On Aug. 30, Muskogee VA welcomed 40 VA employees from facilities across America. The team is part of VA’s main program for deployment of clinical and non-clinical staff to an emergency or disaster.
Army Veteran Gerry Clemens had a heart attack and needed a heart transplant. A routine test for COVID-19 was positive which meant 6 weeks of quarantine before they could attempt the heart transplant.
VA nurses expect challenges but on a Monday in August in Iowa this team faced a bigger challenge than they expected. Central Iowa was hit by a storm with winds reported over 90 miles per hour.
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center received 10,000 masks for Veteran patients and their families. Five partner organizations made it possible. Pilot Vietnam Vet Ted Forester said, “I’m your man!”
After VA nurse and Army Veteran Maxine Lindsay-Shillingford was diagnosed with COVID-19, her VA telehealth nurse Joanna Sainvil helped save her as she recovered at home.
Hundreds of VA staff members of the Reno VA gathered in front of the hospital to memorialize and dedicate a monument to three fallen colleagues who passed away early in the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief of Voluntary Service Keith Griffin helped put together a partnership with a local food bank to get food distributed to area Veterans. More than 270 Veterans received food and other items.
Chaplains at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System have adapted creatively by finding innovative and meaningful ways to continue providing care. “What else can we do to serve our country’s Veterans?”
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing many Veterans from leaving home, the VA New England Healthcare System has relied on its 80 Veteran peer specialists to ensure Veterans stay connected.
VA nurse Brandi McAtee accepted a volunteer assignment working at a Maryland state Veterans’ home where 31 of her 33 patients were positive for COVID-19. “The opportunity to help was worth it.”
Last flu season, more than 27,000 Veterans came to VA hospitals with the flu. In addition, over 4,600 Veterans were hospitalized and 600 were in intensive care due to the flu.
In response to COVID-19, Northport VA fire department has engaged in round-the-clock incident management, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Necessary preparations for long-term operations.