The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System is working to increase the service it provides veterans. There are approximately 60,000 veterans currently under care.
Dr. Anthony Stazzone, the chief of staff for the organization, says the “whole health” approach strives to treat veterans where they are, whether it be chronic disease or mental health services. Among the services offered are meditation and yoga.
“A disease state doesn’t just affect that one organ or that one aspect of the veteran. It affects the whole aspect of their life, their family, whether or not they’re going to be compliant, what they can do to manage their health more effectively. It empowers the veteran,” he said.
There are an estimated 500,000 veterans living in Arizona. Stazzone says the VA provides a number of resources to include a city-based service in urban communities, and outpatient clinics in rural Arizona. He said the goal is to minimize travel. Stazzone also said the VA is working to treat veterans more quickly while restoring trust. “it’s one veteran at a time. I don’t think you can do one thing or say one thing to earn trust. I think actions speak louder than words. Any complaint we take, we take seriously.”
“A disease state doesn’t just affect that one organ or that one aspect of the veteran. It affects the whole aspect of their life”
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