Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System

06/01/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month

Post-traumatic stress is a natural response to extraordinary experiences, and it's treatable. Many veterans live full, meaningful lives after a PTSD diagnosis with the right support.

If you or a fellow veteran are struggling, you don't have to go through it alone. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center offers a range of mental health services, including evidence-based therapies specifically designed for PTSD.

Reach out. Heal. Thrive.

Learn more about PTSD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMC2jt_QVEE

Learn more about PTSD Treatment: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/decisionaid/

Learn more about Veterans’ experiences
with PTSD treatment: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/aboutface/

05/29/2026

Stay healthy this BBQ season with these food safety tips :

⏰ Don’t leave food out for more than 2 hours.

🧊 Refrigerate leftovers right away so that the internal temperature reaches 41°F or below within 6 hours.

🚫 Don’t take chances with your health! If you don’t know how long food has been sitting around, toss it out.

05/27/2026

Celebrating growing families and the community that supports them.

The Women’s Health Maternity Care Program, led by Rhonda Lucas, hosted its bi-annual baby shower at the North Charleston VA Clinic, honoring newly delivered and pregnant Veterans with an afternoon filled with love, encouragement and support.

The event was made even more meaningful thanks to the generosity of our community partners: Soldier’s Angels, Del Webb VetMates, Salvation Army, DAR, the United States Marine Corps, IOP Elks, and VFW 7723 Auxiliary.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of these organizations for their continued support of Voluntary Service and for helping us celebrate the Veterans and families we are honored to serve.

05/26/2026

Top marks for Veteran care in the Lowcountry!

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System has once again earned a 5-star rating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ annual Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating report.

This national rating reflects performance across key quality measures like safety of care, patient experience, readmission, mortality, and timely and effective care. More importantly, it reflects the dedication of the VA Charleston team members who work every day to provide safe, high-quality care to Veterans across coastal South Carolina and Georgia.

We are proud to see that commitment recognized and even prouder to continue serving those who served.

Read more:

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System announced today that it received a 5-star rating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ annual Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating report.

05/26/2026

Healing can take many forms, and for some Veterans, it starts on the water.

Veterans on Deck is a Charleston nonprofit helping Veterans and active-duty service members find camaraderie, confidence and support through sailing on Charleston Harbor.

Founded with support from providers at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, the volunteer-run program gives Veterans a chance to reconnect with others who understand their experiences while building teamwork and resilience out on the water. Last year alone, the organization provided more than 1,350 passages for Veterans and service members.

We’re grateful for community partners like Veterans on Deck and the difference they continue to make in the lives of those who served.

As Americans prepare for Memorial Day weekend travel and celebrations, one Charleston nonprofit is reminding veterans they do not have to face the internal battles that follow them back home alone.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice secured freedoms we often take for granted, and their courage continues to inspire generations of Americans.

Here in Charleston, many historians recognize one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations as taking place at what is now Hampton Park in 1865. Shortly after the Civil War ended, formerly enslaved men, women, and children gathered at the former Washington Race Course to honor fallen Union soldiers who had died there during the war. They reburied the soldiers with dignity, decorated their graves with flowers, and held a solemn procession of remembrance.

More than 160 years later, the spirit of that remembrance lives on.

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, let us take time to reflect on those who never made it home, honor the families who carry their memory forward, and remember that freedom has always come at a cost.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

As a reminder: in observance of the Memorial Day federal holiday, our outpatient clinics and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, May 25.
Please dial 911 or visit the closest emergency department in a life-threatening emergency. In case of a mental health crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then Press 1.

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

Some wounds never fully fade, and neither should the sacrifices made by those who served in Vietnam.

Join the community this Memorial Day for the grand opening of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial at Warbird Park in Myrtle Beach, a tribute honoring the courage, the sacrifice, and the legacy of Vietnam Veterans.

The ceremony will feature Veteran speakers, a battlefield cross ceremony, rifle salute and “Taps,” music, and remarks from Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam Veteran James Livingston. Arrive early! Handicap parking and golf cart transportation will be available.

📍 Warbird Park
📅 Monday, May 25
🕤 March begins at 9:30 a.m.
🕚 Ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.

Vietnam Veterans have carried the weight of war for decades. This memorial stands as a lasting reminder that their service, and the lives of those who never made it home, will never be forgotten.

Share this with your friends and show your support!

05/22/2026

Precision behind every pulse!

The City of Charleston, SC Government has officially proclaimed May 17–23, 2026, as Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week in recognition of the dedicated professionals who help keep critical medical equipment safe, accurate, and ready for Veteran care.

From maintaining life-saving devices to supporting clinicians behind the scenes, our Biomedical Equipment Technicians, Clinical Engineers, and HTM professionals play an essential role in the care we provide every day across the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System.

We are grateful for their expertise and commitment to excellence in service to Veterans.

Thank you to the city of Charleston and Mayor William Cogswell Jr. for recognizing the important work of our HTM teams and healthcare technology professionals throughout the community!

05/22/2026