A Visit with your Alamosa Clinic!

The San Luis Valley is a beautiful region in south-central Colorado with an average elevation of 7,664 feet and a cold desert climate. The valley is picturesque, with the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve nestled at the foot of the usually snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Range. Just down the road from the park is the town of Alamosa, featuring a VA Clinic that is small but mighty.

Last fiscal year, over 1,300 Veterans used the Alamosa clinic for more than 6,300 outpatient visits, and those numbers are expected to grow in 2019. Good things are happening at the Alamosa clinic, and the team of dedicated employees is at the heart of that progress.

The in-house Alamosa team consists of a primary care provider, a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, two telehealth technicians, a medical support assistant, and a licensed professional mental health counselor. The clinic also has remote staff, like audiologist Diane Brady, who serves Veterans from her home office.

Because Alamosa is a small town, the staff are well known and often run into their Veterans at the local grocery store or gas station. Most of the staff even grew up in or near Alamosa. Telehealth tech Debra Martinez said, “I’ve had Veterans come up to me at the store and ask me to make them an appointment. It feels like family here.”

Two of the staff members, telehealth tech Brandon Snow and counselor Donald Romero, are Veterans themselves, and most of the others have Veterans in their families. Everyone is dedicated to their work and really enjoy what they do.

"I love being able to help other Veterans, to get to know them. It's a different kind of relationship because we're so small." -Telehealth Tech and former Navy Corpsman Brandon Snow

Snow recently started traveling to the nearby State Veterans Community Living Center on Monday mornings to offer hearing aid services. “I pack up my gear and take our audiologist with me remotely. We help an average of five Veterans each Monday, which saves them from having to travel to our clinic.”

“I love working with fellow Vets,” Romero agreed. “It doesn’t really feel like work, if that makes sense.” He was an Army infantryman, and now uses that experience to connect with his mental health patients. “We went through a lot of the same things, and that helps build trust. I know what it’s like to eat MREs all the time. I know what it’s like to be deployed. They know I get it.”

Romero went on, "I enjoy working in Alamosa because it's my hometown."

For those that don’t know, telehealth is much like a traditional health care appointment. If a Veteran has a telehealth appointment at Alamosa, they would go to the clinic, sign in, and have a seat in the waiting room. A nurse would come to greet the Vet and take them to one of four exam rooms to check vitals and talk about the reason for the visit, but that is where traditional ends and progressive health care begins.

A telehealth tech enters the exam room and outlines their role in the appointment, connecting the Veteran online with the telehealth provider, who appears on a screen. From there, the tech essentially acts as the provider’s hands and assists with the instructed care from the monitor. These techs and the nurse use a variety of tools to help the provider see inside ears and throats, listen to hearts and lungs, check blood pressure and other tasks, just like an in-house provider does. The provider looks at the results on screen and then instructs the tech and nurse what to do next, until the end of the appointment.

The process may seem strange to those who’ve never had a telehealth appointment, but many Veterans say it’s not much different than having a provider in the room. Romero says, “I provide mental health counseling to Veterans in remote locations via something like Skype, or Facetime, on a screen. I can see and hear the Vet, and he or she can see and hear me.” Romero thinks more appointments will be done via telehealth in the future. “It’s a great tool, especially since we live out in rural Colorado, and the weather can be bad.”

Whether a Veteran comes to the Alamosa clinic for an in-person visit or a telehealth appointment with a remote provider, they will be met with a friendly health care experience, where sense of community is proud and prevalent.

From time to time, Veterans on vacation in the San Luis Valley stop into the clinic with questions or requests and the staff does what they can to help. It’s all part of that small- town charm.

If you’d like to learn more about the VA Alamosa Outpatient Clinic, visit https://www.denver.va.gov/locations/Alamosa.asp.

By Jamie Mobley, Public Affairs Specialist

Keith Harmon, VA Health Care Provider of the Year!

“In the darkest moment of our lives, Keith is who I called when my husband thought that there was nothing left for him here. Keith had created such a strong relationship based on trust and honesty with Steven that he was able to talk him off a ledge and seek the help that he so desperately needed.”

These words from Jami Hancock, wife of Veteran Steven Hancock, describe foundational components of Keith Harmon’s character which were part of his nomination for this prestigious award.

Harmon, Associate Director of Patient Care Services (Nurse Executive) for Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS), has been named the 2018 recipient of the “VA Health Care Provider of the Year” award.

In 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs asked the American Legion to create two awards to honor health care professionals who go above and beyond for the Veterans they serve. One honors a physician and the other honors a provider.

Harmon is a husband, father of two sons and a valued member of his community, but to one family, he is much more. The Hancocks and the American Legion Colorado Division recognized Harmon for his commitment to caring for Veterans and submitted him for the award.

“Keith has become someone that my husband can confide in,” said Jami Hancock. “He has confidence in the fact that Keith truly understands and cares about the veterans he works with and will do whatever he can to seek answers and resolutions.”

