VETERANS CHRONICLE
NEED HELP?
FEBRUARY 2024
Look inside: Info about how to access VA benefits A helpful guide to area clinics, hospitals What to do in an emergency
Can telehealth work for you? Option expands access to quality care. MORE INSIDE
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Sunday, February 11, 2024
The Spokesman-Review
Helping heroes become homeowners. Explore VA Home Loans today. It’s our turn to serve you. That’s why our mortgage advisors are here to help you every step of the way. From no or low down payment options to a grant that could cover up to $8k in closing costs for first-time homebuyers, get the benefits you deserve on your new home.
Learn more at becu.org/VA Federally insured by NCUA. Equal housing opportunity lender. Boeing Employees Credit Union NMLS ID490518.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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Sunday, February 11, 2024
VETERANS CHRONICLE A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW FEB. 11, 2024
VETERANS HELP NET Don Walker Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter DIRECTOR OF SALES Scott Baumbach Veterans Help Net partners with The Spokesman-Review to publish Veterans Chronicle each quarter in an effort to increase awareness about veteran issues
and to help veterans find hope and help. To share a veteran story or information about resources for veterans, please contact info@ veteranshelpnet.com, call (509) 998-6484 or visit www. VeteransHelpNet.com. For advertising information, please contact advertising@ spokesman.com or (509) 4595095. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of the publisher.
IN THIS ISSUE Why applying for benefits is critical............................................................4
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
We offer a Veterans Discount
Learn more about Mann-Grandstaff VAMC...............................................5 How to find help................................................................................................5 Is there a VA clinic close to you?..................................................................6 Consider the Coeur d’Alene clinic.................................................................7 How to become a VA patient.........................................................................8 Can telehealth work for you? ........................................................................9 What it’s like in a waiting room.....................................................................10 Your benefit questions answered ................................................................11 Opportunities to volunteer.............................................................................12 VA nurses share why they serve...................................................................13 Veterans tell their stories................................................................................14 Get to know the “mayor” of the local VA..................................................15
601 STATE RTE 20, NEWPORT, WA 99156
509-550-5218 MON-SAT 8-9, SUN 9-8
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
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The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
The high cost of waiting, not applying for disability benefits Saying ‘Other vets deserve it more’ may hurt you By Seth Maier
VETERANS HELP NET
When we solemnly swore our oath in supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States, we didn’t have in our heads the idea that existed the potential to leave military service with fewer abilities had we not entered military service at all. Imagine that a carbon copy of yourself was created right when you signed those enlistment papers. Fast forward to your military exit. Compare yourself to your military self to that carbon copy that did not enter military service at all. What are the differences? Perhaps there is a physical difference, such as a paratrooper may have a bum knee and back spasms from all the voluntary leaps from perfectly good airplanes. Perhaps there is something invisible, such as witnessing the hell of combat that interrupts the military self - perhaps resulting in avoiding certain things, not having any escape from intrusive memories, or even re-living those experiences – we can’t necessarily ‘see’ the difference from our carbon copy, but internally there is certainly something changed. It is these differences that the VA disability compensation system was designed for. It’s in the VA motto, a quote from President Lincoln: “To care for him (her) who shall have borne the battle and for his (her) wid-
ow (widower), and his (her) orphan.” (Emphasis rightly added for my Women Warriors!) It breaks my heart to hear a brother or sister in arms tell me that they won’t apply for a service connection because they feel like they are taking something away from another veteran. “They deserve it more than I do.” No vet is getting anything taken away from them when another vet applies. It simply doesn’t work that way! I bugged a veteran buddy over the course of three years to apply for service connection from the OIF burn pits he was exposed to, who always said that “some other vet needed it more than him.” Three years of bugging him, he finally applied. Three months later he was 100% service-connected disabled – he could hardly breathe – the burn pits had a major impact on his health. This is what I told him that helped him change his perspective: If you leased a car from a dealership, you will have made an agreement on the maximum number of miles driven and if you got a ding in the car, you’ll have to fix it before it’s returned. If you return it with unrepaired damages and/or more miles than agreed upon, you are going to have to pay extra. Our enlistment contract compares to this lease example. Uncle Sam leased our minds and our bodies in exchange for a signed blank check, payable for up to our mortal life. Just
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like returning that leased auto to the dealer, if we leave service with dings, cracked headlights and more miles used – guess what, our Uncle will compensate for that! The problem is our Uncle won’t just pay it – we have to apply for it – you have to apply for a service connected disability. We calculated that because my buddy waited those three years, he lost over $70,000 in compensation that will never be paid back to him. Every month a member waits from filing is a month of compensation they’ll never get back! Don’t wait, apply now! It further breaks my heart when I encounter a vet whose home is being
foreclosed on them and their family because of the cost of their medical treatments, such as cancer. Like a cancer that has been directly connected to exposure to Agent Orange and had that vet applied for a service connection, not only would those medical bills been covered, they would’ve been able to keep their home. Additionally if that service member clocks out in life because of that cancer, I can sleep at night because I know their spouse and their dependents will be taken care of as they’ll continue to receive survivor benefits. That part is really important to me – if my death is related to an injury or disease asso-
ciated with my service – I need my family to be able to sustain themselves after I’m gone. The service connection disability I applied for and was awarded was essentially all for my family. VA disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. All recognized service connected disabilities will all be fully covered medically for the rest of the Vet’s life, followed by a plethora of additional benefits that can’t even be enacted until a service claim is made. I urge my vet readers (and their support sys-
tems) to meditate for a moment on the idea of that carbon copy self on the day they exited military service. What is different? Is it still impacting you today? Has it gotten worse? Meet with a service officer to discuss these differences – service officers are available to you and your family at no cost; you don’t have to be a member of their organization, nor is there pressure for you to join their organization. It’s a very low risk conversation with a service officer who took the exact same oath as you did upon entering service. They’ll understand and recognize if your experiences will qualify, it is incredibly valuable to have that talk!
