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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
October - December 2007
- Syracuse VAMC - A special fund raising event sponsored by the Syracuse GEC Care Line raised $1065 in support of the Combined Federal Campaign. The October 10th event, which was open to staff, patients and visitors, featured homemade baked goods, a plant and garage sale, and a raffle.
- Albany VAMC - Marian Boyajian, FNP, (Albany Palliative Care Consult Team) has successfully passed the examination to qualify for recognition as an Advanced Practice Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She is one of less than 400 Advanced Practice Nurses nationwide who have achieved this status. Marian is the only Nurse Practitioner in the Capital District to complete this certification.
- Bath VAMC - The community living center at the Bath VAMC was the thankful recipient of a picturesque new gazebo, which was purchased with funds donated to our Voluntary Service. The gazebo is a beautiful addition to our community living center environment that will greatly enhance the quality of life for our residents. The addition of our gazebo is one of many enhancements that have occurred in our community living center to help transform the culture to a more home-like environment.
Bath VA residents recently went for a week-long cruise to celebrate Patient Vacation Week. Upon boarding the ship they were given T-shirts and leis. They enjoyed the casino activities and karaoke with the Italian American War Veterans from Elmira, NY. They also were able to go to a beach party & BBQ, and enjoy many shipboard games followed by banana splits. Their final evening on board the ship they enjoyed dinner with the Captain. Volunteers wore formal attire and all enjoyed shrimp cocktail, prime rib, rosemary potatoes, cherries jubilee and Sparkling Grape Juice (wine).
Here are some pictures of Bath’s VAMC giant pumpkin! The residents at the Bath VA Medical Center community living center (and the rabbits outside) were delighted to watch these pumpkins grow into “giants”. Staff had to have help cutting them from the vines and carrying them over to the pergola to have their pictures taken. It made for a beautiful fall setting for the community living center residents to enjoy!
Ms. Christina Puschert, HBPC Program Assistant assisted in organizing the Veterans Day Awareness Program at Hammondsport Central School. The program was held on Friday, November 9, 2007 in the school auditorium. Four of our VAMC employees participated in the event and they were C. Puschert, HBPC, Tim Mortensen, Bio Med, Ellen Mortensen, Prosthetics, and Ed Fitzpatrick, Fire department.
The group talked about what a veteran is and how you become a veteran. Questions and answers with the group followed the presentation. The group then participated in individual classroom discussion and helped the children make poppies for the “Field of Poppy Program”.
Congratulations to the group and their participating with the school awareness program.
- Canandaigua VAMC
The pumpkin garden from Canandaigua VAMC was very successful in there first growing year. The NHCU residents are enjoying the huge “201”lbs pumpkin that is now on display in the residents area. Congratulations to Lucy Olson, NHCU staff, and residents for there highly successful Giant Pumpkin Canandaigua VAMC Record breaker pumpkin!
In October, Nina Mottern, RN, GEC Care Coordinator sat next to Kathleen Allen from Caregivers Agency, at OCOA. After the meeting she stopped to tell me about the wonderful experience she had on 10/24/07, when she visited a vet on 7A. Kathy said the unit was immaculate and the vets all looked very well cared for. Kathy specifically mentioned the greeting she was given by PSA Tammy Castiglione. Tammy welcomed Kathy as soon as she arrived on the unit and asked how she could assist her. Kathy’s agency provides some services for the vet and she was visiting with the vet as part of her case management duties. Tammy took Kathy to the veteran’s room but he was not there. Tammy did not give up and soon located the veteran, staying with Kathy, all the while. Kathy was so impressed with the consideration and courtesy given to her by Tammy and she wanted me to know about it.
Thanks to all the folks on 7A for maintaining such a great atmosphere and special thanks to Tammy for her great customer service!
On Saturday, October 20, 2007, a resident of 7A had transportation problems returning to the VA from his authorized absence. There was no public and private transportation available to return him safely. After collaboration with the PCC, Sue Nolan and the fire department, Gary Anderson, NA and David Bump, NA utilized a government van with a lift to pick up the resident and return him safely to 7A.
- The GEC Care Line Manager received a thank you letter from the family of a deceased veteran that was followed in our HBPC program. To quote some excerpts of the letter…”I want to express how much the HBPC program gave her the best quality of life in her home, and to emphasize how much the HBPC program makes a significant difference in the lives of veterans and their families like this program had done. ...the VA medical professionals that visited her at home gave her the best medical care possible. These people include Toby Gilman and Bonnie Burr (now retired), Dr. Paul Katz, Diane Schmitt-Ciminelli, Mike Lindner, Tammy the social worker, Susan Lisi of Recreation Therapy, Dave Isherwood, Amy and Trevor from Physical Therapy, Larry the wheelchair repair guy, Dr. Bob Kukol from speech pathology, and I am sure, many others behind the scenes who support this program internally. These people are truly warm, professional, and genuinely caring people. In the last six months of her life, these professionals gave her comfort, caring, and respect, along with the medical care. Especially in the last six weeks at home, after 4 weeks of hospitalization, Diane, Tammy, and especially Mike Lindner, really pulled out all the stops to attend to her increasing and demanding medical needs. Thank you, and please extend my thanks to all of her care providers as part of this program. I cannot say enough great things about the HBPC. My hope is that the VA continues to fund this program and provide these services to her veterans in need.”
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: March 10, 2008 |
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