The Albany VA Minute

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 programwhere you can order ahead and pick up

In this Episode we interviewed Jason Davis [(315)744-5409 orjason.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 Lineto 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.

Brief discussion with THE best Systems Redesign Specialist in Albany VA Robert Sklenarik on what Systems Redesign is, LEAN/Sigma Six Blackbelt training and oververiew of what Continuous Process Improvement is

for the Special Episodes on our Dignity and Respect Campaign we will be having front line staff interviewing staff on what it means to them. Today for Episode 1 we have Jamie Golembieski Program Specialist and Marine Veteran, interviewing our High Reliability Officer Mary Ann Jones an Air Force Veteran.

Continuing with the theme of March is Social worker month, we interviewed Michelle Chavarria and Jennifer Stilleto-Smith, the Social workers for our Community Engagement and Partnership team on the role social workers play role in the Mission of serving Veterans, and on their new roles engaging and partnering with the Community. If your interested in contacting Jen and Michelle you can contact Jennifer at 518 248 0824 ( jennifer.stilettosmith@va.gov) and Michelle at 518 421 6576 (michelle.chavarria@va.gov)

If you are interested in more stay tuned as on May16, we will be hosting a Mental health fair on the grounds of the hospital in Building 67 (across the street from Panera) from 8AM-4PM. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a minute

Social workers play a crucial role in the Mission of serving Veterans, they are healthcare force multipliers and key members of the healthcare team.  today we interviewed three social workers about their experiences about being interns (a tie in to last weeks episode on healthcare professions education week)  and their current roles serving Veterans.  

If you are interested in more stay tuned as in May we will be hosting a Mental health fair and a Caregiver support fair as part of Mental Health Awareness month.  subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a minute

March is Social Work Month and March 14-18 is health Professions Education Week so today we were joined by Karen Sheehan Social Worker Supervisor and  Rachel Gates, Jonathan Gay Social Work Interns to discuss Social Work Month and Health Professions Education Week  

Join Lindsay Shoonmaker, RN in our GI program in a brief presentation on the importance of early screening and detection.  to watch a video on this presentation click here or check out the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center Facebook Page 

if you have further questions you can contact the GI Clinic at 518 626 6385 or the GI Care Manager at 518 626 6312

Episode 4.3 - Get to know the Community Living Center (CLC)

To learn more general information on Community Living Centers click Here, for specifics on the Albany VA CLC call  Barbara Darling at (518) 626-6037.

To learn more about the Albany VA CLC's hand hygiene campaign and fighting the Flu click here

In this Episode we spoke with Supervisory Social Worker Patricia Kidder about the VA Innovators Network and hoe it impacts the Albany VA  to learn more the VA Innovators Network and some of the initiatives that have grown from it go to https://medium.com/vainnovation/tagged/innovation 

Did you Know  the VA is the largest provider of Mammography services in the country?   For the Month of March we focused the podcast on Women’s Health and The Mammography Program, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this April.  To learn more about the Women's Health program click this link for a short video   or go to the Albany VA Women's Health program page, For questions on the Women's Health Program contact Suzanne Deane at 518 626 5519.  for Questions on the Mammography program contact Linda Carpinello-Dilenbeck at (518)626-6337.  

If you are traveling a distance to the Facility check out our Fisher House videoor go to our Fisher House website to learn more