Welcome to the sixth edition of The Fourteener, the official digital newsletter for the Veterans of VA ECHCS. We are proud to serve YOU!
Address: 14400 East Jewell Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 303.283.5400
Open Monday - Friday 7:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Jewell Outpatient Clinic by the numbers FY17-FY18
- 5,252 unique patients in FY18 (125% jump from 2,092 patients in FY17)
- 573 of those are female Veterans (up from 258 in FY17)
- 18,644 total outpatient visits in FY18 (up from 4,756 in FY17)
Greetings, I am Michael T. Kilmer, your new Director, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, and I am excited to be here! Service is at the heart of every Veteran and that is no different for me, especially after serving 15 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. I want you all to know my why, why I Choose VA and why I want to continue my service to country and to all of you. I come from a family tradition of service, which includes my father--a Korean War Veteran. Everyone in my family knew my father had served, but to no fault of his own, we could not provide proof of service. You see, his military records had burned in the 1973 National Archives fire and his personal copy of those same records had burned in a house fire. Every time we went to VA for help, he was turned away because we did not have proof. It was only after my father passed, that we discovered he was awarded three Bronze Star Medals and his original VA claim resulted in 100% service-connection! I believe wholeheartedly that my dad would have lived a longer and happier life, if only he had had received the VA care he deserved at the time he needed it. Veterans, I’m here because I’m passionate about delivering the best quality care, benefit and service to you, your families and caregivers. If you see me walking through our hospital concourse or out at one of your clinics, please say 'hi'! I look forward to meeting each of you and serving you. ~Michael
A Jewell of a clinic
Jewell Clinic serves Veterans far and wide as a Regional Amputation Center supporting Colorado and surrounding states. Jewell is also home to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, the Prosthetic Treatment Center, the Health Information Call Center and the Rural Telehealth Center.
What kind of services are available at Jewell?
- Regional Amputation Center (RAC)
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Lab
- MOVE! Program
- Polytrauma Program
- Assistive Technology Program
- Drivers' Training Rehab
- Outpatient Recreation Therapy
- Participation Enhancement
- Speech Pathology and Voice Lab
- Audiology
- Wheelchair Program
- Shoe Clinic
- Brace Clinic
- Gait Lab
- Telemedicine Wheelchair, Amputee and Brace Clinics
- Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (VISOR)
- Telehealth Section
Prosthetics at Jewell by the numbers
In FY18, Jewell served 412 Veterans--six of them were female.
As a supplier of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) in FY18, Jewell supplied Veterans with approximately:
- 400 major prosthetic devices (includes complete limbs or socket replacements)
- 80 major prosthetic replacements (such as foot or knee, etc.)
- 60 routine prosthetic soft good replacements (such as liners, sleeves, ply socks)
Community clinic is custom-fit ‘Jewell’ for prosthetic patient
Story by Terri Rorke, Public Affairs Specialist
As Army Veteran Karl Milner walks into Jewell Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, front desk staff greet him and his service dog, Red, by their first names. Milner is checking in for a new prosthetic limb fitting. It’s not long before Red wanders over to another Veteran sitting in the nearby waiting area, attracting a doting crowd.
While this may be an ordinary visit for Milner, it’s been an extraordinary ride to get here today—not only because of the eight hours Milner traveled from his home in Wyoming, but also by the sheer willpower Milner said that’s brought him this far.
Milner said his life began to change six years ago with a packet of seeds. “I was about 400 pounds and in a wheelchair when a VA employee passing by handed me a packet of seeds and said, ‘Grow a garden,’” Milner said. On the back of the packet was the MOVE! logo and a phone number to the VA weight management program for Veterans.
While struggling to find relief from painful diabetes-related wounds and infections on his lower right leg, Milner planted the seeds, which later grew into a garden of squash. The experience inspired Milner so much that he signed up for MOVE! and learned how to significantly improve his diet and exercise routine. During that same time, Milner went through amputation surgery outside of the VA and received a lower limb prosthetic device that caused constant discomfort and inadequate support. That’s when Milner decided to change all of his care to the VA.
At a consult appointment, Jewell Prosthetist Veasna Lay asked Milner what he wanted to do with his life. “I said I wanted to go paragliding,” Milner said. “He told me if I lose the weight, he’d get me a new leg.”
From that day forward, Milner didn’t look back. As he loses weight, Milner returns to Jewell for an expedited fitting—usually every three to four months. He typically arrives on a Monday morning for casting and leaves by Thursday or Friday with a finished prosthesis. Lay and other prosthetists on his team typically block out the majority of their schedules that week to work with Milner one-on-one.
“This way we can fabricate a complete prosthesis from start to finish in four to five days versus what would normally take about three to four separate appointments over the course of three weeks,” Jewell Prosthetics Lab Chief Michael Litavish said. “This saves time for Veterans like Karl in the long run, so he does not have to drive back and forth from Wyoming in between appointments.”
