FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VA Healthcare and Benefits Town-hall meeting re-scheduled for Wednesday, December 03, 2014 (Friday, November 21, 2014, Hagåtña, Guam) Senator Frank B. Aguon, Jr. announced today that the town-hall meeting scheduled to occur this month has been rescheduled for next month. The town-hall hosted by the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) and the Veterans Affairs Benefits Administration (VBA) has been scheduled for the following date and time: •Date: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 •Time: 5PM-7PM •Location: Okkodo High School Gymnasium- 660 Route 3, Dededo, Guam 96929 “In order for this town-hall to be effective, all key leadership personnel must be present to listen and learn directly from our local veterans. One of those key leaders is Ms. Sheila Cullens, Network Director, VA’s Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21) who oversees the operation of six medical centers and dozens of clinics in northern California, Nevada, Hawaii, Saipan (CNMI), Guam, and the Manila Outpatient Clinic which is the only Veterans Health Administration (VHA) direct patient care activity located in a foreign country,” said Senator Aguon. The following key leadership personnel will be in attendance: Mr. Wayne Pfeffer, MHSA, FACHE, Director of VAPIHCS Hawaii; Mr. Craig Oswald, Facility Strategic Planner for VAPHICS Hawaii; Ms. Tracey Betts, Director of the Honolulu Regional Office, VBA; Dr. Helene Head, Primary Care provider, Guam Community-based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC); Dr. Edward L. Santos, Family Therapist, Guam Vet Center; and Mr. John Unpingco, Administrator, Guam Veterans Affairs Office (GVAO). In addition to key leadership personnel, Back of the Room personnel will be on-site to interact with veterans on a one on one basis; whether it is a VBA issue or a VAPIHCS issue. These individuals are enabled to assist with veterans issues in confidence versus the restrictions present when personal issues are made public during the question and answer portion of the town-hall meeting. Senator Aguon further stated, “I received a response that Under Secretary Allison Hickey’s trip to Hawaii has been postponed and that she will consider including Guam in her itinerary when her trip to Hawaii is rescheduled. Hopefully, next year, Under Secretary Hickey will be on island to listen and hear directly from our veterans who have had repeated issues on their claims. Furthermore, VAPIHCS was awarded the VA Rural Health Grant which envisions VAPIHCS hiring some additional providers that would not be providing services at the Guam CBOC but would instead be providing primary care in mental health services distant from the CBOC. This would allow the mobilization of rural health teams that would improve accessibility for our veterans and to alleviate some pressure on the demand and workload to the Guam CBOC and Naval Hospital. Senator Aguon conclude, “I encourage our local veterans to enroll at the Guam CBOC to enhance service delivery, as the VAPIHCS teams expand. These enrollment figures are used to evaluate how additional funds are allocated throughout the VA and within the Network (region). The funding is allocated to support additional programs and services, based on the numbers and needs of our Veteran community,” ### For comments or questions, you may contact the Office of Senator Frank B. Aguon, Jr. at 475-GUM1/2(4861/2), or e-mail to aguon4guam@gmail.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:35:53 +0000
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