Former POW Support GroupsFormer POW Support GroupsFormer POW Support GroupsFormer POW Support GroupsFormer POW Support GroupsHelping ex-war prisoners copewith painful past — page 8

VAnguard

Inside: Mobile Service Center, 4 ✩ Nurse Research, 6 ✩ VA Gaveliers, 11

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

APRIL 2000

2 VAnguard

Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D)

Department of Veterans Affairs810 Vermont Ave., N.W.Washington, D.C. 20420

(202) 273-5746E-mail: vanguard@mail.va.govwww.va.gov/pubaff/vanguard/

index.htm

INTRODUCINGCCCCCONTENTSONTENTSONTENTSONTENTSONTENTS

Frank Cimorelli

VAnguard VA’s Employee Magazine

April 2000 Vol. XLVI, No. 4

Printed on 50% recycled paper

Editor: Lisa RespessEditorial Assistant: Matt Bristol

❏ Mobile Service Center 4New vehicle helps Florida homeless vets

❏ VAMC Kiosks 5Veterans get access to VA information

❏ Nurse Research 6Projects lead to improvements in care

❏ Former POWs 8-9VA support groups help ex-war prisoners

❏ Sacramento Addition 10Inpatient bed tower under construction

❏ Savings Bonds 10Changes in store for 2000 campaign

❏ VA Gaveliers 11VACO club celebrates 40th anniversary

CCCCCOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNSOLUMNSOn The Cover:

Former POW Mike Wepsiecdisplays the cookbook he madeduring WWII from discardedpaper sacks of cement his fellowprisoners unloaded to build anairfield for their captors. Themakeshift cookbook grew out ofconversations the hungry prison-ers had about their favorite foods.Wepsiec is a member of a formerPOW support group at the Hines,Ill., VAMC. Chuck Shubart photo

13-16

It all started because FrankCimorelli needed money. As arecreation therapist at the Phoenix,Ariz., VA Medical Center, he wasusing weightlifting to help veteransin an inpatient PTSD treatmentprogram pump up their self-image.And it was working. “We werebuilding their bodies and at the sametime, building their self-esteem,” herecalled. But he needed to get theveterans out of the hospital and intoa community setting, and to do that,he would need money to pay formemberships at alocal health club.

So he went tothe chief of Volun-tary Service at themedical center toask about funding.Although none wasimmediately avail-able, he was invitedto speak about hisprogram at anupcoming fundraiser.“As soon as I finishedmy pitch, one gentle-man said, ‘I say wegive him $1000,’”recalled Cimorelli.“That’s when I firstrealized that I could beeffective at Voluntary Service.” Sixmonths later, he heard about aposition opening for an assistantchief of Voluntary Service anddecided to apply.

That was 1985, and since then,Cimorelli has flourished. He’s nowthe chief of Voluntary Service andPublic Affairs at the NorthernArizona VA Health Care System(Prescott, Ariz.), and was recentlyawarded the VA Voluntary ServiceAward for Excellence for his innova-tive approaches to enhancing the roleof Voluntary Service.

One of the projects he introduced,the Guest Services program, is nowin place throughout West Texas,New Mexico and Arizona (VISN 18).He got the idea while staying at ahotel during a Voluntary Service

conference. “Mrs. [Hillary Rodham]Clinton was really pushing health-care reform at the time, and I wasthinking about how VoluntaryService could contribute,” he said.“One morning at the conference, Iwoke up and saw that someone hadslipped a newspaper under my door,and that’s when it hit me. I lookedthrough the hotel’s guest servicesdirectory and decided that thehospital should also have a guestservices program, but for veterans.”

Now, veterans atthe Prescott VAMedical Center havenewspapers deliveredto their rooms, alongwith fresh fruitdeliveries, in-roommovie selections,bedside flowers, freepre-paid phonecards and manyother amenities. Inthe outpatient clinic,a concierge serviceoffers free coffee,juice and sweetrolls. And theentire GuestServices programcomes at no cost to

the facility — it’s all run withdonations and volunteers. Shortlyafter its inception, the Guest Servicesprogram received a Hammer Awardfrom Vice President Al Gore.

