As the largest integrated health care system in the United States, VA completes around five million appointments per month across its 1,255 health care facilities. That’s a lot of Veterans and their families waiting in hospital lobbies and often subjected to whatever happens to be on TV at the time. This sometimes leads to a poor experience because not everyone wants to watch the same program.
A new way VA is working to build trust, improve health outcomes and improve the Veteran experience is through the Veteran News Network (VNN). VNN is a television channel developed for Veterans, largely by Veterans. The TV channel is currently being used by 53 VA Medical Centers across the country.
Veterans Watch Veteran News Network while awaiting their medical appointments
Created in response to customer feedback drawn from Veteran Signals surveys, VNN gives medical centers and clinics increased flexibility as it represents an alternative to the cable news and typical daytime television programming. The channel offers a mix of entertaining, informative and inspiring Veteran-centric content 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This makes VNN a powerful public health tool while simultaneously offering Veterans a sense of community through shared experience.
Features
- Entertainment: Music by military bands, the latest active duty military happenings, and humorous shows about shared military experiences.
- Education: Veteran-centric health education is a cornerstone of VNN programming. It helps to prevent adverse health outcomes while promoting whole health for Veterans. Patient education also encourages Veterans to use more of the benefits and services they have earned.
- Inspiration: Every Veteran has a story and many of those stories are extraordinary. VNN highlights those stories to help inspire and empower Veterans to live their best lives.
- News & Information: VNN’s news series, VA News, helps Veterans stay up to date on the top stories from in and around VA. Veterans learn about innovations, treatment options and resources, and good news stories from around the Veterans community. VA News is now a key component of VA’s digital outreach, shared weekly across VA social media platforms.
“Commercials” on VNN consist of quick video segments highlighting resources from VA’s community partners that have official memorandums of understanding between the two organizations.
Customer satisfaction
Veterans and their families put a great deal of trust in VA to consistently deliver excellent care and customer service for every customer, every time. Early feedback shows that Veterans are happy to consume better, more relevant programming.
While the Veteran News Network has not yet been rolled out to all VA facilities, it is accessible to everyone 24/7 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWk1GRWrAAk.
Editor: The video link was updated on 6/17/21.
This story is part of the Secretary’s Priorities series, which was outlined to the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Constructions, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies on Feb. 26, 2019, by VA Secretary Wilkie. The Secretary’s Priorities are Customer Service, MISSION Act, Electronic Health Record, Transforming Business Systems, and Suicide Prevention. These stories are designed to give a closer look at the improvements VA is making in how we relate to, interact with, and ultimately serve our Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
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This is just what I’ve been looking for since I left the Marine Corps in 2015! I am very interested in a position supporting the VNN. My experience is in public affairs, social media, broadcasting, and voice overs. Memberships include the National Association of Black Journalists, Texas Association of Broadcasters, and the Public Relations Society of America.
How can I get involved and help produce content?
Hi Rob,
I’m retired now, but I taught TV Production in Northern Virginia.
I’m also a Vietnam vet.
How can I get involved?
Yes, I really like this. I’m a female , service connected disability. I have been broadcasting my own radio station for about 8 yrs. And also recieved my degree in RADIO, Production & Technology. It would be a pleasure if I could get involved with the network.
Thank You
Yolanda Dawkins
How about just doing away with TV and play some nice soothing, relaxing, peaceful music?
Idea- how about a show, a forum type show that gives veterans a chance to be heard about the frustrations of dealing with the VA. Or maybe let the patients tell of their abuse. Do you think this would air??
I would like to submit some program material to the VNN channel.
It’s the Dallas Wheelchair Team at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Long Beach, California.
What abuse are you referring to because I’m a veteran and my grandfather a WWII war amputee and my Vietnam disabled war amputee both were treated with respect and taken care of. I’ve come across some workers at the VA if they are disrespectful and rude I have no problem calling them out and going to the administration with a complaint
HI, I am a retired Navy veteran with degree in broadcasting and experience in various aspects of broadcasting. Camera operator, director, switcher. I would love to help out even in a volunteer status. I am located in Chicago and have access to equipment if you even need a spotlight story. Thanks for this great medium for Veterans.
I am a disabled veteran and have worked with the Disabled Veterans Conventions.
I also sit on the board of the Visit Dallas team, helping to host conventions coming to our area. I also do special events for the state of Texas & the DFW area. I have been a spokes person for many videos welcoming conventions & working with top corporations. If I can ever be of any help, I am willing to discuss donating some of my time.
Thanks Bill
Hi
When will you be recruiting within the Veterans that have completed broadcasting programs and careers to work remotely or submit content ?
Would be nice to be able to watch at home instead of just at VA centers.
Hello. I am interested in working with VNN. I am a 10 yr Navy Vet and have a BA in digital film and video editing. I also work freelance with web publishing with basic HTLM5 and javascript. I would love the opportunity to help veterans be able to tell their story in any capacity. Let me know how I can help.
