Hospital: “Outside of the Box” Ways to Support Veteran Patients

Hospital:  Outside the Box!

How do you like the view from outside of the box so far? If I’m not mistaken, we can see much further from out here, and what we’re seeing is just how imaginative and resourceful we are! We are coming to regard the quip “we’ve never done it this way…” as a personal challenge. Get a load of some of the new ways we are accomplishing our mission to serve veteran patients when we don’t have direct access to them:

• Engagement of new hospital volunteers from their own homes
• Networking with VAVS reps to meet specific VAMC needs
• Auxiliary advocacy on behalf of veteran patients with their legislators
• Electronic and social media fundraising
• Compilation of never-before needed materials for donation to veteran healthcare providers and staff

When healthcare zigs, we zag!

Ac-Cent-U-Ate the Positive
During the run-up to Halloween, be like a pumpkin…How? Instead of focusing on what’s not available such as in-person visits etc., start EVERY communication or project with all the great things the Hospital Program IS doing. In all things be:

• Positive
• Uplifting
• Mission-oriented
• People-praising
• Knowledgable
• Inspiring
• Nimble

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Although breast cancer is most often associated with our women veterans, and women in general, all people have breasts, and anyone can be affected by it. Knowledge is power and collecting and distributing information is one of the things we do best! We can use traditional methods to spread the word (but y’all know I’m not very traditional) or we can try new ways! Charlie Brown (infinitely quotable in my opinion) once said, “I got a rock…” while he was trick-or-treating. That got me thinking; since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Halloween, let’s try to “Rock this out!” Paint rocks and then place these rocks outside where veterans gather! Put things like the following on them:

• Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 Opt. 1
• We Luv Women Veterans
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• IGY6
• VFW Auxiliary Luvs Veteran Patients
• VA Emergency Healthcare Notification Line/VA Reporting Line: 844-724-7842
• VFW Auxiliary: Your House 6

Telehealth Urgent Need
The age of COVID has shined a light on an urgent need that we are uniquely poised to assist with. Telehealth visits are being utilized by healthcare providers like never before.  Our veteran patients are being asked to shift their healthcare visits to their living rooms using technology that many do not have. Here’s our chance to step into the gap and meet that need by providing devices (e.g. iPads, Galaxy tablets, Chromebooks, etc.) and instruction on how they can be used. Share best practices, find out what others are doing, and get this rolling. Together we can figure this out.

Harvest Hospital’s Bounty
If there’s one thing I know: Hospital is both mission and ministry. The mission is never ending and the ministry showers blessings on those who serve and are served. Our veteran patients will reap a harvest of love and devotion this season because we continue to cultivate and “Honor Our Mission to Serve Veterans.”