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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HOW CAN I GET HELP?
VETERANS CHRONICLE
GET TO KNOW SPOKANE’S MANN-GRANDSTAFF VA MEDICAL CENTER Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane is dedicated to providing quality health care services to veterans. In carrying out this mission, MGVAMC focuses on providing primary and secondary care, with emphasis on preventive health and chronic disease management. MGVAMC operates 36 hospital beds and 34 rehabilitation-oriented nursing home beds. A mobile clinic, outfitted with two exam rooms, provides selected primary care services to veterans living in remote areas outside the metropolitan Spokane area. MGVAMC is responsible for coordinating access to the full health care benefits package for enrolled veterans. To this end, MGVAMC coordinates referrals to the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and VAMC Portland for tertiary care, as well as utilizing community health care resources. Sharing agreements exist with the 92nd Medical Group at Fairchild Air Force Base,
Indian Health Services for Native Americans, and the Idaho and Washington State Departments of Veterans Affairs for the care of state home residents in Lewiston, Idaho, and Spokane. The medical center also provides administrative support to the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane at 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. The Spokane VA Medical Center was renamed to Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in 2013, in honor of two Medal of Honor recipients: Private 1st Class Joe E. Mann of nearby Reardan, who died during combat in World War II; and Platoon Sgt. Bruce A. Grandstaff of Spokane, who also gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Vietnam War. Mann-Grandstaff VAMC and its clinics serve more than 30,000 veterans annually throughout Central and Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and Northwestern Montana. More information can be found at Spokane.va.gov.
Every county and state has a Veteran Affairs office to answer questions about benefits and provide assistance. There are also other useful resources for veterans in the Inland Northwest.
GO ONLINE VA.gov
The Department of Veterans Affairs website has resources on every topic relevant to veterans.
VA.gov/welcome-kit
The VA Welcome Guide covers all types of benefits and services available for veterans, new recruits, active service members and their families.
Explore.VA.gov/benefitsnavigator
Explore VA benefits and discover which ones you and your family may be eligible to receive.
“I CARE”
Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage. Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities. Advocacy: Be truly Veterancentric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries. Respect: Treat all those I
serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it. Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
If you don’t know who to call, VA has a new “Single Access Point” phone number to all VA contact centers 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)
IN PERSON
BY PHONE
1117 N. Evergreen Rd., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 477-3690
(509) 477-3690
Spokane County Regional Veteran Service
Spokane County Regional Veteran Service Kootenai County Veteran Services and Benefits Office
Apply for emergency services, or have any benefits or service questions answered by 5 120 E. Railroad Ave., Veteran Service Officers Post Falls, ID (VSO) and staff.
Kootenai County Veteran Services and Benefits Office 120 E. Railroad Ave., Post Falls, ID (208) 446-1092
Meet with a VSO or staff for help with VA benefits enrollment, claims or other veteran needs.
Goodwill Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
130 E. Third Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 828-2449
SSVF helps homeless veterans and their families find housing and connects veterans with other support organizations.
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) 504 E. Second Ave., Spokane, WA (509) 435-2019
Provides healthcare and outreach for housing, job opportunities and counseling.
(208) 446-1092
Veteran Crisis Line
1 (800) 273-8255, press 1
North Idaho Crisis Center (208) 625-4884
Washington or Idaho 2-1-1
Dial “2-1-1” for health and human resources referrals.
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The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
All about this region’s Veterans Affairs facilities The following locations offer VA services throughout the region.
Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
The main VA campus provides primary care and specialty health services, including mental health services, treatment for hearing loss (audiology), laboratory services, addiction treatment, cardiology, vision care (optometry and ophthalmology), oncology, treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), urology, and more. 4815 N. Assembly St. Spokane, WA 99205-6185 Main phone: 509-434-7000 Mental health care: 509-434-7013 Clinical hours Mon: 24/7 Tue: 24/7 Wed: 24/7 Thu: 24/7 Fri: 24/7 Sat: 24/7 Sun: 24/7
Bonner County VA Clinic
The Sandpoint VA clinic has moved recently and is now known as Bonner County VA Clinic. The outpatient clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy and well throughout your life. 130 McGhee Road, Suite 101 Kootenai, ID 83840 Main phone: 208-263-0450 Clinical hours Mon: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
The North Idaho Clinic, a Veterans Affairs facility in Coeur d’Alene.
