The start of a new year often presents a chance to begin anew, but within Bay Pines VA, 2023 offers opportunities to build on a legacy of service to women Veterans.
“This year is the 100th anniversary of women Veterans receiving health care through VA,” said Women Veteran Program Manager Donna Sherman. “Every woman who has worn the uniform is a trailblazer. The best way to recognize the service and sacrifice of women Veterans is to provide them with the world-class health care they have earned.”
Sherman (pictured above) is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with women Veterans in various capacities for 15 years, giving her the chance to familiarize herself with their needs. She feels a calling to champion efforts on their behalf that raise awareness and celebrate women service members across every branch.
“This year’s theme, ‘Women Veterans: We’re Here for You,’ speaks to our commitment to serve women Veterans well and honor their legacy of service to our nation in the process,” said Sherman. “I often tell women Veterans, ‘You belong at VA, and we will continue to work with you to make you feel comfortable and safe in our facilities’.”
Nearly 11,000 Women Veterans receive care at Bay Pines VA
Florida is the state with the third highest number of women Veterans. Nearly 11,000 of them receive their health care from Bay Pines VA. Sherman’s hope is for that number to continue growing.
“I want to see more women Veterans take advantage of their VA benefits because they will not receive better health care and support than what VA offers,” she added. “As a woman, I know how personal our health care journeys are. That’s why Bay Pines VA’s Women Veteran Program works alongside patient aligned care teams, maternity care coordinators, women’s mental health champions, women’s health medical doctors, and LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators to ensure women Veterans get the very best experience every time they enter one of our facilities.”
When women Veterans receive care across VA, they can choose the gender of their provider for both primary and specialty care, and specify preferences for the gender of any provider referrals outside of VA. To learn more about the full spectrum of comprehensive health care services and resources available to women Veterans enrolled through VA, visit WomensHealth.va.gov.
Resources for women Veterans
- VA Women’s Health – Eligibility and Enrollment and How to Apply: These webpages include information to help Veterans through the enrollment and application process.
- She Wears the Boots Podcast: Podcast series with episodes on VA’s services with a special focus on women Veterans. Episodes discuss women’s health services like infertility, menopause symptom relief, mammography and more.
- Choose VA: Getting Started with Women Veterans Health Services: This two-page handout outlines every step of the application and enrollment process. It also answers some frequently asked questions and overviews health care services for women Veterans.
- VA Women’s Health – Website: Women’s Health’s website with up-to-date information regarding health care services for women Veterans.
- VA Women’s Health – Eligibility and Enrollment Handout: A handout correcting common misconceptions about eligibility criteria at VA and outlining key resources for women Veterans.
- VA Women’s Health Re-engagement Training: An online training course for women Veterans looking to connect with VA and their benefits.
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I don’t feel supported and I am very anxious reaching out for help. All I continue to get is a list of resources and no help with my actual needs.
I guess I am blessed and highly favored because I have been retired for 23 years and the VA has truly done an excellent taking care of me. I am shown the same respect from my providers as I show them. Many are younger than I, but have something that I do not have “medical training”. I explain what problems that I am experiencing and I listen to what the provider suggest. If we disagree I can always use Medicare to use civilian doctors. The bottom line is that we are blessed to have options. There are so many people without health care. This is my first post.
It’s great to have the option to go the VA for care; however, my issue is with the lack of care and true concern from the providers. It seems that you have to go in there missing, lost, about to lose, or bleeding profusely before being taken seriously or even heard. I’m tired of having to be seen multiple times for the same thing before it is treated accurately. It’s like you have to jump up and down and do acrobatics in order for the providers to see and hear you. God forbid you are upset when you go in for your appointment, you are treated as hostile snd then they rush you in and out. Outside of ourselves where are our advocates for true care? And do let me get started on the claims for disability benefits. They are so quick to discount your injures and deny the claim because they are using outdated data or there isn’t data to support that particular injury! It’s so frustrating and exhausting to have to keep fighting to prove the injures you’ve suffered over the years and how they have been exerbated over time!
