VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System

03/06/2026

03/05/2026

Yesterday I told the American Legion- it’s a new day at VA. We’re slashing wait times and making it easier for our women Veterans to get the care they need. The mission is simple - Veterans First. Always.

03/04/2026

GI Bill® students: Did you verify your enrollment for February?

All VA education beneficiaries, including Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) students, must verify their enrollment at the end of each month to receive benefit payments.

Learn more by visiting VA’s Verify School Enrollment webpage at https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/.

03/03/2026

Veterans, know which benefits are taxable and which are not. Knowing this information can help you accurately file your taxes and avoid unexpected surprises

• Non-taxable VA benefits: disability compensation, pension, health care, grants, and education assistance.
• Taxable: military retirement pay

Stay informed, take action, and make tax season a breeze!
news.va.gov/138085/tax-season-guidance-for-veterans/

Veterans who suspect they have experienced fraud can find out more and report to the appropriate agency at VSAFE.gov or by calling (833) 38V-SAFE.

03/03/2026

Would you feel more confident if your medical providers spent more time focused on you than they do on a computer screen?

Meet Ambient AI Scribe, an artificial intelligence tool that records your visit and gives your providers more opportunity to do what they would rather do -- devote your appointment time to focusing on you.

Currently being rolled out at VA medical centers and clinics across the country, the technology is similar to tools you may already be familiar with. Think of Alexa or Chat GPT. While you and your provider are discussing your health issues, Ambient AI Scribe is quietly -- and more accurately -- taking notes.

Those with concerns can opt out of Ambient AI Scribe at any time or any visit, but protection of your privacy is paramount:

Audio recordings or transcripts are deleted after 30 days; Ambient AI Scribe does not capture video; and it follows all Veterans Health Administration guidelines and HIPAA national standards to protect sensitive patient health information.

Questions or concerns? Scan either of the QR codes below.

03/02/2026

March is Colorectal Cancer Month. Because colorectal cancer rarely causes symptoms in its early stages, screening for the disease is important. That’s why VA offers multiple evidence-based, high quality screening options for Veterans.

More than 100,000 mailed FIT kits have already been sent to Veterans, making screening for colorectal cancer even easier and more convenient. Make sure you get screened — it can save your life.

Learn more about colorectal cancer on cancer.va.gov or talk to your provider.

Link: https://www.cancer.va.gov/

03/02/2026

VA firefighters joined four Steuben County fire departments and state fire instructors to help break in a new "burn building" that will be used for the vital training of current and future firefighters in the county.

The evening session was designed to familiarize state instructors with the new building, while the first-responders from Canandaigua and Bath VA posed as students with their counterparts from Steuben County.

We salute all of our VA firefighters and note with pride that those who took part in this exercise are also certified as either paramedics or EMTs, including Patrick Sick, Joshua Snyder, Joshua Kastning, and Sam Polanco and Nate Sherry, who both serve as NY State Fire Instructors.

03/02/2026

Veterans, you’ve earned your benefits. VA health care is one of them. From primary care to mental health support, VA is built to serve Veterans — because your service matters.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/

02/27/2026

02/26/2026

As a Veteran, your military service may have exposed you to unique factors that can increase your risk of heart disease.
In addition to traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, mental health concerns such as PTSD and depression can contribute to your risk.
The Million Veteran Program is studying ways to improve treatments for heart disease.
You can make a difference by joining MVP today. www.mvp.va.gov

02/26/2026

While the Winter Olympics were capturing the headlines in Italy last week, Veterans from the VA Finger Lakes in Bath were taking part in the third annual Miracles on a Mountainside skiing event in Western New York.

Hosted by Bath's Homeless Programs, this annual trip to Swain Ski Resort gives Veterans a day-long therapeutic outdoor experience that helps improve physical well-being, mental health, self-esteem, and community re-entry and readjustment.

The event is also supported by HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, which helps Veterans seeking housing assistance.

Many thanks to Army Veteran Shawn Schoonover, Swain's owner, for his longtime support of Miracles on a Mountainside.

02/25/2026

Attention caring and experienced RN's, we are looking for you!

VA Finger Lakes is seeking a RN to serve Veterans in our Bath Urgent Care. This permanent position offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes a competitive salary, substantial paid time off, and retirement benefits that include pension and 401(k). Posting ends March 9.

For questions or to submit your resume, email Shawn.Fisher@va.gov or apply online at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/858767700