Coeur d 'Alene VA Clinic (CBOC)
The outpatient clinic offers primary care and specialty health services, including mental health care, nutrition counseling, laboratory services, and more. 915 W. Emma Ave. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-2531 Main phone: 208-665-1700 Mental health care: 509-413-9058 Clinical hours Mon: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Bonner County Veterans Affairs Clinic.
East Front Avenue VA Clinic
The Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane. Thu: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
The East Front Avenue VA Clinic is located inside the WSU Spokane Teaching Health Clinic in downtown Spokane. The outpatient clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy and well throughSee FACILITIES, 7
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
The North Idaho Clinic, a Veterans Affairs facility in Coeur d’Alene.
CdA VA Clinic offers help to area veterans By Ruth Aresvik VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT
The Elwood “Bud” Link Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Wenatchee.
FACILITIES Continued from 6
out your life. 624 E. Front Ave., Suite 201 Spokane, WA 99202-2139 Main phone: 509-434-7000 Clinical hours Mon: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
Elwood “Bud” Link Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
The Wenatchee outpatient clinic has a new toll-free phone number at (833) 500-1490. This clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy and well throughout your life. 2530 Chester Kimm Road Wenatchee, WA 98801-8130 Main phone: 833-500-1490 Mental health care: 509-663-7615,
ext. 5027 Clinical hours Mon: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
Libby VA Clinic
This outpatient clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy and well throughout your life. 211 E. Second St. Libby, MT 59923-2047 Main phone: 406-293-8711 Clinical hours Mon: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
Spokane VA Clinic
The Spokane VA Homeless Veterans Health care clinic is in downtown Spokane.
504 E. Second Ave. Spokane, WA 99202-1406 Main phone: 509-462-2500 Clinical hours Mon: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tue: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wed: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
Coming soon!
Currently, Mann-Grandstaff VAMC leadership is in the process of securing a design-build project in a new joint-tenant professional building in the Spokane Valley, by adding an additional outpatient clinic near the current site of the Spokane Vet Center on East Mirabeau Parkway. Designers and architects are working to optimize the health care setting of 17,000 square feet of new space to develop exam rooms, an eye clinic, diagnostic imaging, specialty services, and waiting rooms. The project is already in the design phase, with construction to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025.
The Coeur d’Alene VA Community Based Out Clinic has been a clear comfort for many veterans since it opened in August 2014. This VA Clinic offers a range of primary care and specialty health services including nutrition counseling and laboratory, eyeglass, and prosthetics services. For veterans with Type 1 or 2 diabetes, they can receive insulin therapy and other survival and self-management skills. The clinic provides addiction counseling and combat-related post-traumatic stress counseling. Another service is a substance abuse treatment program. The CBOC can pay for and fill prescriptions up to a 14day supply. Not all veterans eligible for VA health care are able to travel to Spokane for services. One veteran states, “I’ve had nothing but fantastic experience with the CDA CBOC. They arranged counseling for my PTSD when I retired and started having flashbacks and nightmares again.” He went on to say he received services for a heart condition and physical therapy for
a pulled hamstring and knee problem. “They give great service, excellent care and outstanding follow-through.” Another veteran said, “I have been going to the Coeur d’Alene CBOC for more than a year now. They are very professional and treated me wonderfully. My doctor is fantastic.” She was wary of going to the VA after having a bad experience when she retired from the military, but now is working on getting hearing aids and dental care. In 2023, about 5,000 veterans were served there, according to Brenda Baker, CBOC Clinic Manager. “We see around 150 veterans per day throughout the clinic. Some of our biggest challenges are no X-ray or emergency services,” she said. “We need more space, services, and another primary care provider.” However, she is hopeful for the future and said there are plans for more medicine and audiology services. The clinic is at 915 W. Emma Ave. The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Contact can be made at (208) 665-1700 or at va.gov/ communitycareclinic.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
How to become a MGVAMC patient If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health care as well. VA encourages all veterans to apply in order to determine their enrollment eligibility. All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System. To begin the process, please
complete an Application for Health Care Benefits at www.va.gov/health-care/ how-to-apply/. The form can be submitted online or printed and mailed to: Spokane VA Medical Center Business Office / Eligibility 4815 N. Assembly St Spokane, WA 99205 You can also bring the form to the medical center. The Eligibility Office is located on the 7th floor of the main building. Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include the following items: • a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including
Medicare or Medicaid) • a copy of your DD214, 'Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge' • (Purple Heart recipients only) a copy of your award letter if 'Purple Heart' is not noted on your DD214 To speak to someone in the eligibility office, please call (509) 434-7009 or (800) 325-7940.
