“How can you not love being a Volunteer!” commented Jill Patterson, one of more than 250 volunteers who work at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center. “The Veterans are just so friendly. They share a smile with you and you with them, and everyone is happy.”
Every day, Veterans at the medical center are greeted by volunteers like Jill, who feel honored to give their time in support of our nation’s heroes. “If they hadn’t served and provided for us, I couldn’t be here to volunteer for them,” she added.
“What impresses me is the passion and kindness with which our volunteers serve our Veterans,” said Katie Maxon, Chief of VA Voluntary Services. “Our volunteers, many of them Veterans themselves, are truly motivated to give back to those who served, supporting our mission to honor Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.”
Last year, despite some continued COVID precautions, OGJVAMC volunteers provided 18,000 hours of service, which is the equivalent to more than 8 full-time employees. They provided invaluable support to many departments and programs at the medical center including Care Companion hospice program, patient escort, coffee station, Red Coat Ambassadors and department staff support to name a few.
“We continue to welcome Veterans to our facility with the Red Coat Ambassador program,” said Dr. John Shealey, medical center director. “This program, in place at VA medical centers nationwide, positions volunteers in red vests at main entrances to help Veterans easily identify individuals who can assist them with navigating the medical center.”
Another program that is reliant on volunteers is the medical center’s Veterans Transportation Network (VTN). According to Maxon, there were 125 volunteer drivers who logged over 151,000 miles transporting 1,200 Veterans to and from their VA appointments in 2022. The program covers the entire VA catchment area, transporting Veterans from all over the UP and Northern Wisconsin.
“Our driver volunteers are astounding!” stated Maxon. “They bring patients to our facility from Sault St. Marie, Ironwood, the Keweenaw, Rhinelander, Menominee, and everywhere in between. They make it possible for many of our Veterans to access health care despite our rural area and transportation challenges.”
The impressive efforts that VA volunteers accomplish, however, are more than just statistics. They are critical to providing an excellent patient experience.
“We cannot measure the quality of holding the hand of a hospice patient, the reassuring smiles that greet our patients as they enter our facility, or the stories told while transporting Veterans,” Shealey said.
“Supporting the volunteers of this facility is very humbling,” Maxon said. “They have an incredible work ethic, fierce dedication and passionate hearts!”
April 16-22 is National Volunteer Week, and the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center will be honoring its local volunteers with a picnic in early June, when the weather is more accommodating. Driver volunteers will be honored at ceremonies in their respective areas throughout the summer.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Iron Mountain VA, or as a driver, may call VA Voluntary Service office at (906) 774-3300, ext. 32780, or logon to www.ironmountain.va.gov/giving or www.volunteer.va.gov.
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