VAN WERT, Ohio – This summer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital will launch a new program to help veterans with their care.
Starting this month, hospital patients who are also veterans will receive special pins to commemorate their service and sacrifice. These patients will also receive care from OhioHealth associates who are veterans. Jared Motycka is a nurse administrator and Army veteran. He believes that when a nurse and a patient have a shared experience, it can go a long way.
“They are probably much more willing to share information with you than they would with someone else. Not only could you serve in combat, but you could also just get out there and rejoin the world. Even if you did not deploy overseas, the adjustment is significant. “And I believe that is something that everyone goes through,” Motycka stated.
The program will also be supported by hospital volunteers who will greet patients upon arrival. Robert Mohr is a navy veteran who has volunteered at Van Wert Hospital for the past 25 years. He expresses pride in the program’s launch.
“Veterans do not always receive the recognition they deserve. They decided to spend time defending their country, which is more than just land; it is people. “Especially the people who returned from Vietnam did not receive the recognition they deserved,” said Mohr.
If a veteran patient dies at the hospital, there will be a special flag ceremony to commemorate their life and service.
Several dozen flags were recently donated to the hospital on behalf of the local VFW.