Cimorelli is quick to point outthat his success is a direct result ofthe support he receives from PrescottVAMC Director Patricia McKlem,Chief Operating Officer CharleneEhret, Voluntary Service staffmembers Sally Fine and BrendaAutery, and the facility’s VA Volun-tary Service committee. “We’vecreated a group of people who arecommitted and excited about comingto work and seeing what can happen.I may lead the team, but without theteam, you aren’t going to win anychampionships,” he noted. ❏

By Matt Bristol

April 2000 3

OutlookToni Mitchell, M.D.,Chief Consultant, AcuteCare StrategicHealthcare Group

April 16–22is NationalOrgan andTissue DonorAwarenessweek. VA isjoining thenationwideefforts ofnational andlocal organiza-tions to expand

the number of Americans willing tosave lives by donating organs andtissue for transplantation.

Organ and tissue transplantationis proven to extend and improve thequality of life. Medical and techno-logical advances continue to maketransplantation safer and moreeffective.

Unfortunately, donations havenot increased at the same rapid pace.Employees, veterans and theirfamilies can help. Collectively, wecan urge our family, friends, and co-workers to take two easy steps: 1)Carry a signed donor card or driver’slicense that indicates you are anorgan and tissue donor; and 2)Discuss your decision to donate withfamily members so they can givetheir consent when the time comes.

Today, more than 64,000 patientsnationwide await organ transplants.VA Transplant Centers have ap-proximately 380 veterans who arepart of that national waiting list.Each day, approximately 60 peoplereceive an organ transplant, butanother 15 on that same waiting listwill die because there are not enoughorgans. Most Americans supportorgan donation and would carry outtheir loved one’s wishes if they knewthem. However only half of thefamilies asked give consent. Iffamilies discuss and share theirdecision to donate, many more livescould be saved.

VA recently provided guidance toall of the VA medical centers nation-wide regarding organ, tissue, andeye donation within VA facilities.

Organ Donation: A FamilyDecision That Saves Lives

These guidelines will ensure that theDepartment is making every effort towork closely with the local organprocurement organizations toidentify potential donors and helpfamilies make sensitive end-of-lifedecisions, including donationdecisions.

One of the reasons for the donorshortage is that the families ofpotential donors are never ap-proached about donation. VA hasaddressed this issue by requiringthat all VA health care providerscommit to a family-sensitive ap-proach and encourage donationwhen it is appropriate to do so,making materials available at VAfacilities, and improving the educa-tion of its providers on effectivecommunication with patients andtheir families. We hope the entire VAtransplant community — administra-tors, physicians, nurses, socialworkers, clergy, transplant coordina-tors — ensures that veterans andtheir families are offered the optionof organ donation.

We also are encouraging VAemployees and their families toparticipate in the national initiativeand become organ donors them-selves. Sign a donor card, identifyyourself as an “organ donor” onyour driver’s license, and informyour family of your desire to be anorgan, tissue and eye donor.

VA headquarters is joining thisnational endeavor and will promoteorgan donation by displayingbrochures, posters, videos, and othermaterials in prominent locationsthroughout the building. We willalso provide VA Central Officeemployees the opportunity to learnmore about organ donation on May 3at VA headquarters and also duringPublic Service Recognition Weekwith an exhibit on the National Mall,May 5–7 in Washington, D.C.

If your facility would like promo-tional information regarding organdonation, contact the Coalition onDonation at (804) 330-8620 or

www.shareyourlife.org. The Coalitionis dedicated to educating the publicabout organ and tissue donation,correcting misconceptions aboutdonating, and creating a greaterwillingness to donate. Remember,the loss of life for one can result inthe gift of life for many. Tell yourfamily your wishes during NationalOrgan and Tissue Donor AwarenessWeek. ❏

VA Gets CleanOpinion inAnnual Audit

The results of the third annualgovernment-wide financial audit arein, and the news for VA is good: theDepartment got a clean opinion onits finances for 1999 and had its 1998opinion upgraded from qualified toclean.

The annual financial review,required under the 1990 ChiefFinancial Officers Act, is conductedby auditors in the InspectorGeneral’s office at each agency. VAmissed the March 1 deadline by tendays, but the extra time allowed theDepartment to fix some isolatedproblems and get the clean opinion,according to Assistant Secretary forFinancial Management Ned Powell.

