An official website of the United States governmentHere's how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) is located in Glendale, Colo., and was established in March 1996 as one of 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in the Veterans Health Administration. VISN 19 functions as the responsible structure for the planning, budgeting, and service delivery in the provision of healthcare to Veterans within our geographic region.
4100 E. Mississippi Ave.
Suite 1100
Glendale
CO
80246
303-202-8165
| Facility Name | State | Status Code | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning VA Clinic | Montana | LIMITED | Currently, the Browning VA Clinic is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Salida VA Clinic | Colorado | NOTICE | Salida VA Clinic will be closed from noon to 12:30 during operating hours. |
| Facility Name | State | Status Code | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning VA Clinic | Montana | LIMITED | Currently, the Browning VA Clinic is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Salida VA Clinic | Colorado | NOTICE | Salida VA Clinic will be closed from noon to 12:30 during operating hours. |
Find a VISN 19 Medical Center or Clinic near you. Click on the location below to learn more about each healthcare system, including its outpatient clinics.
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (Aurora, Colorado)
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (Salt Lake City, Utah)
VA Oklahoma City Health Care System (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System (Muskogee, Oklahoma)
VA Montana Health Care System (Fort Harrison, Montana)
VA Western Colorado Health Care System (Grand Junction, Colorado)
VA Cheyenne Health Care System (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
VA Sheridan Health Care System (Sheridan, Wyoming)
2023 is now in the past and 2024 stands right in front of us. For the VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) and our eight health care systems, we have much to celebrate from last year and even more to anticipate in the year ahead.
A world leader in rehabilitation, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic provides nearly 400 profoundly disabled Veterans with training and rehabilitation every year.
Veterans with TBIs, spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, amputations and other severe disabilities are challenged to overcome perceived limitations through adaptive skiing, sled hockey, scuba diving, rock wall climbing, education and other activities.
In 2024 Q2, a combined team of the VISN 19 informatics pharmacist and the Oklahoma City VA pharmacy discovered that some patients’ non-VA medication information in CPRS wasn’t entered as an actual drug from the VistA drug but rather as free text. The result of that was that national reports wouldn’t pick up the fact that the patient was taking this medication, but also that there would not be any drug interaction checks done by the software, or any allergy or dosing checks.
An automated process was developed to correct over 5,000 different medications in the pharmacy drug file, and the OKC team started educating providers, nurses and pharmacists on how to correct the existing entries and enter new non-VA meds going forward. Correcting this issue seemed overwhelming when considering the potential for tens of thousands of incorrect non-VA med entries, but everyone on this team worked together to identify solutions, accepted assistance to make the necessary corrections, and shared their findings and support throughout VISN 19. Because of their dedication to advancing the principles of being a high reliability organization, the team was awarded the national HeRO award.
Congratulations to the VISN 19 and Oklahoma City VA team!
The VISN 19 Clinical Contact Center (also known as VA Health Connect) is a service of the VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) – providing 24/7, virtual care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.
Veterans who receive care in the network can call their local VA facility to be connected to the VISN 19 Clinical Contact Center around the clock to get their health questions or concerns answered from the comfort and convenience of their home, or wherever they may be.
Services include general administrative support, nurse advice and triage, virtual visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner via telephone, VA Video Connect, or VA Health Chat.
VA can offer you greater challenge, opportunity, teamwork and satisfaction unlike any other. Build a health care career today!
For information and updates on all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and VISN 19 job opportunities, please visit USAJobs or VISN 19, VA Rocky Mountain Network specific announcements. You may also visit VA Careers or LinkedIn.
By working for the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, you’ll have access to a wider range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.
GLENDALE, COLO. – VA Rocky Mountain Network is proud to announce four VA medical centers received an overall five-star Hospital Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“This year, only 8% of the more than 4,600 hospitals nationwide—which includes both non-VA and VA hospitals—received a five-star rating, and Grand Junction VA Medical Center (Grand Junction, Colorado), Cheyenne VA Medical Center (Cheyenne, Wyoming), George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center (Muskogee, Oklahoma) of VA Rocky Mountain Network medical centers achieved that coveted evaluation,” said VA Rocky Mountain Network Director Sunaina Kumar-Giebel. “I’m proud of our leadership and staff who commit to serving Veterans daily. These results show that our efforts are paying off, as we provide more high-quality health care to Veterans than ever before.”