Veterans Health Benefits Handbook
VA produces a personalized “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” for each veteran enrolled in the VA health care system. The handbook provides a current and accurate de-
scription of VA health care benefits and services. Your handbook will be tailored specifically to you with personal identifying information, and should be safeguarded as you would any other sensitive personal document. The “Veterans Health Benefits Handbook” includes: • Eligibility and health care benefits, • Contact information for your preferred facility, • Information regarding copayment responsibilities It also provides instructions on how to schedule appointments, guidelines to communicate treatment needs, patient rights, ways
to obtain copies of medical records, and other important information. You will receive your personalized handbook via U.S. mail, therefore, you should have a current address on file with VA. Handbooks are mailed based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8. For more information, go to www. va.gov/ healthbenefits/ vhbh. You may also call VA toll-free at 1-877-222VETS (8387) if you need to update your address or receive more information.
Health Care Benefits Overview
VA publishes the "Health Care Benefits Overview" booklet, which provides general information and frequently asked questions about VA’s medical benefits package avail-
able for all enrollees, and other information such as eligibility for enrollment. The publication is available and can be downloaded at www.va.gov/ healthbenefits/resources/ epublications.asp. We encourage you to refer to it whenever you have questions about your eligibility for specific health care benefits. More information is available at the following resources: • VHA Health Benefits Website www.va.gov/ health-care/ • My HealtheVet www. m y h e a l t h .v a . g o v/ mhv-portal-web/ home • VA toll-free 1-877-222VETS (8387) Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST. For more info see “How to get help” on page 5 of this publication.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Telehealth expands access to quality care for veterans By Treva Lutes
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, VA OFFICE OF CONNECTED CARE
Did you know around 1 in 3 veterans who receive VA care access part of that care through telehealth? Telehealth has played a pivotal role in overcoming barriers that Veterans face when seeking medical care. Through telehealth technologies and programs, VA works to connect Veterans and VA providers regardless of distance. Dr. Kevin Galpin, executive director of VA Telehealth Services, highlights VA’s commitment to providing Veterans with timely and comprehensive care. “(The) VA is committed to connecting Veterans to world-class health care and benefits. VA Telehealth Services is honored to help fulfill this commitment to the nation’s veterans,” Galpin said. Veterans can use VA telehealth to complement their in-person VA care services. This includes over 50 clinical specialties, such as mental health care, cancer care and diabetes management. Here are some ways that you can access VA care through telehealth.
Telehealth from your home or on the go
Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can attend a video telehealth visit with your VA provider. You can use VA Video Connect—VA’s secure videoconferencing app—to receive care without stepping into a
“
(The) VA is committed to connecting Veterans to world-class health care and benefits. VA Telehealth Services is honored to help fulfill this commitment to the nation’s veterans.” Dr. Kevin Galpin
Executive director of VA Telehealth Services
VA facility. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer with an internet connection. Video visits have increased by more than 3,000% since before the pandemic. They have been crucial in expanding access to VA care for veterans. Learn more about VA Video Connect by visiting the VA App Store at https://mobile.va.gov/ app/va-video-connect Telehealth also enables you to better manage chronic conditions at home or on the go through VA’s Remote Patient Monitoring – Home Telehealth program. The RPM – HT program improves access to care for veterans while reducing hospitalizations. Using telehealth technologies, you can collect and share your health data, such as vital signs and symptoms, with your RPM – HT care coordinator. The RPM – HT care team gets the information they need to better manage your care and advises you to seek urgent care if health conditions become abnormal. VA’s RPM – HT pro-
gram serves more than 130,000 veterans each year. Talk to your VA care team if you would like to enroll in RPM – HT to better manage your health.
Telehealth in the clinic
Clinic-to-clinic video telehealth enables veterans to connect with VA specialists at VA medical centers nationwide. Rather than traveling long distances to meet in person with VA specialists, you can go to your nearest clinic and videoconference with them. Asynchronous Telehealth has also increased access to care for veterans. This program uses technology to securely collect your health information, such as data, images, sounds and videos. The information is later reviewed by a provider at another location. Asynchronous Telehealth has expanded to over 25 clinical specialty areas, including eye care, dermatology, sleep and more. For more information go to mobile.va.gov/app/ va-video-connect.
