Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

We are committed to providing you the best health care. We also want to help you take care of yourself.

At Hines and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), we have a program focusing on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP). This program works to educate you and your Health Care Team about how to best to improve your health. The behaviors listed below are among the ones that have the most impact on your health. Talk with your health care team about how to make these behaviors part of your daily life.

Get Involved in Your Health Care

The VA has developed a new way to provide primary care to you, the Veteran. It is called Patient Aligned Care Teams or PACT.  A team of health care staff will be working with you to provide high quality care. Your core team, which we call a teamlet, includes your provider, nurses and a clerk. You will also have social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and others to take care of your needs. You are the center of your team. Your team members become your health partners. We want to provide you with the best care, based on your individual needs. There are many ways to take an active role. Work with your team to improve your health. Learn more about living well and living with conditions and diseases using 1500 information sheets and 300 videos on the Veterans Health Library. Enroll in MyHealthEVet  to you’re your appointments, lab results, communicate with your team, and more!

• Key messages for Veterans
• PACT Brochure  

Join the HPDP Wellness workshop series to learn more about ways to be healthy and Get Involved in Your Health Care. Contact Matthew Davis, PhD, MPH at 708-202-8387, ext 20862.

Get Recommended Screenings and Immunizations

Talk to your health care team about the preventive services you should have.  Recommendations are based on your age, family history, sex, and health status.. Take this quiz to see what vaccines you may need: Immunization Quiz Talk to your team about the results.

• Key messages for Veterans

Manage Stress

People have stress in their lives. It’s important to learn how to manage the stress in your life because stress contributes to your risk for physical, social, financial, emotional, and cognitive health problems. You may not be able to remove stress from your life, but you can learn what stresses you and how to take care of yourself during periods of stress.

• Key messages for Veterans
• The Moving Forward Program is a free, on-line education and life coaching program that teaches problem solving skills to Veterans, Service Members and their families. This evidence-based program uses interactive exercises and video demonstrations to teach skills for overcoming life challenges such as relationship problems, financial hardship, and re-adjustment issues.

Strive for a Healthy Weight

To stay at a healthy weight, balance calories from what you eat and drink with calories you burn off by your activities. To prevent gradual weight gain as you age, make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity.

• Key messages for Veterans
• The MOVE! ® Program at Hines offers many options for assisting veterans reach a healthy weight. All options focus on a patient centered lifestyle approach to weight loss. We help and encourage patients to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes focused on better nutrition and fitness while addressing their individual likes and dislikes. A consult is required from your provider to join the MOVE! ® Program. Talk to your PACT team about the MOVE! ® Program.

Eat Wisely

Healthy eating habits can make a big impact on your health. Food choices affect every part of your body and how well it works. We should eat a wide variety of foods to get the daily nutrients that we need. Eating mostly fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains and limiting highly processed, salty and sugary foods is best for health.

• Key messages for Veterans
• The USDA ChooseMyPlate provides guidance on how to create healthy meals.
• Track your eating habits and nutrient intake with the USDA Super Tracker. 

Be Physically Active

Staying active is central to a healthy lifestyle, weight maintenance, and disease prevention. Talk with your health care team about starting an exercise program that is right for you. For health benefits, most people need at least 2 ½ hours each week of moderate-intensity, or 1 ¼ hours a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or a combination of both.

• Key messages for Veterans
• Map of physical activity resources near Hines and the clinics. 

Be Safe

There are actions you can take to protect yourself and those you love from harm. Common safety issues are sexually transmitted infections, falls, sunburns, and motor vehicle collisions. Speak with your provider if you have questions or concerns with safety.

• Key messages for Veterans 

Be Tobacco Free

Smoking and other tobacco products can increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. All adults should avoid tobacco products.

• Key messages for Veterans
• Need some help kicking the habit? Try out the new SmokefreeVet text reminder tobacco cessation program. Talk to your health care team about classes and other resources to help quit.
• Read more about the Hines Quit Smoking program in this brochure

Limit Alcohol

If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. This means for women and men aged 65 and older, no more than 1 drink a day; men up to age 65, no more than 2 drinks a day. Avoid "binge drinking." If you are concerned about your drinking, talk to your VA health care team about getting help.

• Key messages for Veterans 

Learn more about the VA’s Healthy Living messages at the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention website! There are many tools an resources available on the website to help you manage your health.