Carla Sivek's Vision for VISN 4
Interim Network Director Carla Sivek and Former VA Butler Healthcare Director John Gennaro with some of VA Butler’s canine volunteers.
Dear Veterans, fellow employees, volunteers, and friends of VISN 4:
Interim Network Director
Those who are familiar with the Veterans Health Administration's Blueprint for Excellence know that access and Veteran experience remain VHA's key areas of focus.
Our vision for VISN 4 reinforces that goal. We strive to make certain that all Veterans treated in our network are able to receive world-class health care when and where they need and want it. Each experience Veterans have at any of our facilities or clinics must be characterized by compassion and outstanding care and service.
I count on the network office staff, the directors of our facilities, and all VISN 4 employees to fulfill this vision for the more than 300,000 Veterans we are honored to serve in our network.
I am proud every time I see VISN 4 employees working so diligently to achieve these aims. It happens every day in interactions with Veterans and in the work of those who support caregivers for America's heroes behind the scenes. And sometimes, it happens under unusual circumstances, as we saw during the difficult conditions we faced over the recent winter.
"Each experience Veterans have at any of our facilities or clinics must be characterized by compassion and outstanding care and service." Carla Sivek
Our employees' response to extreme weather underscored for me their level of commitment to our noble mission. In the face of snow and ice storms and their aftermath, VISN 4 employees came to work undaunted: some even stayed overnight if their help was needed. Others juggled schedules to ensure we had enough staff to care for our patients, worked outdoors to keep our grounds and walkways safe, or went the extra mile to make sure our Veterans received the outstanding care they deserve— whatever the weather.
Our Vision for Excellence newsletter is filled with other examples of how VISN 4 employees serve Veterans in a superior manner—from describing the work our surgical staffs do every day to our ability to host a special, one-of-a-kind event for Veteran athletes who use wheelchairs for mobility. I hope you will take a few minutes to update yourself on our achievements.
I am proud to be part of VISN 4's team of dedicated professionals, working together to provide Veterans in our area with a health care network that offers reliable access and a satisfying care experience each and every time.
On behalf of all VISN 4 employees, I thank the Veterans of our region and their families for entrusting us to fulfill your health care needs. I thank our service partners for your continued support of our network. And I thank all of our network's employees for your skill and dedication in caring for America's heroes.
Sincerely,
Carla Sivek
Interim Network Director