VA is one of more than half of the24 largest federal departments andagencies to receive clean opinions ontheir finances for 1999. In 1998, VAreceived a qualified opinion, whichmeans that some segments of thefinancial statements were not reli-able. But auditors were able toupgrade the 1998 opinion usinginformation provided with the 1999financial statements on how thoseproblems were fixed.

Clean audited financial state-ments are indicators of soundfinancial management. Thegovernment’s audits are an attemptto match the annual reports corpora-tions provide their shareholders. ❏

4 VAnguard

A new VA medicaland benefitsservice center onwheels is travel-

ing the roads of Florida,providing immediateassistance to homelessveterans throughout thestate.

VA and the Volun-teers of America ofFlorida, a nonprofitorganization that helpsthe homeless, teamedup to launch the FloridaVeterans Mobile ServiceCenter, a 43-foot mobilemedical/dental clinicand veterans benefitsoffice. In addition to afully equipped dentalclinic and medical examroom, the vehicle alsohas bathroom andshower facilities, amicrowave, refrigerator and awheelchair lift.

The vehicle travels caravan-stylewith eight to ten VA counselors andvolunteers to areas where thehomeless gather. They set up a tentoffering food and clothing, as well asportable showers and toilets thathook up to the vehicle’s generators.

Four cellular connections, twosatellite links, two laptops and acolor printer link the counselors with

the state’s VA medical centers andbenefits offices, allowing them toaccess the veterans’ records andmedical histories. Video-conferencing equipment allows VAphysicians to interview patientsdirectly from the mobile unit.

The counselors and volunteersbegan their work in the Florida Keys,and are working their way up thestate. After first identifying areas

where the homelesscongregate, they willstay at each encamp-ment two or threedays in an effort togain the veterans’trust. The project wasfunded in partthrough a grant tothe Volunteers ofAmerica of Floridafrom the VA Home-less Providers Grantand Per DiemProgram. Veteransservice organizationsthroughout Florida

also donated fundsto help purchasethe $311,000vehicle, and willcontinue to helpwith operatingcosts, which are

estimated to be about $180,000annually.

The goal is to reach a segment ofthe veteran population that generallywon’t come to a VA facility, becausethey either don’t trust the govern-ment or they can’t travel longdistances. Florida’s homeless veteranpopulation is estimated to be be-tween 17,000 and 23,000. The MobileService Center is expected to servemore than 200 veterans a month. ❏

Public Service Recognition Week

From left: Kevin O’Donnell, VISN 8 Homeless Veteran Coordinator;Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Kathryn E. Spearman, President/CEO,Volunteers of America of Florida; and Dan Robbin, Healthcare for HomelessVeterans Coordinator, Miami VAMC, with the new Florida Mobile Service Centerfor homeless veterans.

Mobile Service Center Travels the Roads of Florida

During the 16th annual Public Service Recogni-tion Week (PSRW) May 1-7, VA will join more than100 government agencies and private and non-profit organizations for a giant display on theNational Mall dedicated to public service employ-ees and the work they do.

The nation’s capital is just one of many siteswhere VA will be on display that week. VAfacilities and offices will participate in and host avariety of events recognizing outstanding em-ployee service to the public and VA’s emphasis onquality customer service. The Public EmployeesRoundtable (PER), a group of 32 management andprofessional organizations representing more thanone million public employees and retirees, is theprime sponsor of PSRW. Check the PER Web site atwww.theroundtable.org for free promotional materi-als to support observances, or call (202) 927-4926.

April 2000 5

W hat questions are in mostveterans’ minds when theyapproach a VA medicalfacility? Don’t think too

long — here are the answers:◆ Am I eligible for care?◆ What am I eligible for?◆ How much will it cost?Right now, veterans visiting six

VA medical facilities can get thosequestions answered, and much moreinformation, at a kiosk in a lobby orclinic waiting room. Touch-screendisplays tell them what health-careservices they can receive and, in thefuture — with the swipe of anidentification card — what medicalappointments they have scheduled.