COURTESY OF VA OFFICE OF CONNECTED CARE
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The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
VIEWS FROM A VETERAN HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM By Don Walker
VETERANS HELP NET
I recently spent some time in the waiting room for some lab work at Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane. It was 7:58 on a Wednesday morning. I was new to the VA medical system but I want to get my VA health care set up. This process required me to get some lab work before I was assigned a primary VA doctor. I had a short wait but the moments that I sat there waiting for my name to be called gave a glimpse of a real-world cross-section of today’s and yesterday’s U.S. veterans. The view I got showed
me a lot. I looked around this room and I counted six walkers and three wheelchairs among the 15-20 veterans waiting for their names to be called. There were six women among this group seeking help. The ages of the patients ranged from early 20s to a whole lot of gray hairs. Nobody looked happy to be there but is anyone ever very happy when visiting a medical facility? The medical staff were treating all with the dignity and respect they earned and deserved. No one waited very long. Men and women of all ages but one thing in common: everyone was hurting. Some had a small hurt but many had big hurts
caused by living or serving. It makes you wonder ... what’s their story? What life paths got them to this VA waiting room on this day? What choices did they make in their lives that got them into the military and did those choices lead them to this waiting room? Whatever their choices or paths were, they were here today, looking for and getting help. The waiting room message for me was “Thank God and the USA we have our VA medical healthcare program to get them the help they need and the help they have earned.” Spend an hour in our VA waiting room and you will feel humbled and gracious
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for the folks that made their choices and the folks
that come here every day to give them Help and
Hope. Thank you.
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Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
HEY VETERANS, DID YOU KNOW ... ? ... It’s easy to apply for VA medical benefits in the Spokane area?
All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA Health Care System. With VA health care, each veteran's medical benefits package is unique. To begin the process, complete an Application for Health Care Benefits at https:// www.va.gov/health-care/howto-apply/ You can submit the form online, or print and mail it to: Spokane VA Medical Center Business Office / Eligibility 4815 N. Assembly St, Spokane, WA 99205 You can also bring the form to the Medical Center. The Eligibility Office is located on the 7th floor of the main building. Whether mailing or bringing your application, please include: • a copy of both sides of your current insurance card (including Medicare or Medicaid) • a copy of your DD214, “Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge” • (Purple Heart recipients only) a copy of your award letter if 'Purple Heart' is not noted on your DD214 To speak to the eligibility office, please call (509) 434-7009 or (800) 325-7940.
... There’s a deadline approaching for medical reimbursement?
Last year, the Veterans Administration created a unique, oneyear open period during which veterans enrolled in VA Health Care can apply for VHA reimbursement of their emergency medical expenses at non-VA facilities for emergencies that occurred any time during the last 14 years. This right to a new reimbursement decision applies even if the veteran was previously denied reimbursement or never even applied for reimbursement. To be eligible for this new reim-
bursement decision, veterans must apply to VHA for reimbursement by Feb. 22, 2024. This info was provided by the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP). More detailed information can be found at www.nvlsp.org, by calling (202) 265-8305, or emailing info@nvlsp.org.
… My HealtheVet can help?
My HealtheVet is the VA's Personal Health Record. It was designed for veterans, service members, and their dependents and caregivers. When you register on My HealtheVet, you gain access to tools that can help you track and monitor your health. As a registered user, you can build your
own personal health record that you manage and control yourself. Specific features in My HealtheVet are available to you based on your account type. All users who have a Basic account are able to view their self-entered information. If you are a VA patient, you can upgrade* your account to Advanced or Premium. These account types may allow you to view parts of your VA health record and/or DoD Military Service Information. For more information about account types and what you can view, visit My HealtheVet Status Account Types. If you want help signing up, contact your Veteran Service Officer or one of the groups listed in “How can I get help?” on page 5 of this publication.
... You can get emergency care anywhere?
During a medical emergency, veterans should immediately seek care at the nearest medical facility. A medical emergency is an injury, illness or symptom so severe that without immediate treatment, you believe your life or health is in danger. If you believe your life or health is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away. Veterans do not need to check with VA before calling for an ambulance or going to an emergency department. During a medical emergency, VA encourages all veterans to seek immediate medical attention without
delay. A claim for emergency care will never be denied based solely on VA not receiving notification prior to seeking care. It is, however, important to promptly notify VA after receiving emergency care at a community emergency department. Notification should be made within 72 hours of admission to a community medical facility. This allows VA to assist the veteran in coordinating necessary care or transfer, and helps to ensure that the administrative and clinical requirements for VA to pay for the care are met. Need help or have more questions? See the “How can I get help?” on page 5 of this publication.
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VETERANS CHRONICLE
Looking for ways to assist? Learn more about military culture
COURTESY OF VAMC
Anyone can be a volunteer for veterans.
Want to volunteer with veterans?
These organizations will welcome your support DAV Van Drivers
Volunteer DAV Van Drivers are needed in Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint and Spokane. If you can donate one day per week to drive disabled veterans, contact (509) 434-7019 for more information or spovolunteersvc@va.gov Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center Building 6-A 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane (509) 434-7019
Newby-ginnings of North Idaho, Inc.