Thanks
Hi Rob I go to the VA in Milwaukee Wisconsin and I have often wondered about the VNN network and if they were available positions for past broadcasters I work in AFRTS in Tripoli north Africa (Libya) and work several years in commercial Broadcasting after exiting the service please contact me if there’s something in the Milwaukee area that I could do with the true love of my life thanks
I am a retired USAF veteran with 17 years experience in Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Let me know if assistance is needed.
I have both radio and television experience as a show host and moderator for almost ten years. I am also an officer (Captain) Veteran from the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. Presently I am a freelance copywriter. I’d be very interested in helping with VNN somehow. What kind of help would you be seeking? I’d be very interested in speaking with someone. Please contact me ASAP.
H. James Hulton III
The Write Stuff
North Wales, PA
I am a vet and entertainer. I would love an opportunity to provide entertainment to my fellow vets!
Who can I reach out to do this? My band is mostly Vets as well!
Thanks,
Hello Ron,
I have a classic rock/country band. We played at the Chillicothe VA, Grand Stands Ball Park, and was awarded the Honoring Our Veterans Award in August 2015.
We received an award from the Visitor Bureau for The Best Live Music Act, November 2013.
With being a Veteran myself, I understand what a lot of Veterans are going through, a we would love to help any way we can in the entertainment aspect of this channel.
Thank you for what you are doing for us Veterans!
I have been a VA patient since ’09, a Vietnam Veteran with a lot of health issues, from Agent Orange to diabetes to heart, etc., and have received top-notch care from the various NorCal/Bay Area VA facilities and fabulous personnel. I would much rather see a TV channel by/for Vetetans instead of the usual vapid daytime network fare that is usually putting us to sleep in the waiting rooms.
I would like/love to see a Veteran-centric TV broadcast when waiting at the OPC (Oakland CA, Mare Island, Martinez, San Francisco) for my appointment or picking up a prescription. The usual fare of vapid daytime TV shows are mind-numbing, so a series by/for Veterans would be very welcome.
.
I have been a VA patient since early ’09 and I can honestly say — after almost 400 appointments for everything from Oncology, Primary, Urology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Psychology, Podiatry, Dentistry, to Ophthalmology — that VA care and personnel are top-notch. My buddies from Vietnam who live in other parts of the U.S. are also very happy with their VA care; I think that the public, and other Veterans, should hear our stories
I am PROUD, and grateful, to be a VA patient.
Want to email Veterans TV 2 videos archived in the New York State Military Museum & Veterans Resource Center. “TO VETERANS WITH INVISIBLE WOUNDS” (2 minutes) was sent by the VA suicide prevention program to all their expanding staff, three times in five years. On YouTube, it encourages troubled vets to seek help, and is a tool for their friends and families. This is verifiable. The other 5 minute video, from NY State Senator Patty Ritchie’s website, helps vets think about how they can help other vets. Just want an email address, to send for you to use as you see fit.
A great start. A great idea. Looking forward to more.
How about a ROKU channel?
That’s a great idea! I wonder why this forum keeps blocking my posts? Do you think it’s because I used the word abuse?
I am a Viet Nam era Veteran. I was a Chemical Lab Specialist, stationed at Ft. McClellan, AL, the U.S. Army Chemical Center, for two years. As a screenwriter, I have written several award-winning screenplays, as well as a 484 pp non-fiction book theorizing all Intelligent Life in the Universe. Is VNN in need of an accomplished writer, such as myself?
Hey Rob, my MOS in the army was radio communications and I have about 15 years experience in radio & TV broadcast equipment maintenance. Worked for two TV stations one a ABC & and the other a CBS affiliate. Any openings at the VA in El Paso TX ?
Hi Rob,
I have 36 years experience in broadcast engineering, mainly radio and network operations. Let me know if I can be helpful.
Hello! I like the idea of a Veteran News Network! I have over 10 years broadcast experience in front of and behind the camera. I am a disabled Veteran that would like to contribute in the Florida/Southeast area.
Hi Ron, my name is Lawrence McCann and I live in Las Vegas. I was an Army E-5 when I was an on-air talent and member of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network. I was stationed in Tokyo, Japan from 1966 through 1968. I had a career in commercial broadcasting for over 40 years after leaving the service.
I’m retired now and I just heard about VNN and was wondering if you guys needed any additional on-air talent?
Hi. I am interested in applying for a position with the VNN. I have a BA in Communications but would love to work with keeping the website running. I have studied IT but currently only have certification in CompTIA IT fundamentals.
It we get VA preference, I am SC 50%. Thank you.
I’m in New Orleans Louisiana. Are any remote positions ?
Created according to buyer comments drawn from Veteran Indicators surveys, VNN provides scientific facilities and clinics larger flexibility because it represents a substitute for the cable information and conventional sunlight hours tv programming. The channel gives a mixture of entertaining, informative and provoking Veteran-centric content material 24 hours an afternoon, seven days per week. This makes VNN an impressive public well being instrument whilst concurrently providing Veterans a way of group thru shared enjoy.
Hi Rob how do I apply for employment with VNN I have degree in television radio broadcasting also in Entertainment business