In an effort to make these medicalcenter kiosks One VA points ofcustomer service, the VeteransBenefits Administration will soonadd information on VA benefitsprograms. Veterans will have Web-enabled access to compensation andpension, home loans, educationbenefits and vocational rehabilitationprograms on the kiosks. Developedas part of a national health-careeligibility communications effort, thekiosks also give VHA service net-works local control of information toprovide to veterans, their familymembers and employees. When thekiosks connect to printers, forexample, veterans will be able toprint maps of the VA campuses.

For three months last spring,kiosks were tested at VA medicalfacilities in Dallas, Lexington, Ky.,Orlando, Fla., Batavia, N.Y., andBaltimore. VHA’s Health Adminis-tration Service (HAS) arranged tohave kiosk users interviewed at threeof the sites. About 80 percent thoughtthe information offered was relevantand easy to understand. They alsowished they could get informationabout their individual situations. Thecapability exists for medical centersto connect the kiosks to their localarea computer networks to makeindividual records accessible throughthe use of a veterans identificationcard. Since the test, the Topeka, Kan.,VA Medical Center has installed asimilar kiosk. The West Lost Angelesand San Diego VA medical centershave installed kiosks with somedifferent functions.

VHA’s HAS makes kiosks

available to VISNs for about$8,000 each, plus shipping andinstallation charges, loadedwith standard content, includ-ing a description of the uniformpackage of health benefitsavailable to enrolled veterans.Internal tracking allowsmedical centers to know whatinformation is used most on thekiosks. Besides touch-screendisplays, a video narratorguides the user.

HAS Director Kent Simonissaid since the machines areWeb-enabled, standard infor-mation can be centrally up-dated. He said veterans likebeing able to access medicalinformation on the Internet.Facilities receive a lot of central-ized technical support, too.Diagnostic queries are donethrough the Web. If a malfunc-tioning printer is found, forexample, a technical supportspecialist can call the site, wheresomeone can fix it almost immedi-ately.

Facilities using the kiosks arelooking into expanding their capabil-ity. VHA Pharmacy Service hopes todevelop applications that will allowveterans to order prescription refillsand receive medication literature on-line with the kiosk. One eventualgoal is to build in on-line capabilityto enroll veterans for health care. The

Kiosks Help Veterans Get Questions Answered

medical benefits information now inthe kiosks is from VHA headquar-ters, based on inquiries veteranshave made — nearly 500,000 sinceJune 1998 — to a health-care eligibil-ity toll-free phone center. Questionsabout the kiosks can be directed toSimonis at (202) 273-8398. ❏

By Jo Schuda

The Atlanta VA Regional Officeembarked upon a “New Beginning inServing Veterans” with the reloca-tion of its operations to a new, state-of-the-art office building in Decatur,Ga., in February.

Located adjacent to the AtlantaVA Medical Center, the concept ofOne VA is a reality there. In additionto one-stop services for veterans, thenew facility provides much-neededadditional space and parking,improved layout and security, andenhanced technology for the third-largest VARO.

In addition to moving nearly 600employees and representatives ofseveral veterans service organiza-tions, workers also moved more than3,000 file cabinets, hundreds of

computers and a regionalizededucation claims imaging system.

“This move will allow us toincrease the efficiency in whichveterans’ claims are processed andprovide more accessibility to all VAservices,” said Patrick Courtney, theVARO director.

“The new building affordsveterans ease of use and provides aquality work environment for ouremployees,” he said. Courtney wasappointed regional director inDecember.

Under terms of an “enhanced-use” lease agreement with theDevelopment Authority of DekalbCounty, the county will lease thebuilding to VA for 30 years, and thenit reverts to VA ownership. ❏

Atlanta Vets Getting One-Stop Service

Veteran Arthur McDowell uses a kiosk at theDallas VA Medical Center.

6 VAnguard

N ational Nurses Week 2000finds VA nurses conductingindependent, VA-fundedresearch in 19 Nurse Research

Initiative (NRI) projects to identifyhealth-care problems of veterans andseek approaches to improve theircare. Many other VA nurses areconducting research supported byVA or other agencies that is notfunded through the NRI.