To date, Milner has lost about 200 pounds and is more active than before amputation. “Karl has been pushing the envelope of what he wants to be able to do with his life,” Litavish said. “He is definitely someone who has exceeded our expectations and maybe even his own.” You won’t find Milner in a wheelchair these days. He’s usually outside jogging, hiking, rock-climbing, cross-country skiing, hang-gliding or paragliding—his life goal.
"Losing the leg actually meant gaining my life back"
“I love to see patients work hard to meet their goals and realize their dreams,” Litavish said. “It has been a privilege to be a part of this journey with him.”
“Losing the leg actually meant gaining my life back,” Milner said. While he still needs to manage his diabetes symptoms and treatment, Milner has Red by his side, who’s already trained to alert him when his blood sugar levels are off.
For other Veterans who require a limb amputation, Milner proves that the surgery doesn’t guarantee they’ll be wheelchair-bound and that one’s attitude can make all the difference.
“I just had to learn to use my voice,” he said. “VA will give you whatever you need, but you have to ask for it.”
For more about the prosthetic program, visit https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/. For more about the MOVE! Program, visit https://www.move.va.gov/.
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VA Police: Here for you
Story by Brandy Morrison, Public Affairs Officer
There are many boys who grow up wanting to be firefighters or police men, soldiers or pilots, but Jason Sullivan didn’t want any of those, he just wanted to be around and help people. Sullivan is a police officer for the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). Often when you think about a hospital or a series of health care clinics, you do not think about law enforcement, but Sullivan and his fellow officers are an integral part of ECHCS’s health care operations.
Sullivan is a licensed teacher with a degree in history and secondary education. He has always been drawn to helping people, naturally beginning his career in federal service as a park ranger in the vineyards of Napa County, California. He spent time as a tour conductor at the U.S. Mint in Denver, before applying to join the VA Police. To him, being a VA officer is an opportunity to give back.
At the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, VA Police are onsite 24 hours a day and at times can have an extremely daunting job. They are first-line responders, de-escalators of high-stress situations, way finders and at the end of some days, they are true life-savers.
Recently, Sullivan was faced with a difficult situation when a patient came in wanting to end his life, and it was Sullivan and his fellow officers who prevented this from happening. When asked about this night in particular, Sullivan said, “Thank goodness he came here and not somewhere else. We are taught to deal – we deal very well with people in crisis.” These are the stories you may not hear about, but they are the ones that have a lasting impact on someone who was in need of care.
When asked what makes VA Police different, Acting VA Chief of Police Dan Clark, who oversees the entire ECHCS VA Police Department and leads 65 sworn officers, said they are not like local law enforcement.
“We are here for voluntary compliance and community-oriented policing,” he said. “We will take an extra 30 minutes to make sure that someone gets the care they need, whereas local law enforcement does not always have that opportunity.”
You can see VA Police at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center biking around campus, in their patrol cars, passing out deputy officer stickers to a Veteran’s child and being a part of the VA community.
Sullivan stays a VA police officer because it is who he is now. It has become both his present and his future and he will continue to be a part of this community, as he put it, “This is our community … I get to see people. I get to talk to Veterans. I get to walk the beat – like my great-grandpa in Chicago.” Sullivan’s grandfather was a City of Chicago police officer.
It takes every position in our hospital to ensure smooth sailing and Sullivan and his fellow officers are at times the unsung heroes, making it all happen, many times behind the scenes, ensuring that Veterans do not fall through the cracks.
The next time you are walking through the halls, talk to a police officer and be on the look out for Sullivan, who Clark described as a, “beacon of positivity. A man who others rally behind. A man who radiates positivity for his community of Veterans and fellow federal service members.”
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PTSD program graduates reunite, celebrate recovery
Story by Richard McMullen, Webmaster
Recently, the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center hosted its annual PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PTSD RRTP) graduate reunion in August. The Veterans in attendance came from many different branches of the armed services, backgrounds and experiences. What they all share in common is the journey through the road of recovery.
The auditorium was filled wall-to-wall with attendees from current Veterans enrolled in the program, previous graduates, their families, staff and volunteers. The emotion and feeling of shared successes was palpable. The atmosphere was not what some may expect when they first think of people who have struggled with PTSD. There were no somber faces or people keeping to themselves; instead, there were hugs, smiles and laughter. It was the sound of survivors celebrating each other’s success and sacrifice.
Many health care and research professionals have said PTSD is a mental health condition that results when an individual has experienced a traumatic or terrifying event. Its symptoms can remain undetected and untreated for many years and needed treatment may not begin until it is recognized or addressed. The reality of this condition and its effects impact the lives of many Veterans and their families.
One of the most difficult aspects of living with the condition is lack of awareness of the need for treatment. According to an online Military Benefits article, “the misunderstanding of PTSD slowly began to change in 1980 when it was recognized as a specific condition with identifiable symptoms.” For Veterans, perhaps knowing support is available is encouraging. Also knowing that other Veterans are getting help from their peers and professionals at the VA can be inspiring.
