William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital

10/26/2026

10/26/2026

Has your legal name changed?

Check your DEERS record.

Veterans who receive pay from the Department of Defense and have changed their legal name need to verify it matches our VA system.

Taking care of this now helps make sure your records transfer smoothly when Madison VA Hospital and Clinics goes live with the Federal Electronic Health Records in January 2027.

If an update is needed, call the Defense Manpower Data Center support office at 1-800-538-9552. For TTY, call 1-866-363-2883.

This change is a good one, and taking a few minutes today keeps your records moo-ving over without a hitch.

Moo-ving forward together,
EHRMA the Cow

10/24/2026

🇺🇸 We're getting closerrrrr....if you've driven by the corner of Deming Way/Nursery Drive in Middleton this week, you'll notice preparation has begun to build the Madison VA Fisher House, thanks to our friends at Fisher House Wisconsin and Fisher House Foundation. We hope to open the doors in 2027.

Fisher Houses are located near military and VA medical centers, providing free lodging for the families of active-duty service members and Veterans while their loved ones receive medical care. Find more information in the link in the comments 👇

Thanks to Kayla See & WMTV 15 News!

A new $13 million project in Middleton will give families of veterans a free place to stay while their loved ones receive medical care at the Madison VA Hospital.

10/23/2026

📸 THEN & NOW 📸

Special thanks to our Chaplain Services team for their tireless support of our Veterans and their families - Then. Now. Always.

They serve people of all faiths and denominations as well as those looking for non-denominational support.

VA Chaplains address spiritual, emotional, moral, religious and ethical concerns of VA patients and survivors. Chaplains are available 24/7 upon request.

They offer bedside visits, grief and loss care, group and individual pastoral care and counseling, substance abuse group meetings, moral injury group meetings, support through decision making and much more.

(In celebration of our 75th Anniversary, we'll be posting a weekly "Then & Now" honoring our history and highlighting the staff and resources we have today. If you know names of folks in photos, feel free to tell us and we'll update our archives. Have something to share related to the topic? Feel free to post.)

10/22/2026

"Herd" the news? Secure Messaging keeps you connected.

Madison VA Hospital and Clinics will go live with the new Federal Electronic Health Record system in January 2027. During this transition, you can use Secure Messaging for non-urgent, non-emergency questions or requests for your care team.

Have a question for your care team?

🐄 Sign in with your Login.gov or ID.me account.
🐄 Look for the Secure Messaging tab.
🐄 Send your question or request to your care team.

Do not use Secure Messaging for life-threatening emergencies. Always call 911.

I'm COWmitted to making this moo-ve as clear and stress-free as possible.

Moo-ving forward together,
EHRMA the Cow

10/21/2026

🎖️ Hall of Heroes Induction

Join us as we honor Lt. Col. Henry Detering, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), with induction into our Hall of Heroes.

📅 Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026
🕚 11 a.m.
📍 Hospital auditorium

While serving in Vietnam, Lt. Col. Detering piloted 100 missions in the A-4 and 150 missions in the A-6. He survived one helicopter crash and saved the co-pilot’s life. Later, he defended the tactical command center, engaging enemy fighters at close range with only a pistol, killing two of the enemy and causing others to abandon their assault.

The Hall of Heroes is on the first floor of the Madison VA Hospital. Look for it in the main corridor, near the Patient Education Resource Center.

10/19/2026

💉 Flu & COVID vaccines are available!

Protect yourself and others this season. A yearly flu shot lowers your risk of getting sick and can ease your symptoms if you do. VA makes it easy to get your vaccine at Madison VA Hospital and Clinics:

✅ Add a flu shot to a visit you already have. Get one at primary care and most specialty care appointments (not dental or vision). To schedule, call 608-256-1901.

✅ Walk in to the Madison VA Hospital lobby, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment needed.

Prefer to stay closer to home? Find the nearest location in your community where you can get a flu shot and learn how to update your VA records:

October and November are the best months to get vaccinated. Make your plan now to beat the rush.

10/19/2026

Make a difference for future generations by joining a community of 1 million+ Veterans who are part of VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP).

MVP studies how genes, lifestyles, military experiences, and exposures interact to affect health.

VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is paving the way for a future o...

10/18/2026

Thanks to our friends and partners from Wisconsin VFW , VFW Auxiliary - Department of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce for their visit and generous donations that directly support Veterans! 🫡🇺🇸

10/16/2026

📸 THEN & NOW 📸

October 15th was White Cane Awareness Day - when we celebrate the right of blind people to move freely and independently with a cane or guide dog. Dating back to the 1960s, our photos show Veterans listening to "talking books." The talking book program still exists today and low vision and legally blind Veterans still use it -- now they can access it on a small machine or using a smart phone.

We also did a 2013 story in our early Facebook days on Dr. Tim Cordes, a blind psychiatrist who served Veterans he could never see. Read the story here: www.facebook.com/share/1EUz4N8BUa.

Today, we offer services to maximize Veteran's independence and continue to pursue their goals:

☑️ Comprehensive examinations along with training, equipment and skill building
☑️ Learn to read Braille
☑️ Connect with “talking books” and other “talking” products
☑️ Find ways to adapt hobbies and explore different adaptive technologies available on smart phones and computers

If you are interested in learning more about VA low vision services, please reach out to our Visually Impaired Service Team (VIST) Coordinator Ellen Decker at 608-256-1901, ext. 18102.

(In celebration of our 75th Anniversary, we'll be posting a weekly "Then & Now" honoring our history and highlighting the staff and resources we have today. If you know names of folks in photos, feel free to tell us and we'll update our archives. Have something to share related to the topic? Feel free to post.)