|
Director's Update
Since our last newsletter, former director, John Rohrer, has officially retired after more than 30 years of service. While we search for a new director, we are grateful to welcome Ms. Alicia Miller as interim director for up to 120 days. She joins us from the Wichita VA where she serves as associate director and has held a number of positions at VA’s across the country and at VA Central Office.
VA Secretary Dennis McDonough stopped by to visit Veterans and staff a few weeks ago. While at the hospital, he met with facility leadership, frontline staff and union representatives, and took time to recognize star performers. He encouraged Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances to apply for a PACT Act claim. Being from Minnesota and a Vikings fan, we took every opportunity to jokingly remind him he was in Packers territory.
We officially broke ground on a new Baraboo clinic which will double the size of the current location. Both the Baraboo and Madison East Clinics are scheduled to open next summer. We look forward to transitioning Veterans to East and providing updates as construction progresses. Once providers are determined for the Madison East Clinic, Veterans will be notified about health care options.
For the second year, we were honored to raise the Pride flag and we held several events throughout the month in support of our LGBTQ+ Veterans, employees and visitors. As a Veterans health care facility, it is our mission to support all of those who served our country, and we firmly stand against discrimination of any kind. You belong here.
It is especially important that we actively acknowledge Pride month as we continue to witness discriminatory acts and statements against our LGBTQ+ Veterans and staff on our campus. It is not okay. No type of discrimination is acceptable. We will not tolerate hate and we will take action against discrimination. We want our LGBTQ+ Veterans to know they are loved and supported. We proudly stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ Veterans and staff and will continue to make our workplace safe and welcome for all Veterans, staff and visitors.
Thank you so much for taking time to read our newsletter. I hope you have a relaxing and joyful summer.
Sincerely,
Christine Kleckner
Associate Director
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital & Clinics
|
|
|
In the Spotlight: Chad Wurth
If you have entered the Patient Education Resource Center, you have probably been greeted by Chad Wurth. The Omaha, Nebraska, native moved to Madison when he was six. He graduated from Monona Grove High School prior to going to UW-Whitewater where he played football for the Warhawks and is inducted into their Athletics Hall of Fame. After two years of teaching at Little Chute High School, he bounced to Minneapolis and Chicago before returning to Madison.
Name: Chad Wurth
Hobbies: Sports, hanging out with family and friends, spoiling my nieces and nephew
What is your connection to the military? In 2016, I had an accident in San Antonio, Texas, that almost took my life. Brooke Army Medical Center took me in as a civilian, and they saved my life. During my recovery, my main neuro doctor wanted me to volunteer somewhere before attempting to go back to work. It was my time to pay it forward, so I started volunteering here in the PERC. It eventually led to a full-time job.
What is your job here at the VA? I work in the PERC, which has a wide spectrum of duties (MyHealtheVet, info sheets, etc.), but overall, we are the place for patients to come if they have questions. It is our job to find the answer if we do not have it. You can find me sitting at the front desk in the afternoon.
What do you enjoy most about your position? I have direct contact and interaction with our amazing Veterans. I love being able to assist in any way possible.
What is the question you get most from Veterans? “I think I need to sign up for something so I can get travel pay, can you help me?” (Answer: You'll want to upgrade your MyHealtheVet account to premium status. You'll have to provide an ID to do so, but it's free and offers you more resources.)
Most memorable moment on the football field: Playing Mount Union my senior year at their place. It was an unbelievable atmosphere, and they had a very special team with a few future NFL players. It was also a tough one, because we did end up losing.
|
Favorite athlete: I am a Packers fan, but throughout my career I always wore #20 because of Barry Sanders (one of the best to ever do it).
Favorite movie: Tough to pick just one, but if "The Godfather" is on, I will stop and watch it…every time!
Favorite book: "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah
Three musicians/bands are playing at your birthday party, who are they (past or present)? Tool, Jimi Hendrix, Snoop Dogg
Favorite local restaurant: Pig in a Fur Coat
Is a hot dog a sandwich? No way, a hot dog is its own category.
Weird/fun fact about you? My family has lineage to a Lordship in England (Lord Hazlerigg).
If you could have lunch with any person you’ve never met, who would it be? Abraham Lincoln
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? Enjoy the ride (I was too anxious)
Best advice you’ve ever received? Hard work solves everything.
|
|
|
 FOSTER OR BE FOSTERED
When living at home becomes difficult, most prefer to stay in homelike surroundings rather than move to a nursing home. In moments like this, a VA medical foster home (MFH) can help with a more cost-effective, long-term care option.
MFH is a voluntary program offering a safe, affordable care housing alternative for Veterans within 40 miles of the Madison VA hospital.