Vietnam War Veteran and VA Peer Support Specialist James Merritt, left, greets PTSD Clinic Chief Dr. Lawrence Wahlberg at the August PTSD Program Graduates Reunion event at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. Merritt graduated from PTSD Program in 2010 and started the reunion event in 2011 for fellow attendees and graduates.
Eastern Colorado Health Care System Dr. Lawrence Wahlberg, Chief of the PTSD Clinic, welcomes graduates at the annual PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PTSD RRTP) reunion in August.
This year's reunion drew a packed audience of graduates, family members and staff. Since its inception in 1992, the PTSD RRTP has served more than 3,000 Veterans.
"It is the risks that you take in your recovery, your determination that are at the very center of this program.”
The PTSD RRTP at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) has existed for more than 27 years. The program has helped thousands of Veterans of all branches to include active duty service members. Opening up, sharing their stories and feelings, and gaining a better understanding of the shared struggle are just a few of the many skills attendees of the class learn. Dr. Lawrence Wahlberg, Chief of the PTSD Clinic, opened the event with words of thanks and accomplishment: “You protect our freedoms and we want you to experience and enjoy the freedoms that you protected for us all. It is the risks that you take in your recovery, your determination that are at the very center of this program.”
Several guest speakers were on hand, sharing not only testimonials of their harrowing experiences trying to cope with trauma, but also of learning how to fight and live with hope. Vietnam War Veteran and VA Peer Support Specialist James Merritt discussed with the audience his story of returning from combat. “When they sent me home, they didn’t know about PTSD. They said ‘He’s shell-shocked’. Well shell shock and PTSD is the same, but I didn’t know, so I guess I’m supposed to be like this.”
Merritt did the necessary work and graduated from the program on April 8, 2010, which helped him gain new perspective. “I’m going to start getting tools to deal with these issues. I said ‘James, I’m going to have a good day. I’ve got a spirit; I’ve got a soul. I demand that I have a good day.’ I go to work every day, I come home, watch TV, take care of my wife, I pray and I go to bed.’” He was hired by ECHCS in October 2010 as a peer support technician.
Since its inception in 1992, the ECHCS PTSD Program has served more than 3,000 Veterans. The program has the shortest wait times in the nation from screening to admission—six and a half days on average, compared to 45 days on average for all PTSD RRTP’s in Fiscal Year 2018. It is also recognized nationally for its effective treatments including improvement in PTSD and depression.
Merritt, who helped organize the first PTSD RRTP class reunion in 2011 and has been doing it ever since, expressed to the audience that as people who have served in the military, there is a code by which they all must live: “We are somebody. We can’t let PTSD define who we are.” Merritt continues to help organize the reunion events.
The camaraderie and hope on display at the reunion evinces the value of the PTSD RRTP as an effective and uplifting resource. This program is open to all Veterans enrolled with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who are diagnosed and living with PTSD. For more information about VHA’s mental health programs, please visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov.
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Healthy habits, healthy holiday
By Victorine Shores, MD, RD, CDE
‘Tis the season for festivities, family, friends, food, and more food. Temptations are everywhere and many people feel holiday weight gain is inevitable. In fact, an additional 200 calories a day (a slice of pie, a cup of eggnog) can result in a two to three pounds of weight gain in just six weeks. Although this may not sound like a lot, research shows most people don’t lose the weight they gain over the holiday season.
By indulging in holiday treats selectively and practicing healthy living and lifestyle habits, you can enjoy the holidays and your health this season. Here are a few strategies:
- Fill half your plate with veggies. Non-starchy vegetables are your secret weapon to health, especially at holiday parties and dinners! Vegetables are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals; helping to prevent sickness and maintain your health during the holidays. Filling half your plate with vegetables and eating them first will help you feel full, allowing you to enjoy a small serving of tempting treats. Invited to a holiday party? Offer to bring a vegetable dish that you enjoy.
- Prepare healthier meals. Cook from the heart, for the heart. You may find your favorite dishes can be just as delicious and healthier by making a few modifications such as reducing or removing salt, using healthy fats such as olive oil or avocado oil, reducing sugar and substituting white flour with whole wheat flour.
- Bring healthy snacks with you. Don’t be tempted by the smell of Cinnabon and movie theater popcorn while out holiday shopping! Bring healthy snacks to help control your hunger and reduce temptations. Best choices include fiber and protein such as an apple and almonds.
- Drink more water. Limit alcoholic or sugary drinks. Alcohol increases hunger while diminishing your ability to control what you eat, making you more likely to overindulge. Reduce your caloric and sugar intake by choosing non-sweetened beverages, like water or unsweetened tea.
- Be physically active. Activity is necessary for good health and weight maintenance. Think about an activity you can enjoy with your family and friends and make it a tradition to do together each holiday.
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