For the second year in a row, VA health care facilities were included in the CMS Overall Hospital Star Ratings and received higher star ratings on average than non-VA hospitals.
CMS uses five categories – mortality, safety of care, re-admission, patient experience and timely and effective care – to award a quality rating for each hospital. CMS’s Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings are released annually and provide a snapshot of a hospital’s quality performance. The more stars out of five, the better a hospital performed on the available quality measures.
VA encourages all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors to learn more about VA and apply for their world-class health care and earned benefits today. For more information about VA care, visit VA’s health care website.
About VISN 19: The VA Rocky Mountain Network is one of 18 geographic Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) across the United States, and consists of eight health care systems in Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming, and portions
of Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, and Texas, spanning more than 540,000 square miles, the largest geographic area in the continental United States.
VISN 19 has a headquarters located in Glendale, Colorado, eight VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), and more than 100 clinics in the five primary states as well as portions of Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, and Texas. The VAMCs in Aurora, Oklahoma City, and Salt Lake City are also teaching facilities, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.
###
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jason Strickland, VISN 19 Chief Communications Officer
VHAV19CCO@va.gov
303-619-1145
Kayla Giuliano, VISN 19 Deputy Chief Communications Officer
Kayla.Giuliano@va.gov
970-314-6582
The VA Health Chat app enables Veterans to quickly connect with VA staff members. No need to travel to a VA facility. Just sign in to the app and start receiving services.
Network Director
Sunaina Kumar-Giebel was appointed as the Network Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19 on June 4, 2023. She is responsible for the direction and management of all operations, finances, and clinical programs of eight healthcare systems and more than 100 additional sites of care, 20,000 employees, serving nearly 1,000,000 eligible Veterans, and an annual budget of $5 billion.
She previously served as the VISN 19 Deputy Network Director (DND) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) since July 2014, responsible for the operations, management, planning, budgeting, and service delivery in the provision of health care throughout the five primary states of Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, and Texas.
Prior to her role as DND/COO, she served in the VHA Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management (DUSHOM) in Washington, DC, directly impacting VA’s mission, organization, programs, and systems.
Mrs. Kumar-Giebel completed the Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program (GHATP) and multiple federal leadership programs. She is an active member in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a member of the VHA Regents Advisory Council. She has been serving as the Chair of the GHATP Board since 2014. She is also a graduate of Leadership VA (LVA) in 2015.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2023 – Present Network Director, VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19), Glendale, CO
2014 – 2022 Deputy Network Director, VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19), Glendale, CO
2011 – 2014 Health Systems Specialist, Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management, Washington, DC
EDUCATION:
2006 Master of Health Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2004 Combined Bachelor of Science in Corporate Financial Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, and University of Akron, Akron, OH
Network Director
Acting Deputy Network Director
Effective April 7, 2024, Brandy Bartron will assume the role of VISN 19 Acting Deputy Network Director. In her permanent role as the Chief Human Resources Officer, Ms. Bartron was responsible for oversight and management of the VISN 19 Human Resources Service. Ms. Bartron serves as the Executive Champion of Personnel and Security Management, National Human Resources voting member for Supervisor Ready Advisory Board and Co-Chair on several short-range projects for the Strategic Human Resources Advisory Committee (SHRAC).
Ms. Bartron previously served as the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer from 2018-2022 and prior to that as the Employee and Labor Relations Section Chief for VISN 19. Before relocating to Denver, CO, she held the roles of EEO, Privacy and FOIA Manager for VHA Member Services and HR Specialist (ER/LR) for the Veterans Crisis Line and VA Chief Business Office (CBO) under Workforce Management located in Topeka, KS. Ms. Bartron is a proud graduate of the Pathways/TCF Program where she gained invaluable knowledge and experience with the full cycle of HR actions.