In the four years since the initia-tive began, VA has sought theperspective of nurses to improve thecare of veterans with a wide range ofcommon health conditions. Oneinvestigation even seeks to reduceinjuries to nurses and othercaregivers.

Mellitta Maddox, MSN, is con-ducting a nurse-managed clinic fordementia patients and their spousecaregivers at the MinneapolisVAMC. So far, 75 patients in early tomoderate stages of dementia andtheir spouse caregivers have enrolledin a three-year study of whetherdetailed advance information forcaregivers produces better outcomesin the patients’ functioning at homeand the spouses’ coping ability. Oneof the clinic’s goals is to preparecaregivers for the levels of function-ing expected at various stages andpresent strategies for handlingproblems. Caregivers receive educa-tion at the beginning of the year andare interviewed about their difficul-ties at intervals. In small groups,some receive the traditional, general-ized information about what toexpect and how to respond. Othersreceive information specific to theirspouses. Patients are assessed everysix months during clinic visits.

At the Manchester, N.H., VAMC,Margaret Carson, Ph.D., has led astudy that provides the first physi-ologic evidence that witnessingdeath and injuries to others can causepost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). Investigators have finishedcollecting data in the three-yearstudy and are now analyzing it.From across the U.S., 172 nurses whoserved in the Vietnam War theatercame to VA’s psychophysiologylaboratory for two days of tests.Participants were studied in threeequal groups: those who, in testing,were found to have PTSD; those who

did not; and those whose self-reporting indicated they had sufferedit in the past but not in the present.

The nurses were asked to com-pose narratives describing lifeexperiences, including their twomost traumatic Vietnam situations.Most identified nursing-relatedevents as their worst Vietnamexperiences rather than situationsthat threatened their own safety.Based on the narratives, Carsonwrote and recorded imagery scripts.Participants listened to the scriptswhile their physiologic reactionswere measured.

The psycho-physiologic responseof the group with PTSD was signifi-cantly different than the group notsuffering PTSD. These resultssupport the notion that individualscan develop PTSD without a directthreat to their person. More informa-tion on the study will appear in anupcoming issue of the Journal ofConsulting and Clinical Psychology.

At the San Diego VA HealthcareSystem, Martha Shively, Ph.D., isstudying the effect of nurse-ledbehavioral management on thequality of life of patients withmedically managed heart failure.One group of outpatients receivesstandard care while another groupalso participates in a special 15-weekprogram. These participants estab-lish goals with nurses related to diet,exercise, smoking cessation andactivities. Patients in both groups areassessed for physical and psychologi-cal symptoms and functioning at theend of four months and againmonths later. Shively is midwaythrough the four-year project.

At the Tampa, Fla., VAMC,Audrey Nelson, Ph.D., associatechief, Nursing Service for Research,aims to redesign patient handling toprevent nursing back injuries. Shehas evaluated 11 tasks that putnurses at risk by videotaping nursingassistants performing them onpatients. In a biomechanics labora-tory, the postures involved werereplicated and studied. Researchersdeveloped ways to reduce potentialinjury in all of the tasks throughengineering, work method changesand combinations such as workplaceredesign.

Next, half of the nursing staff

participants will continue to performthose “at risk” tasks as they have, butin a laboratory setting where theirphysical stress levels will be mea-sured. The other half will adopt theredesigns. All participants will havetheir spinal forces assessed andcompared with a national occupa-tional health threshold. Nelsonexpects that the proportion ofparticipants following the redesignedpractices who exceed the thresholdwill be lower than that of the controlgroup.

Another Tampa nurse, SusanHagan, MSN, is studying whethertraining nurses in pain managementwill reduce pain and improve dailyfunction for cancer patients. At twosites, the experimental hospital,Tampa VAMC, and the control site,

Recent VAResearch Advances

The past achievements ofVA researchers — pioneeringtuberculosis treatment, devel-oping the cardiac pacemaker,and contributing to the develop-ment of the high-tech diagnos-tic procedures of computerizedaxial tomography (CAT),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and magnetic sourceimaging — are widely known inthe VA community.