To learn more about becoming a caregiver or finding a foster home, visit here.
Contact:
Jordan Miller
(608) 830-6650
|
 HEALTH CARE WHILE TRAVELING
If you are traveling, but need routine services, you should contact your provider and ask for a traveling Veterans coordinator consult who can help with:
- Setting up care at other VA sites
- Sharing data and care needs with other VA sites
- Managing consults for care
- Providing follow-up when care is ordered at community clinics that are not VA-affiliated
Learn more here.
Contact:
Judy Geissler
608-256-1901 x18551
|
 LGBTQ+ RESOURCES
Pride month has ended, but providing LGBTQ+ resources and support hasn't.
To help communicate the unique needs and resources to those who want it, we created an LGBTQ+ email distribution list.
Sign-up to receive updates, other newsletters by the Madison VA and newsletters from other VAs throughout the country here.
Contact:
Margo Edge
608-256-1901 x10762
|
|
Whole Health EMPOWERS Marine Veteran to Overcome Chronic Pain
|
|
Marine Corps Veteran Connie Wilson has a similar story to others experiencing chronic pain. But, she has truly lived up to the VA program named EMPOWER by partnering with Whole Health to live life to the fullest.
Wilson served in the Marine Corps from 1982–1986 with deployments to Japan and Korea. Her history of pain dates back to the 1990s when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and migraine headaches. After many years of not being able to keep up financially due to her chronic pain, she put her trust in VA.
“I looked at the Madison VA’s health and wellness calendar and started to learn about the EMPOWER program which focuses on pain management,” Wilson said. “I picked what I thought was interesting and the VA team offered me support and balance. Now, I have more ambition to pursue things, I organized my home, I have more energy and I actually want to do things.”
The Ridott, Illinois, native attributes her success to living the Whole Health philosophy of focusing on what matters to her. Her goals were spending time with her children and grandchildren, traveling, camping, Veteran organizations and connecting with peers
|
Connie partnered with the Madison VA team to develop her personal health plan (PHP). Her health journey began by focusing on her strengths of humor, a supportive family and connections to Veterans. This led her to explore life-changing classes, incorporating skills that have greatly impacted her life in a healthy and meaningful way. She has participated in a range of group and individual activities, including yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, health coaching, battlefield acupuncture, aromatherapy with essential oils and functional nutrition.
“I learned several techniques to reduce chronic pain, such as using a tennis ball to massage my muscles and the use of essential oils. My dietitian looked into what vitamins I was lacking from my fibromyalgia. She also switched me to a gluten free diet for the inflammation. All these resources have led me to having more energy and better coping with stressors and pain.”
To get started on your personal health plan and learn more about EMPOWER, talk to your primary care team or contact 608-256-1901, ext. 12537.
|
|
|
 Madison VA Hospital will be hosting a job fair on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We are looking to hire:
- RNs
- LPNs
- Social Workers
- Nursing Assistants
- Medical Support Assistants
- Food Service Workers
- Housekeeping Aids
Interviews are available on-site with expedited onboarding, so bring your resume with references and two forms of I.D.
Are YOU One in a Million?
VA is building a health research program of 1,000,000+ Veterans to study how genes, lifestyles, military experiences and exposures affect health and wellness.
Started 10 years ago, the Million Veteran Program is a volunteer program consisting of over 60 sites nationwide. The goal is to recruit over 1 million Veterans to participate. We currently have over 950,000 Veterans participating with 9,591 from the Madison area alone.
MVP researchers use genetic, health, lifestyle and military background information to understand how genes affect health and illness. Understanding differences in our genes can help explain why some people get diseases and respond to certain treatments while others don’t.
MVP makes discoveries that matter to Veterans
-
Mental health: We're working to find earlier and better preventions and treatments for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
-
Heart health: We’re studying what puts people at risk – and what protects people – from different kinds of heart diseases.
-
Cancer: We’ve made advances in breast cancer and prostate cancer, with more cancers studied every year.
-
Wellness: We're finding ways for Veterans to live healthier lives through nutrition and lifestyle choices
To learn more, stop by the Patient Education Resource Center (PERC) at the main hospital, call 866-441-6075 or visit here.
|
 Patient Education Resource Center Outreach Fair will be held on the Madison VA Hospital's main campus on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn about health care services and benefits available to Veterans, family and their caregivers, including:
- County Veteran Service Office
- PACT Act
- My HealtheVet
- Million Veteran Program
- and more...
Call 608-280-2031 for more information.
In Case You Missed It...
If you aren’t following the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital Facebook page, you’ve been missing out on stories like these. You don’t need an active account to keep up with the latest news, stories and resources. Check us out!
|
|
|
|
|