The Hancock family attribute Harmon with saving their lives and outline for anyone who has not had the privilege of working with him the character he is made of.

Building relationships through caring for Veterans is not a responsibility Harmon takes lightly. He started his career as an intensive care unit nurse and in 2007 he joined the VA as a Quality Management RN. Harmon said, “After working for over 10 years in the private sector as a nurse, both in profit and non-profit hospitals, never have I worked for a system with a more noble mission than the VA. Caring for our nation’s heroes is an honor and personally very rewarding.”

Not only does Harmon recognize the unique nature of working with Veterans, but the American Legion Colorado Department distinguished Harmon for his character and pointed this out in the nomination.

“Keith has the ability to consider what is the best for the well-being of his patients due to his awareness of what is good for the whole health of his patients. This is a character trait, along with his innate honesty and integrity, that brings his level of care to the top,” it read.

The Veterans Health Administration employs more than 300,000 health care professionals and Harmon is only the second ever provider in the VA to receive this distinguished award. When asked what this meant to him, he said, “Winning this award is a very emotional experience for me. Knowing this award is Veteran-driven is an incredible feeling. Being a nurse is a calling and an honor bestowed upon the nurse to share in the most personal, private moments of other human beings in their times of need. I don’t take for granted this gift regardless of my role in the system. This award shows me that Veterans see that the difference I strive to make every day and for that I am very grateful.”

Director of ECHCS, Ms. Sallie Houser-Hanfelder said, “I am incredibly proud of Keith, the work he does for this health care system and the empathy he brings to every interaction with our staff and Veterans. He is more than deserving of this award and I am delighted that others can see what I have had the privilege of seeing in Keith all along.”

The American Legion National Adjutant was presented with candidates nominated for the award and the final decision was made at their Fall National Executive Committee meeting. Harmon will be presented his award at the American Legion Washington Conference in February of 2019 by the Secretary of the VA and the National American Legion Commander.

By Brandy Morrison, Public Affairs Officer

Military Order of the Purple Heart Serves Veterans at Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC

What started more than 11 years ago with one table and a platter of sandwiches donated by Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapter 375 Commander Ray Roy and his wife Barbara, has turned into a twice-a-year “Feed the Veterans” extravaganza.

When this began in 2007, Roy and Barbara’s personal donations were only able to feed about 100 Veterans. The feeling of turning away his brothers and sisters only reinforced to the Roys that they had to figure out how to obtain more resources. They hit the streets, spoke to their communities and rallied the troops seeking donations from local businesses.

“Feed the Veterans” events are now supported with donations from multiple local business, as well as funds raised by members and supporters of the MOPH chapter based in Aurora, Colorado. Partnerships between the medical center, Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) and the local community have supported the growth of this feast year after year, allowing Veterans and employees to get together, enjoy a meal, and honor our nation’s Veterans.

These groups join forces to serve meals twice a year; once the Tuesday before Memorial Day and then again, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Director of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS), Sallie Houser-Hanfelder said, “It is because of our community partners and powerful network of VSOs that we get to host events like this. It shows the strength of our Veteran communities and is a great way for Veterans to eat a great meal, meet each other and connect with some of our many Veteran employees.”

This year’s Thanksgiving feast was held at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (RMR VAMC) in Aurora on Nov. 20. The gathering hosted by MOPH chapter volunteers, the chapter auxiliary, members of the Boulder, Colorado, National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club, and VA employees. With help from local supporters and volunteers, this meal fed 1,033 Veterans and medical center employees, many whom are also Veterans.

ECHCS welcomed this gathering for more than a decade at the old Denver VAMC. However, this was the first year celebrating the holiday at the new RMR VAMC. Daniel Warvi, Chief of Voluntary Services for ECHCS said, “We were able to serve more Veterans in a more efficient manner, and we had seating right next to the serving line – something we never had at the Denver VAMC. The patient-centric design of RMR VAMC really showed its worth at this event.”

Warvi went on to say, “We’re very fortunate to have such a supportive community in Colorado. We receive many generous donations from VSOs, community groups, student Veteran groups, corporations, small businesses and individual citizens.”

A volunteer from the Buffalo Soldiers said helping at events like these gives him the opportunity to give to the Veteran community and educate others about the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry – the U.S. Army’s original Buffalo Soldiers. This was the Boulder Chapter’s third year of volunteering. He and his fellow riders plan to continue the tradition.

Reflecting on the event and giving to his fellow Veterans, Roy said, “No matter how little or how much, we wanted to give back to Veterans.” And after more than a decade, Roy, his wife, and his community continue to give back, making this event is stronger every year.

To learn more about ECHCS and its locations and services, visit www.denver.va.gov/. To learn more about volunteer opportunities across ECHCS, please call the Voluntary Service office at (720) 723-3864 or visit the website www.denver.va.gov/giving/index.asp.

By Shannon Baer, Strategic Communications Specialist