Birmingham VA Health Care System

11/29/2025

Diabetes affects nearly 25% of Veterans. Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and management of diabetes. Your VA dietitian can help with healthy eating ideas for blood sugar control.

https://www.nutrition.va.gov/Diabetes.asp

11/28/2025

11/26/2025

Wishing everyone a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving.

Reminder that we will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. This includes each of our Veterans Clinics. Emergency: Dial 911 or visit nearest ER. Our Emergency Department remains open 24 hours. We wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing Turkey Day.

11/25/2025

11/25/2025

The Birmingham VA Health System would like to say thank you the many organizations who spread cheer to our Veterans the week leading up to Veterans Day and the upcoming holiday season. Many community organizations provide gifts, food and clothing donations to celebrate those served. To our community partners we say a heart felt thank you.

Want to help? Contact 205-933-4396, email VHABIRVoluntaryService@va.gov, or visit our website: Volunteer or Donate | VA Birmingham Health Care.

11/24/2025

Score Big This Season: Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated. The best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated. Practicing healthy habits like getting enough sleep and exercise, eating a balanced diet, and drinking plenty of fluids can keep you healthy, too. This flu season, stay healthy and flu free. http://go.usa.gov/3em29

11/24/2025

If you or a Veteran you know is struggling with alcohol use, you're not alone—and help is available.
Click the link below to hear Veterans tell their stories about the support, treatment options, and resources Veterans can access to take control of their health and recovery journey. Don’t wait to reach out. Whether it's talking to your provider or connecting with a treatment team, we’re here for you.

https://youtu.be/IDsiQH3qLMg?si=iIykr5ttpu5MNEUw

Concerned about your drinking? VA has treatments that can help you stop or reduce drinking, manage cravings, build your support system, set reachable goals, and cope with or avoid triggers that might cause a return to use.

Learn more about treatment: Mentalhealth.va.gov/substance-use/alcohol-use-disorder.asp

11/22/2025

Food serves to connect us to cultural traditions. Many foods have deep cultural importance and have been on the dining table for generations. Speak with your VA dietitian to learn more ideas to include cultural foods in healthy recipes.

https://www.nutrition.va.gov/docs/UpdatedPatientEd/2022CookingAroundtheWorldCookbook.pdf

11/21/2025

Veterans Su***de Prevention Summit -
We were proud to join more than 100 mental health professionals and Veteran advocates today at the Veterans Su***de Prevention Summit at Lawson State Community College.
Kelli Arthur, our Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator for Su***de Prevention, opened the day with powerful insight—reminding us that communication and connection save lives.
This summit is more than a conference—it’s a lifeline. Attendees earned CEUs while gaining tools to support Veterans through traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic growth, and VA’s evidence-based su***de prevention model, VA SAVE (Spot, Ask, Validate, Encourage).

VA cannot end Veteran su***de alone. Seeing social workers, substance abuse counselors, law enforcement, educators, faith leaders, and health care providers come together was truly inspiring. It takes all of us. Families. Caregivers. VSOs. Schools. Local governments. Congress. And the media.
Together, we build the network of safety and hope our Veterans deserve.

According to VA’s 2024 Su***de Prevention Annual Report, an average of 17 Veterans die by su***de every day—many not connected to VA care. One life lost is one too many.
If you or someone you know is struggling:
Dial 988, then press 1
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7.

11/21/2025

Reminder that we will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. This includes each of our Veterans Clinics. Emergency: Dial 911 or visit nearest ER. Our Emergency Department remains open 24 hours. We wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing Turkey Day.

11/20/2025

This week the Riley Quilters donated 12 handmade quilts to Veterans living at the Birmingham VA’s Transitional Residence (TR) House. The TR House is a supportive home where Veterans moving out of homelessness can rebuild their lives.

Dedtrich Burroughs, TR House Manager and Marine Corps Veteran, said the quilts had a deep impact on him. Burroughs has been at the TR House for 10 months and uses the program to move forward while helping other Veterans do the same. “It shows that people still care about Veterans and people care about the fact we served,” Burroughs said. “They made the quilts with love, and it reminds me of my grandmother quilting—I loved hearing the stories. Each quilt is unique and has a special touch, and the work they did to make these quilts means so much to us.”

The Riley Quilters are known for their skill and generosity and are an important part of Birmingham’s United Community Center.

Theresa Johnson, the group’s guiding force and executive director, helped launch the quilting class in 1987, though her love for quilting began long before she ever took on a leadership role.
“When I was little, my grandmother was part of a quilting bee, I listened to the stories, and I watched my grandmother make the winter quilts. Later, I learned from her.”

For the full story please visit: https://www.va.gov/birmingham-health-care/stories/