So right. Having epilepsy, an unseeable problem i am shoved in and out so fast becuz i look fine, act normal, not suicidal. All my pain is from the falls from seizures. After the bruises go away to them there is no problem. I cant get care at home becuz i can still walk, barely, and wipe myself. Im 78 and dont expect to see the change for women but it needs to be.
I wholeheartedly agree with you
The only help they want to offer is to those female veterans who are Vanilla. In and out and no problems with the sexual harassment,abuse,misconduct,or trauma. When it comes to those issues, like every thing else push it under the rug. That male psychiatrist, psychologist , therapist etc etc etc doesn’t want to talk about it . It didn’t happen. Just like active duty!
I question the sincerity of “being there for female vets”. Exposure to forced use of cydex as well as the burns pits led to inflammation and swelling of my lymph nodes and an abnormal mammogram while stationed in Kuwait. The same exposure led to a low white count identified 3 months after my return from deployment. I now have MS. I also want to know why there are no diagnosis’s related to women.
I also want to know when the VA will stop leaving diagnosis’s off medical reports. Of course they tell the patient they have an issue, it may even be listed in the note, but it is conveniently left out of the diagnostic section with no ICD9 code. How are you able to look in the mirror.
And yes, they do the same thing to my brothers. The Army teaches it trains like it fights. Maybe the VA should the same and provide what
it advertises!!
I am so blessed to have gotten the benefits from the VA system!!! I had breast cancer surgery in June 2021 and without the VA system
paying for the hospital, dr’s charges etc., I just don’t know what I would have done. My friend (who lived in Nebraska fought for me to
be accepted in the VA system because here in Muncie Indiana, i could not even get in the door. I was a traffic flight specialist for 2 1/2 yrs. and flew back and forth across the pond (ocean). so, I now receive 10% for my hearing since the plane had 4 engines without any type of protection. I enjoyed my experience in the service, but this VA assistance has helped me in every way.
May I inquire what this sexist and biased article is about? Women service members and they deserve special recognition? May I inquire why? Men make up the majority of all military veterans why do you not bring up special services for them since you wish to do gender sexism? Again we see the terrible invidious mindset of diluting a great military by narrow-minded sexist, bigoted people. Chose their gender for treatment? Where do you or the VA get the right to do that for women but not for men? A continual sexist policy and an affront to the millions of men who have served. Outrageous, to say the least.
Men are still able to get treatment tailored to their needs. Don’t see the issue with having a women’s section either?
Dear Sir, I served for 25 years in the Marine Corps and during that time medical care for women was limited. 99% of the military medical professionals focused on general medical treatments for the men. Men have been receiving medical care since Lincoln’s time when the medical services were first provided for the nations veterans (which as you know were only men). Since women began serving in the military little medical attention had been offered. Women have different medical needs than men so it is important to begin providing care for the specific needs of women. For example women have different reproductive systems that require care completely separate from what men require. Men have and continue to have male centered treatment. Women are just beginning to get the female centered treatment they earned by serving our great nation. Remember WE women EARNED the right to have the Medical treatment we deserve.
Hi, I am getting conflicting information. I served in the gulf War of operation Desert Storm during the time frames mentioned on the Pact Act. My unit was set up in Saudia Arabia, moved to Kuwait for a while and then to Baharan exposed to burn pit smoke during those times.
My question is as a woman why am I not seeing breast cancer mentioned specifically under the presumptive section?
I do see reproductive conditions and not sure if breast cancer fall under this.
I have gone to two different claim facilities and told Breast Cancer wasn’t covered under presumptive conditions.
After going to different VA sites I am getting conflicting information. Some sites state Breast Cancer IS covered and others state Breast Cancer IS NOT.
Could you please shed some light on this situation with a VA government site stating such
Thank You for your time
Marlene