in the Newsc VA News Bytes (VA news stories)c VA items (Hey VA! Have You Heard? Links to VA News, Vanguard and the American Veteran)c NWI Current Eventsc Team NWI, Recognizing Employeesc Education Calendarc NWI Omaha VA Employee Association Announcementsc Today in Historyc Training and Education Links4. How could the NWIHCS Daily Briefs be improved?5. How often do you read the NWI Messenger?Never Occasionally Frequently1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access6. How could the NWI Messenger be improved?5Media/Public Affairs/Comm Survey 2010

7. How often do you read NWI News Link?Never Occasionally FrequentlyVA NWIHCS 2010Communications Survey Cont’d1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access8. How could NWI NewsLink be improved?9. How often do you visit the VA NWIHCS Intranet Web site?Never Occasionally Frequently1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access10. What kind of information (or links) would you like to see on the VA NWIHCS IntranetWeb site?11. How often do you visit the VA NWIHCS Internet (public web site) Home Page?Never Occasionally Frequently1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access12. What kind of information (or links) would you like to see on the VA NWIHCS Internet(public) Web site?13. Did you attend a VA NWIHCS all employee forum (spring or fall) in the past year?c Yes-If yes, Skip to Question 15 c No14. If no, what is the reason you did not attend an employee forum?15. How could the employee forums be improved?6Media/Public Affairs/Comm Survey 2010

VA NWIHCS 2010Communications Survey Cont’d16. Where do you get most of your information about VA NWIHCS? Check as many as apply.c Employee grapevine, rumor mill or word of mouthc Individual communication by your supervisor or service Chiefc Staff meetingsc Top Management/Leadershipc Employee Forumsc Daily Briefc NWI Messengerc NWI NewsLinkc Did You Knowc NWI Intranet Web Pagec NWI Internet (public) Web Pagec Outlook Emailc VistA Emailc Elevator Posters, Bulletin Boards, Display Casesc Digital Media Boards17. Do you actively participate in social media (i.e., have a personal Facebook or Twitteraccount or write a blog)?c Yes c No18. List the social media sites in which you're actively involved.19. Are you a follower of NWIHCS Twitter account (do you receive NWIHCS tweets?)c Yes c No20. Have you ever visited NWIHCS's Twitter Site?c Yes c No21. How often do you visit the NWIHCS Twitter page?Never Occasionally Frequently1 2 3 4 5 c Don’t Have Access7Media/Public Affairs/Comm Survey 2010

VA NWIHCS 2010Communications Survey Cont’dThe following questions are for demographic purposes only (for VA employees only).22. Are you a supervisory or non-supervisory staff member?c Supervisoryc Non-Supervisory23. What are your work hours at VA NWIHCS?c Day Shift (between hours of 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.)c Non-Day Shiftc Otherc N/A24. What is your role at VA NWIHCS?c Clinicalc Administrative/Supportc Other25. How long have you worked at VA NWIHCS?c 0-5 yearsc 5-10 yearsc 10-15 yearsc 15+ years8Media/Public Affairs/Comm Survey 2010