VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

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Aloha, Talofa, Hafa Adai,

Today wraps up another week in the nation’s fight against COVID-19, and VAPIHCS remains here for you. 

Our priority is to serve you, the Veteran, first.  Our team has been working to expand services and hours to be available to answer your questions.

Given that this week is also a holy week, with Passover, Good Friday and Easter, with Ramadan coming later this month, I wanted to give a shout out to our Chaplains. During these tough times, please know they are here for you if you need them.  If you need spiritual assistance or emotional support, call and request a chaplain at (808) 433-0270.

Speaking of spirituality, I also want to remind your to practice some self-care. It can be tough to not be able to celebrate important holidays or milestones with friends and family members. Despite all of that, that doesn’t lessen the importance of observing those meaningful days as best we can, and checking in with those special people in our lives, through whatever means available. Personal contact is so much more important today than ever before, and I encourage each of you to take a moment this weekend to reach out and be there for someone you care about.

If you have a medical concern, please call us.  We want to be there for you so you do not have to seek Emergency Room care.  Call our Telephone Advice Nurse line 1 (800) 214-1306 

Mahalo for your service and for what you do and have done in this great battle against COVID-19.  We will get through this together.

Kathryn Ryder, MD, MS

Acting Medical Center Director