Newby-ginnings of North Idaho, Inc., provides basic necessities and essential household items to veterans, active military and their families at no cost. For volunteer opportunities, call (208)
Military culture is internalized by most service members and veterans but sometimes a mystery to their family members and friends. Military values such as sacrifice, honor, humility, collective effort, and a desire to limit risk or harm to others are important to understand. Veterans share a special camaraderie and bond between them because they go through challenging situations both in training and during deployments. They also share a sense of duty to
country. When a veteran is reluctant to get help, these values can become your talking points to getting the veteran in your life to consider mental health treatment. Make it the family mission. But first and foremost, validate their feelings and just listen. Don’t bombard them with questions. If needed, help them find people who can understand and provide better assistance. See “How can I get help?” on page 5 of this publication.
Refueling Our Heroes
Support fellow Veterans and be a part of Operation Fly Together.
619-6996. Hours of operation are Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m-5 p.m. 570 Clearwater Loop, Unit A, Post Falls (208) 619-6996
Buy your flight gear or donate today!
Spokane Area Veterans Honor Guard
Operation FlyTogether.com
The Spokane Area Veterans Honor Guard (SAVHG) supports military funeral honors throughout the greater Spokane community and is a primary fixture at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. SAVHG conducts approximately 300 honors services annually. Volunteers to participate in military funeral honors are always needed. For additional information, contact Tom Christie Jr. at (509)216-7609 or Tomc1109@yahoo.com.
A portion of all merchandise proceeds go into a Veterans Fund.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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Sunday, February 11, 2024
VETERANS CHRONICLE
VA nurse credits growth opportunities, strong mentoring, teamwork Caregivers inspire others with their desire to serve By Bret Bowers, PAO
MANN-GRANDSTAFF VAMC
She worked day in and day out, alongside her fellow VA caregivers and health technicians providing bedside care to veterans in-need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. Kailey Wilson, a Nursing Assistant at Spokane’s Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center continues to rise to every need. In her nine-plus years at VA thus far, she has worked in the facility’s isolated COVID-19 unit, Community Living Center and Hospice units, and both inpatient and outpatient clinics as well. Kailey is also a caregiver at home of sorts, being a mother to a young son, and a wife to a combat Marine Corps Veteran. “There is no place I’d rather pour my efforts into than here. The trials of the pandemic only fueled my passion, knowing I was needed exactly where I was,” she said. In late 2020, Mann-Grandstaff VAMC expanded its mission by welcoming nearly 50 COVID-positive Veteran patients and in some cases even their spouses, for admission into the medical center’s isolated COVID-19 unit during the pandemic. An outbreak at the State Veterans Home in Spokane prompted VA leadership to reconfigure the facility’s Community Living Center (CLC) into a COVID unit and moving the existing inpatients from the CLC and Hospice units into the main
hospital building for several months. “We truly leaned on each other through the long days and nights of work under stressful conditions. My coworkers became like family. We shared our fears, our struggles, and ultimately our successes while caring for Veterans side by side,” she smiled. The emotions from those long and quite nights still run deep. “A lot of us had the added pressure of kids unable to go to school and having to oversee academics for them at home between shifts.” During the pandemic, she and most physicians and nurses often found themselves isolating at home – because of the uncertainty over the spread of the coronavirus at the time. A look back in time reveals an inside look at Kailey’s emotional state during the pandemic that weighed so heavily on so many. Kailey submitted this for the VA employee/volunteer newsletter during the height of the pandemic: “Imagine this: the heavy hearts of medical staff holding together a nation. Imagine being told in a week that your whole world will change. Being told to suit up in uncomfortable gear/12-hours a day to face an invisible foe you know nearly nothing about, and possibly say goodbye to your loved ones for who knows how long… feeling like a ticking time bomb of infection. Imagine your heart breaking when another one of your patients doesn’t make it, be-
COURTESY OF MANN-GRANDSTAFF VA MEDICAL CENTER
Left, Christie Fields, R.N. (U.S. Army Reserves Command Sgt. Major E-9) and mentor to Kailey Wilson, Nursing Assistant, Float Pool at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane. ing unable to grieve, only push on – so another life doesn’t end the same way (but the hurt/pain) catches up to you. You see, politics stop at our hospital doors. There is no race, left or right, sheep or wolf. There
are simply hurting people that need us beside them, exhausting our own bodies, hearts, and minds – so they can pull out of a dark place. Please look behind the mask into the tired eyes of the next medical profes-
sional you see. Try to be a light. Wave. Thank them and ask them how they’re doing? We are picking up the pieces of a broken nation and healing the hurt with a lot of medical gear, expertise, and even more ... compassion and love.” Each step during Kailey’s journey… was aided in part, by her coworkers and mentors whom she made a personal connection with. One such nurse who worked directly with Kailey pre-pandemic and now again, years later is Christie Fields… a Veteran herself, and like Kailey, a devoted mother and wife. Both are adventurous with their families and have always called the Pacific Northwest their home. Christie has seen many opportunities come her way. She credits VA for the opportunity to care for Veterans. And she credits her 29-years with the Army Reserves for helping expand her nursing knowledge. Together, VA and the Army have “force-multiplied” her ability to lead and encourage others ... like Kailey. “When I see that I get to work with Kailey, I know it is going to be a good shift,” says the outdoor enthusiast who hails from St. Maries, Idaho. “Kailey makes Veterans and her co-workers feel special. We have worked together in Hospice, our CLC, and our Acute Care Unit since she first started at VA, explained Fields. Christie knows talent when she sees it. She’s marched upwards through the ranks of the Army Reserves – all the while working at community hospitals and VA. She’s had six unique as-
