The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has deemed more than three-fourths of all Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) to be worthy of four or five-star ratings as part of the 2025 hospital quality ratings, VA announced last week. More than 90 percent of the rated VAMCs maintained or improved their 2024-star rating. No VAMC received a one-star rating. The ratings are based on five categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient

Patriot Day, known officially as National Day of Service and Remembrance, will be observed next Thursday, September 11, 2025, just as it has been every year since 2001 in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks on September 11 of that year. Although not a federal holiday, Patriot Day is observed with ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services nationwide. Because Patriot Day has been added to the Flag Holidays

Join next Wednesday’s (September 10) session of the VetTech and Educational Series as regular participants and newcomers welcome Case for Vision. The 3:00pm Eastern Time meeting via Zoom will examine assistive technologies for people with vision loss that can be used with devices they already use. Case For Vision creates compact, intuitive ways to read, watch television, and perform a host of other tasks and activities through devices with potential that may be largely untapped.

Tina Lemus and Celiann Gonzalez join fellow veteran and host Steve Baskis to reflect on their recent Team River Runner (TRR) experience near Grand Junction, Colorado, in the newest episode of Visions of BVA, the Association’s monthly podcast. Paddling with Purpose: Blind Veterans and Team River Runner went live on September 1. Steve, Tina, and Celiann (TRR staff and a veteran herself) together share personal stories of overcoming fear, building trust, and rediscovering confidence through