Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 6-15-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans 

1. North Chicago VAMC Transfers Land To Rosalind Franklin University  
2. Gould Congratulates Service To America Medal Finalists
3. Widow Helps Injured 82nd Airborne Veterans  
4. Montgomery VA Medical Center Holds Open House For New TBI Clinic  
5. New Wassau VA Clinic Wins Praise From Veterans  
6. $1.8 million Raised For Norwood VA Medical Center Fisher House  
7. Maryland Stadium Hosts Welcome Home Event For Veterans  
8. Beckley, West Virginia VA Medical Center Hosts Returning Veterans  
9. Bay Pines VAMC Employment Discrimination Trial Set To Begin
10.  VA Illiana Relocating Clinic

1.      North Chicago VAMC Transfers Land To Rosalind Franklin University.   The Lake County (IL) News-Sun (6/14, Marshall) reported, "In a development that officials say will support efforts to improve health-care services, the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center has transferred 85 acres of land to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Since 2002, Rosalind Franklin has been using the property under an enhanced-use lease agreement with VA, officials said," and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "determined the majority of the land leased to the university would not be needed" by his agency in the future. The News Sun added, "The transfer…facilitates the use of 8.5 acres to be used" for a joint Federal healthcare facility "shared by the VA and Navy scheduled to open in 2010."

2.      Gould Congratulates Service To America Medal Finalists.   The Lake County (CA) News (6/14) reported, "This past week," Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould "congratulated two" agency employees "on becoming finalists for the 2009 Service to America Medals, the top award" to Federal "workers for their contributions to the nation." Dr. Janet Kemp, "national director of VA’s suicide prevention program, is a finalist for the Citizen Services Medal," while "Dr. Audrey Nelson, director of the Patient Safety Center in Tampa, Fla., is a finalist for the Career Achievement Medal." Nelson "explored ways to help nurses and medical practitioners avoid back injuries, which resulted in a $200 million program across the VA to use mechanical lifts and transfer devices when moving patients."

3.      Widow Helps Injured 82nd Airborne Veterans.   The Raleigh News & Observer (6/14, Quillin) reports, "Soldiers often say they serve in the military to make a difference in other people’s lives. Wesley Bauguess makes a difference in soldiers’ lives. Her focus is on the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division who get sent back from a deployment injured or sick. Though many organizations are dedicated to helping those soldiers, the Wounded Warrior Committee that Bauguess oversees concentrates on making them more comfortable during their recovery at Army hospitals with useful items emblazoned with the logo of the storied 82nd. … A couple of years ago, after her soldier-husband, Larry, was killed in action, Bauguess wasn’t sure what her place was on the team."

4.      Montgomery VA Medical Center Holds Open House For New TBI Clinic.   The Muskogee Daily Phoenix (6/14) reports, "The Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center will hold an open house for veterans and the public to tour their new Traumatic Brain Injury/Polytrauma Support clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. … The TBI/Polytrauma clinic is dedicated to helping veterans adjust to returning home after they have suffered polytrauma and/or a TBI. Eligible veterans will receive individualized treatment plans from a multi-disciplinary team to achieve their optimal function. The team will offer individual therapy sessions and/or activities to re-integrate the veteran into the community. Team members will assist veterans in regaining a functional lifestyle and help them develop skills to enable them to return to work, school or become more productive in their community."  

5.      New Wassau VA Clinic Wins Praise From Veterans.   The Wausau Daily Herald (6/14, Olson) reports, "Scott Hellmich was a medic in the Army National Guard for nine years, including a year caring for the wounded in Iraq. But since he returned home to central Wisconsin in late 2005, he has struggled re-adjust to civilian life. That’s why he sought counseling at the Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic at 515 S. 32nd Ave. in Wausau. … Hellmich is among area veterans who say the care and compassion they receive from Wausau’s VA clinic has helped them endure life’s challenges, especially those related to their military service. The VA, which took over operation of the clinic from a private contractor in April, is adding staff and expanding services to meet veterans’ medical and emotional needs."

6.      $1.8 million Raised For Norwood VA Medical Center Fisher House.   The Augusta Chronicle (6/14, Sparks) reports, "If you factor in pledges, a $1.8 million fundraising goal has been met for a Fisher House to be built at the Uptown Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Lee Smith Jr., the president and CEO of The Community Foundation, which has been receiving donations for the cause, says $1.6 million has been secured, with the remainder having been promised recently. … The Fisher House program offers housing to family members of injured service members while they recuperate."

7.      Maryland Stadium Hosts Welcome Home Event For Veterans.   WUSA TV Washington, D.C. (6/14) reports, "The Veterans Affairs Medical Center hosted a welcome home celebration at Bowie Baysox Stadium today. It’s an event required for some military personnel and they got paid 200 dollars for attending. This may not sound thrilling, but the point was to get these veterans the resources they need and deserve. And it seemed to work. … Some veterans say they’re more inclined to seek out help in a family fun atmosphere. They also say they wouldn’t come and seek out these resources on their own. The welcome home event was sponsored by WUSA9."

8.      Beckley, West Virginia VA Medical Center Hosts Returning Veterans.   WVNS-TV (6/14, Tester) reports, "The managers at the Beckley VA Medical Center say they’re trying to make sure our soldiers have the support they need. … The Beckley VA Medical Center decided to start this event for just that reason. The celebration focuses on the veterans and introducing them to available resources such as health care and benefits. And all veterans of all ages are invited to attend." 9.      Bay Pines VAMC Employment Discrimination Trial Set To Begin.   The St. Petersburg (FL) Times (6/15, Levesque) reports, "A medical chief caught on videotape talking about his intent to drive out older doctors" is just one of a number of "allegations in court papers that might be aired" at a Federal civil trial scheduled to open Monday "that will cast a sometimes unflattering spotlight on work life" at the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Times, which explains that four Bay Pines employees, "including three doctors, accuse hospital leadership of a broad pattern of retaliation against employees who file employment discrimination claims," says the "trial’s outcome is expected to be closely watched by veterans advocates, who sometimes accuse the VA of stomping out dissent in its ranks."

10.    VA Illiana Relocating Clinic.   The Springfield (IL) State Journal-Register (6/15, Reynolds) reports, "The VA Illiana Health Care System will be moving its VA Springfield Community Based Outpatient Clinic to a larger facility near Interstate 55 and Toronto Road." The "new space has almost 3,000 extra square feet, which will allow for added services such as home-based primary care, another primary-care provider and enhancements to the women’s health program. Wayne Firth, adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15 in Springfield, said…he’s pleased with the move, having used the facility on North Seventh Street, which he described as too small."