signments as an Army Reservist and is currently the E-9 Command Sergeant Major with the 1395th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion. “It was like the stars aligned for a moment,” said Fields, as she described working with Kailey on the VAMC’s thirdfloor Specialty Clinic. “Kailey offered to assist in the clinics since they were so short-staffed. Finding out I would get to orient and work with Kailey presented a fun and exciting opportunity.” “Kailey possesses empathy, intellect, a good bedside manner, and an understanding of the Veteran community. For years, I have encouraged her to seek out education and advancement in healthcare, selfishly knowing that one day, Kailey could be my provider or nurse.” Through formal clinical training, to personal leadership development, and a culture focused on “service before self,” VA offers a challenging but highly rewarding career that continues to strengthen the nation’s commitment to its military Veterans. “When I decided to pursue a career in medicine, it was my goal to end up at the VA, said Kailey. “I feel supported every day when I enter our hospital and can’t help smiling through my shift. I’ve been incredibly blessed to work with the people I do… the strongest support system around and I adore them. I have a passion for Veterans (my husband is a proud Marine Corps Veteran himself ) and when I began my career here, I knew I would never leave.”
Page 14
Sunday, February 11, 2024
The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
‘HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR CARE?’
Local veterans share feedback on support
By Darrel Maddux
VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT
Editors Note: Darrel was asked to interview a few veterans using VA health care in the Spokane area. The following are some results from these discussions. Mike Bondurant
Mike started receiving routine medical care in 1992 at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane immediately after being discharged from active duty at Fairchild Air Force Base. Soon after starting care, he was being sent to Seattle to the VA Hospital for specialized care. It required additional costs for the VA for travel and lodging and Mike was spending much of his free time in travel and appointment time. In 1998 the VA decided to make Mike an outpatient at a private clinic in Spokane. He continues his outpatient appointments today but continues to use the VA Hospital for routine medical care for hearing, dental, eye care, annual physicals and the gym. He highly recommends that veterans use their VA benefits at Mann Grandstaff VA and says his care has always been the best. He has a 100% Disability Rating with the VA. ♦♦♦
Tim O’Hare
Tim has been receiving care at Mann-Granstaff VA Medical Center since 2016 and receives about 60% of his care as an outpatient. He praises the care he has received and says the staff at Mann-Grandstaff has always treated him with dignity and respect. He says he always thanks the care givers after his appointment ends. He has a 30% Disability Rating with the VA. ♦♦♦
Phillip White
Phillip’s care at the VA started in
1970 and he has a 100% Disability Rating with the VA. He returned from Vietnam after being wounded and receiving a Purple Heart. He says that the doctors at Mann Grandstaff understand what the veterans have been through in war. He accesses the VA computer system with his cell phone and he prefers using the telephone to have the majority of his interactions with VA staff. Nothing is keeping him from receiving the services he is entitled to. He has a guide dog and he wants to thank all the doctors and staff for the care he is receiving. ♦♦♦
Gary Yeager
Gary has been using the VA for five years: “The VA saved my life!” He went to the 7th floor of the Spokane VA Hospital and signed up, had his picture taken and received his badge. A few days later he had a heart attack. The VA has taken care of everything and paid for all his medical expenses. He uses an outpatient clinic as well as the services at Mann-Grandstaff. He gets all his prescriptions, eyeglasses and other services at the VA. He said he appreciates the professional care that he receives. He is also a retired federal employee and was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat in Vietnam. He has a 100% Disability Rating with the VA. ♦♦♦
Don and Barbara Harding
The VA installed a ramp from their garage to the front door of their home, installed a chairlift in their
home, installed a walk-in bath tub and gave Don a motorized wheelchair. After Don passed away, Barbara was admitted to an Alzheimer’s Nursing Home. She was recently granted Spousal Benefits from the VA and with those benefits and Social Security all her care expenses are covered. ♦♦♦
From A Female Veteran’s Perspective
The VA offers women’s health services to meet specific needs such as disease screenings, mental health treatment, recovery from military sexual trauma, maternity care and female-specific medical equipment. Common conditions are women’s primary care, mental health, obstetrics and gynecology, pap smear and mammograms. ♦♦♦
Deanna Willoughby
Deanna has been receiving care at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center since 1992 after being medically retired from the Marines. Her miliary service lasted 11 years. She receives in-house and outpatient care and appreciates the fact that all her care is within the Spokane community. Her care at the VA is with an all-female team and she says women have become a priority for care at Mann Grandstaff. She has received acupuncture for chronic pain issues. She says maternity care has been available to women veterans here for about two years. Her message to other women veterans is “they care for me and they are there for me.”
