Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center
Walla Walla VA to Hold Town Halls
Mark your calendar to attend Walla Walla VA's next town hall meeting.
The Walla Walla VA will be holding a series town hall meetings in all of its clinic areas during the months of June and July to share details of VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin’s VHA Modernization Plan with the local Veterans, community, Veteran service organizations, congressional staff, and the media. The first town hall was held in La Grande, OR on May 24.
The next town hall is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14. You are invited to join us at 5:30 p.m. in the Walla Walla VA’s Theater Bldg. (Bldg. 78), and we encourage you to bring your questions and comments. If you can’t make the town hall in person, we have provided you an opportunity to participate via a telephone conference. To join by phone, dial 1.800.767.1750, and at the prompt, dial the code 20025#.
Town hall meetings are being planned for Richland, WA; Yakima, WA; and Lewiston, ID. Be watching for announcements in your local newspapers, on the radio and tv news, as well as on Walla Walla VA’s Facebook and Twitter pages for these dates.
Your voice matters. Be sure to attend one of our upcoming town halls either in person or via phone conference.
Secretary Shulkin presented his "State of the VA" briefing at the White House on May 31, and as part of his modernization plan, he is focusing on these five priorities over the next 18 months:
Greater choices for the Veterans:
- Redesign the 40 mile/30 day rule
- Increase the provider network
- Address quality of care
Modernization of systems:
- Infrastructure improvements and streamlining
- Modernize the electronic medical records system
Focus resources more efficiently:
- Enforce accountability on all levels
- Work to fill positions more efficiently
Improve timeliness of services:
- Address access to care and reduce wait times
Suicide prevention:
- Increase mental health providers and utilize telehealth more efficiently
- Launch of the Secretary’s “Getting to Zero” plan
In Secretary Shulkin’s briefing, he stated the President is committed to fixing issues for Veterans and feels transparency is important to sharing the successes, addressing the challenges, and working to improve the care and benefits provided by the VA. Veterans deserve the very best care and services available, and together, we are committed to meeting the Veterans’ needs.
Your voice matters. We hope you will attend one of our upcoming town hall meetings to learn more about these five priorities, and how they will affect YOUR VA.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Linda Wondra, Public Affairs Officer, at 509.525.5200, ext. 26520 or send an email to linda.wondra@va.gov.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
~ President John F. Kennedy