Two VA researchers wonthe Nobel Prize for Medicine,while others pioneered the firstsuccessful drug treatments forhigh blood pressure andschizophrenia. And the VA-developed Seattle Foot allowsamputees to walk, run, andeven jump. But what have VAresearchers achieved recently?As the Department celebratesVA Research Week April 16-22, here are some recent VAresearch advances:

◆ Researchers at 12 VAmedical centers are workingwith scientists throughout theUnited States and Canada tocompare the effectiveness ofangioplasty with medicaltherapy to medical therapyalone in the treatment of heart

Nurses Bring Unique Perspective to VA Research

April 2000 7

The cast of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Wit” conducted areading for 300 employees of the VAGreater Los Angeles HealthcareSystem and UCLA in February.

The play tells thestory of a terminallyill cancer patientand English profes-sor, Dr. VivianBearing. Delvingdeeply into theinteractions be-tween a cancerpatient and herdoctors, it gives theaudience a peek atreal-life issuesconfronting patientsin end-of-lifesituations. After the readingin the WadsworthTheater on thegrounds of the WestLos Angeles VAMedical Center, cast

and audience members formedgroups to discuss the play. ActressKathleen Chalfant played the titlerole, and the supporting cast in-cluded Walter Charles, Alec Phoenix,

Paula Pizzi, Christian Anderson, JoseMercado, Holly Ricciuti and CherylSmith.

Cast members were given flowersand a plaque from Philip Thomas,director of the VA Greater LosAngeles Healthcare System, at theend of the production. The plaque isinscribed with the message: “To thecast and crew of ‘Wit’ for yourcaring, compassion and intelligencein presenting a riveting performanceand sending a powerful message tothe medical staff of the VA GreaterLos Angeles Healthcare Center.”

Kenneth Rosenfeld, M.D., direc-tor of the Pathways of CaringPalliative Care Program, was instru-mental in bringing “Wit” to theWadsworth Theater. This VAprogram is funded by the RobertWood Johnson Foundation throughthe Brentwood Biomedical ResearchInstitute in West Los Angeles. Theplay, which won the 1999 PulitzerPrize for drama, is the first effort ofplaywright Margaret Edson. ❏

Actress Kathleen Chalfant, in cap, participates in a discussiongroup after she and fellow cast members conducted a reading of“Wit” in the West Los Angeles VAMC’s Wadsworth Theater.

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play Raises End-of-Life Care Issues

nearby Bay Pines VAMC, 124 nursesand 50 patients are participating.Twelve Tampa nurses who receivedtraining in pain assessment andtreatment serve as educators andconsultants to other Tampa nurses.

Outcomes include nurses’ knowl-edge and behaviors and patients’pain intensity, constipation andfunctioning. Hagan is about halfwaythrough her data collection, which isdone at both hospitals during andafter patients’ treatments.

Tampa investigator Gail Powell-Cope, Ph.D., hopes to find ways topersuade HIV-infected adults to taketheir medication, called “highlyactive antiretroviral therapy”(HAART). Her first objective is todevelop a survey to measure patientattitudes and beliefs that explaintheir adherence to therapy or lack ofit. Later she plans to design a studyto test interventions that target thosebeliefs and barriers to adherence.In the first completed phase, patientswere interviewed to identify preva-lent beliefs about the results ofantiretroviral therapy and factorsthat facilitate taking the medications.A questionnaire will be used tomeasure attitudes. ❏

By Jo Schuda

disease, the leading cause ofdeath in America.

◆ In a study that may lead torelief for millions of chronic painsufferers in the United States, VAdoctors in Minneapolis havediscovered a way to deplete thespinal nerves that transmit chronicpain signals to the brain. A naturalneurotoxin successfully targetedthe pain-associated neurons,leaving all others intact.

◆ A new family of therapies isgreatly increasing the use ofextremities affected by stroke. Thetreatment, developed by VAresearchers, involves restriction ofthe unaffected limb for up to 90percent of waking hours, andintense training on the affectedlimb. Patients following thisprogram have met with 100percent treatment success.

◆ Scientists at the Syracuse,N.Y., VAMC have made greatstrides in deciphering the lan-guage used by the brain to directbodily movement. Their findingsmay be the first step in advancingthe treatment of movementdisorders, such as spinal cordinjury and stroke.

