VA Caribbean Healthcare System

12/06/2026

Are you a Published author?
Join Us for the 2026 Veterans Book Fair!

We are excited to invite you to participate in the upcoming Veteran Book Fair, dedicated to celebrating the unique voices and stories of our Puerto Rican Veteran community.

Send an email with your full name and contact information to: [email protected] to sign up as a participating author. Spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

Registration deadline for authors: July 15, 2026

Your stories matter.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us by email: [email protected].

12/06/2026

A New Path to Wellness: VA Caribbean’s Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Program

We’re excited to introduce VA Caribbean Healthcare’s groundbreaking Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program—now available in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. At our state-of-the-art Domiciliary, Veterans receive holistic, community-based care focused on healing and recovery. Our team of expert clinicians offers personalized, evidence-based treatment for substance use, trauma, PTSD, and homelessness in a supportive, therapeutic environment. Veterans participate in a variety of skill-building and wellness activities, including nutrition, exercise, peer support, and trauma-sensitive therapy. If you or a loved one are ready to start the journey to better mental health, reach out today and discover how our program can help you thrive.

VA Caribbean Healthcare System - VA Domiciliary, Hato Rey VA Clinic...

10/06/2026

40 years of empowering Veterans to live boldly and independently, and we're just getting started! 🎉

This past week, the VA Caribbean Healthcare System celebrated the 40th Anniversary of our Blind Rehabilitation Program at Club de Leones in Bayamón, surrounded by Veterans, caregivers, family members, and dedicated staff who make this mission possible every single day. The evening was filled with heartfelt remarks, fellowship, music, and dancing — a true reflection of the incredible community built over four decades. A sincere thank you to every Veteran, caregiver, and team member who has been part of this journey — your strength and commitment inspire us to keep pushing forward. Here's to 40 more years of service, independence, and impact! 💙

10/06/2026

We went where our Veterans are! 🇵🇷 This past week, the VA Caribbean Healthcare System was proud to participate in three outreach events across Puerto Rico, the Ft. Buchanan Joint Forces HQ Service Fair, the American Legion Veteran Service Fair in Carolina, and the Wounded Warrior Veteran Service Expo in San Juan.

Our team connected Veterans, service members, and families with information on VA health care, enrollment, benefits, and more. A huge thank you to our community partners for helping us bring these resources directly to those who have earned them. Together, we're making sure no Veteran is left without the care and support they deserve. 🫡

08/06/2026

We're still here! Save the life of a Military Member today by donating blood!

🩸No need for an appointment🩸

The Defense Health Agency’s Armed Services Blood Program, in collaboration with the VA Caribbean Healthcare System will continue collecting blood until 4:00 pm at room 102, located at the Administration Building in the San Juan VA Medical Center.

We have a need for all blood types but, an urgent need for ⭕➕ (O Positive) and ⭕➖(O Negative) blood types please come support this truly lifesaving blood drive.

Come and save a life!

Your donation can make a real difference for our service members, Veterans, and our entire community.

08/06/2026

Today is your chance to save the life of a Military Member down range or at a local Military Treatment Facility. We need all blood types! 🩸 No need for an appointment🩸

The Defense Health Agency’s Armed Services Blood Program, in collaboration with the VA Caribbean Healthcare System, is holding its very first blood drive.

We have a need for all blood types but, an urgent need for ⭕➕ (O Positive) and ⭕➖(O Negative) blood types please come support this truly lifesaving blood drive.

Come and save a life!
When: Today from 9:00 am to 4:00
Where: Room 102, Administration Building, San Juan VA Medical Center

Your donation can make a real difference for our service members, Veterans, and our entire community.

05/06/2026

I am pleased to announce that Jackeline Maldonado Vélez has been named the new Assistant Chief Nurse for Surgery & Rehabilitation, effective June 2026. Ms. Maldonado Vélez holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration and a specialty in the Care of the Elderly from the University of Puerto Rico. She began her nursing career at Hospital Centro Médico de Puerto Rico, where she cared for trauma and critically ill patients, establishing a strong clinical foundation early in her professional journey.

She later joined the VA Caribbean Healthcare System, where she has proudly served for the past 18 years. Her VA service began in the Emergency Department of a military facility, followed by a transition to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), where she served as an intensivist nurse for seven years. Ms. Maldonado Vélez has advanced through several leadership roles, including Permanent Charge Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and Nurse Manager supporting Acute Medicine. She has contributed significantly to performance improvement initiatives, emergency management efforts, and enhancements in clinical practice.

Under the Chief of Staff Office, she has participated in system wide improvement initiatives related to maintaining the indwelling Foley catheter closed system and supported the development and opening of the Wellness Center, contributing meaningfully to patient safety and staff well-being. She has also actively supported the Readmission and Mortality Workgroup, helping advance key quality of care initiatives. Additional accomplishments include serving as a PMDB trainer, completing the CDL leadership program, becoming an active member of ACHE, and receiving the Daisy Award for Excellence in Nursing.

Ms. Maldonado Vélez is known for her strong commitment to servant leadership, her dedication to clinical excellence, and her passion for providing exceptional care to the Veterans we are honored to serve.

Sincerely,

Antonio Sánchez, MD, MHSA, FAPA, FACHE
Executive Director (Medical Center Director)

02/06/2026

Have you downloaded our Couples Coach App? Couples can improve communication and build trust in their relationship. Try exercises to practice active listening so you can navigate conflict better with your partner. https://mobile.va.gov/app/couples-coach

01/06/2026

For 80 years, VA health care has been shaped by research and informed by Veterans’ experience, setting the foundation for a future of exceptional health care.
Every study and every advancement builds on the one before it—pushing Veteran care forward.