Stories | VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care

On April 16, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand-new Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Veteran’s Fitness Gymnasium.

As the clock struck 10 on a Tuesday morning at the Integrative Health & Wellness Center on the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus, the Expressive Arts for Veterans class springs to life with colorful supplies and smiling staff.

In the Compassionate Contact Corps Program, trained volunteers over the age of 18 are matched with Veterans who are experiencing loneliness or may be socially isolated.

Horace Tanniehill (right) and David Ramos (left)

AI is everywhere, and in the dental industry, it‘s in the early stages of adoption for assessing x-rays and helping providers determine treatment needs for patients. But this brand-new technology leaves many wondering, can AI be trusted, especially in healthcare?

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Domiciliary, better known as the DOM, held an open house to show firsthand how it’s a place for hope, healing and second chances.

Four women standing and smiling at the camera.

As VA stands firm in its commitment to house every homeless Veteran, there’s a critical question that remains: once a Veteran is housed, how do we make sure they successfully integrate into their community?

Two men and a woman sitting and talking.

When it comes to the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture, all that’s old is new again. Since his hiring three years ago, Dr. Jeremiah Krieger, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS), has been embracing the time-honored practice and using it to treat Veterans’ pain, PTSD, and more.

A man lying down with acupuncture needles in his ear.

Sports and leisure recreation therapies help prevent suicide by reducing stress, connecting Veterans with other Veterans and with resources at VA and in the community. Recreation therapy also provides a physically and emotionally safe environment for them to work on their mind and body and get help.

Veterans Pasqual Ramirez and Roger Reitan train for the National Veterans Golden Age Games.

Obesity is a widespread condition, with an estimated 35 percent of Americans and 78 percent of Veterans being overweight or obese as of 2014. It is a risk factor for Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Stroke and some types of cancer.

Weights, a plate of vegetables and a tape measure laying on a table.

In greater Los Angeles, VA permanently housed 1,790 homeless Veterans in 2023 —the most of any VA in America. This was a 38% increase over last year’s total of 1,301, and 19% above VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System’s (VAGLAHS) 2023 calendar year goal of putting 1,500 heroes into homes.