◆ VA researchers in SanDiego have discovered a genetic“on-off” switch that may offer away to encourage liver cell growthin people with liver damage, orblock cell growth of liver tumors.

◆ In a national multi-centertrial, VA researchers are testing apromising new vaccine for itsability to prevent or lessen theseverity of shingles. Shingles iscaused by the herpes-zoster virus,the same one that causeschickenpox in young people, andits effects can be extremelypainful and disabling.

◆ VA researchers are amongleaders in research examining therelationship between heredity andalcoholism. One VA team recentlyreported that geneticallyengineered mice without a certaincell receptor consumed lessalcohol than unaltered mice. Inearlier studies, researchers foundthat mice without a gene contain-ing the receptor for serotoninconsumed twice as much alcoholas unaltered mice. Eventually,these studies may lead to newpharmacological treatments orgene therapies for alcoholism. ❏

8 VAnguard

Former POWs

Coping with Wartime Horrors

Armed with fixed bayonet, a Japanese soldier guards American and Filipino prisoners of warduring the Bataan Death March of World War II.

O n April 9, 1942, after monthsof fierce fighting amid thesteamy jungles of the BataanPeninsula in the Philippines,

Japanese forces overwhelmed andcaptured more than 76,000 Alliedtroops, including nearly 12,000Americans. With drawn swords andfixed bayonets, they summarilyexecuted some 350 U.S. Armyofficers. Witnesses to the executioncould never imagine the horrors theywould face during what wouldbecome one of the most notoriousepisodes of the war in the Pacific —the Bataan Death March.

Prodded by honed bayonets, thecaptives were forced to march dayand night, often without food orwater and under a scorching tropicalsun. Sword-wielding guards be-headed those who begged for water;trucks crushed those unable to keepup. Thousands were killed.

The surrender at Bataan markedthe largest single capture of Ameri-can troops in World War II, and tocommemorate the date, April 9 wasdesignated National Former POW

Recognition Day. As of January 1,2000, there were nearly 50,000 livingU.S. former POWs, 93 percent ofwhom were interned during WWII.

As a young soldier from Chicago,Mike Wepsiec survived not only theBataan Death March, but also morethan three years in Japanese prisoncamps. During his years as a prisonerof war, he carried the burdens offorced labor, swallowed the emptypangs of hunger, and battled recur-ring bouts of malaria. How did hesurvive? “Willpower,” he says. Andthrough it all, Wepsiec also found away to boost the spirits of his fellowPOWs — with a cookbook.

Each night, after finishing theirmeager rations of watery rice, thehungry prisoners would get togetherand talk about their favorite foods.“When you’re hungry, your stomachis growling,” he recalled. “Youcouldn’t go out and get it [food] noplace, so you sit there and you talkabout it.” The men seemed to feed offtheir mouth-watering conversations,so Wepsiec began to write down theirfavorite recipes on old concrete sacks.

Recipes for tender meats, salty soupsand sugary-sweet candies, alldocumented in 107 pages of neat,precise lettering.

The cookbook survived the warand then sat forgotten in a drawer inWepsiec’s Chicago home, until the84-year-old veteran brought it to theHines, Ill., VA Medical Center. Hemeets there regularly with about adozen other veterans in a formerPOW support group. “I didn’t thinkit was that important,” he explained.

But Kristin Lopez, a clinical socialworker and facilitator for the supportgroup, thinks otherwise. “Thiscookbook is such a remarkablecoping mechanism,” she noted.“When he brought it in, it was almostas if he had just rediscovered it. Andwhen the other guys marveled at it,his efforts were validated … he feltrecognized for his adaptiveness, notjust his victimization.”

Many former POWs, who havesuppressed the painful details oftheir ordeal for up to 50 years, arenow coming face-to-face with thosememories. ”These are the toughchildren of the Depression who wentto war, won it and came home tobuild fresh lives, always reinforcingthe idea that hey, any trouble, yousimply push it down out of sight,push it down,” said Dr. Kenneth E.Reinhard, a clinical psychologist whoruns support groups for combatveterans and former POWs at the VAHudson Valley (Montrose Campus)Health Care System in New York.