Prior to federal employment, Brandy served in various Kansas state agencies working with Social and Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Commerce and ending as a Field Investigation Agent for Taxation with the Department of Revenue. She also spent 7 years with Wal-Mart as a manager in Front-End and Specialty Divisions, and ultimately as a Regional Operations Manager with a territory including seven stores.
Brandy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration & Organizational Management from Friends University in Wichita, KS, and a Master of Arts in Human Resources with an emphasis in Organizational Development from Ottawa University. Brandy also attended Washburn University in the field of study for Family and Human Services.
In her downtime Brandy enjoys spending time with her husband Robert, son Carter James and daughter Brooklyn. She and her family are big Kansas City Chief fans and enjoy spending time back home visiting what she calls the “Best BBQ Restaurants in the Country” on both the Kansas and Missouri sides of Kansas City.
Acting Deputy Network Director
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Bray-Hall joins the VISN 19 Executive Leadership Team from her permanent role as Chief of Staff at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, where she has been serving since February 2017. Prior to joining the Oklahoma City VAHCS, she served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, and Associate Director of the Eastern Colorado Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center.
Dr. Bray-Hall started her VA career in 2003 in Home Based Primary Care, advancing to administrative roles in Geriatrics and Extended Care, prior to moving to Oklahoma City.
Susan graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Washington in Chemistry and Biochemistry, and then moved to Colorado for Medical School. She was an AOA graduate from University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1999 and followed with a residency in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Chief Medical Officer
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Jeanne Aikin, MSN, RN, has been selected as Interim Chief Nursing Officer for VISN 19, effective 3/24/2024.
Ms. Aikin joined the VA in August 2019 as the Service Chief of the Sterile Processing Service at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). She was then promoted to the Chief Nurse of Inpatient Nursing Services. In her roles at ECHCS, Ms. Aikin developed a recruitment program for sterile processing, a float pool that aligns under inpatient nursing, a Step-Down Unit within the ICU, and has aligned nursing leadership to a LEAN model for efficient bed management and patient flow. Ms. Aikin worked collaboratively during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a nursing and facility surge plan.
Ms. Aikin joined the VISN 19 Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Office in December 2022, as the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer. Since arriving at VISN, she has been an integral leadership team member supporting the CNO Office in its program administration and aligning with VISN 19 strategic goals and priorities. Ms. Aikin has led the implementation of a VISN-wide Bed Management System (BMS) Workgroup to improve data and reporting, advocated for training and education of staffing methodology across VISN 19, developed the VISN Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Service line structure, supported process improvement of Tele-Emergency Care (EC) in the Clinical Contact Center (CCC) and delivered exemplary leadership driven by her passion for the nursing profession.
Ms. Aikin brings a depth of leadership experience as a former Chief Nursing Officer and Hospital Administrator at UC Health, where she was part of a team that opened a new hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In this role, Ms. Aikin developed models of care, nursing competencies, policies, and program and service line development. Additionally, she has held Clinical Nurse Leadership roles in critical care, med surg, and float pool for Centura Health within the Colorado market, and she has mastered extensive skills in inpatient operations. Ms. Aikin has been a nurse since 2002, holds a master’s degree in nursing with a focus on organizational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Quality Management Officer
Ruth Hammond, RN, was appointed as the VISN 19 Quality Management Officer (QMO) In July 2020. She is responsible for the direction, planning, and oversight of multiple quality programs from the VISN level and of eight Health Care Systems, and 123 additional sites of care.
Ms. Hammond joined VISN 19 in July 2013 and served as the VISN Accreditation Specialist and UM Program Manager until 2017 when she transferred to the position of the VISN 19 Risk Manager. Ms. Hammond has a rich Nursing and Quality background within the VA including serving as a Regional Director with the Office of Clinical Consultation and Compliance, and as a Nurse Manager and Associate Chief Nurse at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center. Prior to joining the VA Ms. Hammond spent 20 years in the private sector functioning in multiple nursing roles.
Ms. Hammond received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1980 from Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado, her Master of Science in Business Administration in 1998 from Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, and her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration in 1999 from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Quality Management Officer
When you can't see a VA health care provider in person, here are some ways to connect to VA virtually — by text, chat, secure messaging, online, over the phone, and using apps. Explore each option and decide which is best for you.
