Female veterans make up ten percent of North Texas VA’s 204,000 enrolled patients and more than 600 of its 6,400 employees. As the fastest growing patient population, this growth represents an opportunity to amplify efforts and create programs to ensure timely, equitable, and high-quality services for all female Veterans. Sensitive, private and comprehensive healthcare.
Here’s how we wrapped up our celebration of VA Women’s History Month to continue our ongoing employee and patient education and feedback efforts.
The North Texas Women’s Veterans Program team hosted a Women’s Veterans Health Fair and Engagement Session with Dallas VA patients and staff.
Create a learning environment
By asking veterans and employees what they knew about VA women’s health care and listening to their voices, feedback, and needs, program members and senior management created a real-time learning environment. that stimulates future initiatives and efforts.
Fair solicited comments and ideas on women’s health care
“It is critical that VA employees, managers and senior leaders capture the voices of its patients and employees, and especially those of our female veterans,” said Dr. Stephen Holt, director of the medical center. “The best way to ensure that we meet the complete physical and mental needs of our Veterans is to get their direct feedback, ideas, and create opportunities that can better integrate them into our programs and services.
As part of our Veteran Outreach Program, a team of three specialists met weekly, formally and informally, with female Veterans and community-based and Veteran-focused organizations that help female Veterans solve a myriad of issues. , ranging from benefits and employment to family care and mental health.
The Lunch-and-Learn series provided feedback
The team also created an employee lunch and learn series to engage and educate VA North Texas professionals on female veteran health issues. The result of these efforts included a list of frequently asked questions and concerns that the specialists then reported to the Women’s Health Care Coordinator and senior management for review and action.
Some of the feedback gathered during these meetings led to the Women’s Health Fair in March.
“As a female veteran and employee who receives my health care at VA, I am passionate about interacting with our patients and collecting their feedback so that we can truly meet their health and social care needs” , said Yolonde Rocio, specialist in public affairs and women. Veterans Advocate. “By hosting in-person and virtual events for patients and employees, we have conversations that need to happen to ensure we are properly serving these women who have selflessly worn the uniform for our country.”
65% increase in female registrants Veteran population
Since 2016, North Texas VA has achieved a 65% increase in its population of enrolled female veterans, spurring more initiatives such as virtual events and health fairs to better engage with these patients and provide safe and accessible care. adapted to their needs.
“As VA employees, we must never overestimate what we think our patients know about our services and underestimate their desire to provide direct, meaningful feedback to people who can improve and create the best opportunities for care. of health,” Rocio said. “We have a debt that we must repay every day to those who have served and every action we take must be attributable to that debt.”