♦♦♦
Darrel Maddux
When I was in the 5th grade my dad was admitted to a community hospital for emergency care. He was unable to walk and could not use his arms. After spending over a month in the hospital, they sent him by ambulance to the VA Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. He had been discharged from World War II with a medical discharge, so the VA accepted him as a patient. I believe he was receiving a monthly disability check from the VA at that time. He spent almost a year in the hospital and my mother was left at home to try to raise three young boys on her own. I worried, at the age of 11, about us not having enough to eat and if we were going to lose our home. I don’t believe that the VA had the type of services they have today where the family is included in the veteran’s care. The VA Hospital in Wichita gave me back my dad because he walked out of that hospital and lived a near normal life afterwards. The VA continued to help him because, after returning home from the VA Hospital, he suffered from some PTSD issues. Because of my dad’s service, I joined the army at the age of 18 just like he did. ♦♦♦
In summary ...
There will always be issues with things like a computer program or a scheduling mishap but that should not cause a veteran to not use the benefits they are entitled to. Those benefits are for life and they earned them by their sacrifices.
Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Page 15
Sunday, February 11, 2024
VETERANS CHRONICLE
GET TO KNOW ‘THE MAYOR OF THE VA’ Bennett ‘Tray’ Taylor brightens lives By Darrel Maddux
VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT/ AMERICAN LEGION HISTORIAN
Bennett “Tray” Traylor is a retired Air Force veteran and a Vietnam veteran who has been working for the Veterans Administration for 20 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force from December 1971 to January 1992. Tray wishes he had volunteered for more overseas assignments, as if serving in Guam, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and Japan were not enough. He was once asked what he would say to a young person considering the military and he responded, “It’s the best place to grow up and to learn about discipline and responsibility.” He retired from Fairchild Air Force Base and attended Spokane Falls Community College, graduating with an Associate Degree in substance abuse and specializing in drug and alcohol counseling. He was hired by the VA and started out in a work study program to learn how the VA functioned. Tray learned that not enough information was being given to veterans so he set out to make a difference. Counseling taught him how to get veterans to open up and to supply the information needed to help them. His main job is to get veterans into the healthcare system and not to give up while he finds solutions. He has been recognized for his outgoing personality and cheerful disposition, even in adverse situations. Colleagues have referred to him as the “Mayor of the VA” because he fixes all the problems and thinks outside of the box. Tray says he does his best to advocate for our veterans in the Spokane VA system and wants to make sure all veterans get the health care they deserve. He also
COURTESY
Bennett “Tray” Taylor, the “mayor of the VA,” talks on video. says he has a can-do-will-do attitude to make it happen. Faith in God and placing God first in his life guides him thru the challenges of helping others. Tray has learned that a veteran’s personal records can be found in pay, personnel or medical, so it’s not uncommon that specific information needed for a claim will be found in anyone of these places. Oftentimes a veteran can have more than one DD214. He is always willing to share his vast knowledge with the other members of the team. Teaching, giving seminars, handing out packets of information, speaking at forums and
special events, using Telehealth and Power Point presentations are all Tray’s means to get the word out to veterans. He adds his skills at comedy to help people remember important facts of what could become a dry or boring presentation for some. His people skills make him a sought-out speaker at many events, which to date have numbered around 15 and counting. In the past, he has volunteered at Scope, the Juvenile Court System and at Fairchild AFB retirement events. Counseling veterans and helping them sign up for medical benefits can be interesting and
sometimes eye-opening. Veterans who have experienced life-changing events from combat and POW status have sat across the desk from Tray and shared their private experiences. He has heard first-hand stories of the Bataan Death March, the Battle of Bulge, the Pearl Harbor attack, experiences from a German prison camp and what life was like for a Vietnam tunnel rat. He’s also heard about what happened when someone became a POW, has been shot at while piloting a B-17, or being a nurse in Vietnam. “Tray is a huge asset to the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC with
his knowledge of the Enrollment System but his compassion and drive to help every veteran is what makes Tray invaluable to the VA,” said Kelly Young, Assistant Chief Health Care Administration. “Tray’s tenure working in Eligibility really helps when we have turnover, and he can share his years of wisdom and knowledge with the new staff. The reason the current Eligibility team is so amazing is his willingness to share his knowledge and expertise. He also told me ‘The Vets love him.’” Tray says he will retire when his employment at the VA becomes a job!
Page 16
Sunday, February 11, 2024
The Spokesman-Review
OUR COMMUNITY’S ONLY NONPROFIT HOSPICE, SERVING PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1977.
“EACH PATIENT AND FAMILY WE SERVE IS UNIQUE, and I feel it’s our job to customize the care that we provide because this is their journey. We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help them navigate this time with as much comfort, as much dignity, and as much peace as they can possibly have.” – Gina DrummonD, RN, MSN CEO
DIGNITY. RESPECT. COMPASSION. 509.456.0438
hospiceofspokane.org