About six years ago, Reinhardnoticed an increase in the number ofWWII ex-POWs and combat veteransseeking treatment for delayed PTSDsymptoms. “It may have been stirredup by the enormous coverage of the50th Anniversary of significantWorld War II combat invasions,” hesaid. “This is added to advancingage, the growing likelihood of losingfriends and family, and the addedtime to think due to retirement.”

He also points to the release ofthe motion picture Saving PrivateRyan. “All of the veterans I spoke tothat saw the movie were visiblyshaken by it and emotionally

April 2000 9

In addition to facilitating support groups for former POWs at the VAHudson Valley (N.Y.) Health Care System, Dr. Kenneth Reinhard alsoconducts sensitivity seminars to help VA Hudson Valley Health CareSystem employees gain a better understanding of the concerns andneeds of these veterans. “I tell them about some of the issues that ex-POWs are very sensitive about and try to help them understand whatthese guys have been through,” said Reinhard. What should employeesknow?

◆ Be approachable and personable. Introduce yourself; make eyecontact and demonstrate warmth, concern and interest.

◆ Be sensitive to individual differences. All ex-POWs are not alike— allow them to express their ideas about their illnesses while promotingmutual feedback and questions.

◆ Be patient . If the veteran seems angry, give them a chance tovent. Avoid a power struggle.

“The bottom line is when you’re dealing with ex-POWs who sufferedloss of dignity, loss of identity, loss of power, felt helpless, hopeless andinsignificant — it is essential to give them mutual respect, show genuineempathy and acknowledge their identity and concerns,” said Reinhard.

drained.” In response to the film, heused newspaper, television and radioappearances to reach out to thosestruggling with post-traumaticsymptoms, encouraging them to seekassistance through VA. Reinhardnow facilitates several supportgroups for former POWs and combatveterans. During weekly meetings,he encourages the groups’ membersto release the pain and guilt associ-ated with their experiences. “Most ofthem never had a chance to talkabout it and now they’re getting thatchance,” he said.

Rick Harry, an ex-POW coordina-tor at the St. Petersburg, Fla., VARegional Office, says former POWstypically don’t ask for much from thegovernment, and that’s unfortunate,because they may be entitled to morethan they know. “In captivity theydevelop the survivor mentality,” heexplained. “They don’t complain andthey learn to get by with whatthey’re given.” He says many ex-POWs that received a 20 or 30percent disability rating in the late1940s and early 50s may now beentitled to increased benefits. “Anappreciative government has made iteasier for them to receive benefitsand we’re going to make sure theyknow that,” he said.

To get the word out, he conductsoutreach seminars throughout thestate of Florida. Closely coordinatedwith local VA medical centers, theseseminars provide a clear example of

One VA service. Somehave attracted asmany as 300 ex-POWsand their wives. At theseminar, ex-POWslearn about the manylegislative changesthat affect their VAdisability rating andcan receive on-the-spot health careregistration andscreenings, andrequest examinationsfor any one of the 20POW presumptivedisabilities. Theserange from Beriberi orany other residual ofnutritional deficiencyto ischemic heartdisease and traumaticarthritis, and can bepresumed to berelated to captivity ifdiagnosed in thoseheld for 30 days ormore.

Filing a claim iseasy, thanks to anabbreviated claimsform Harry designed.If an ex-POW isdiagnosed with apresumptive disabil-ity, he can receive anincreased disabilitywithout further evidence or proof.The seminars are successful — 70 percent of all the claims he receives

are from his target groups, ex-POWswho have never filed or those withlow-rated disabilities that are entitledto an increased rating.

VA studies show the physicaldeprivation and psychological stressPOWs endured have lifelong effectson not only physical health, but alsosocial and vocational adjustment.Consequently, former POWs are notsubject to VA’s health-care eligibilityassessment and are entitled todisability compensation for injuriesand disease presumed to be causedby internment.

POW coordinators have beenassigned to each VA regional officeand medical center. Former POWscan contact VA regional offices bycalling the toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000, which will automaticallyconnect them to the nearest VAregional office. ❏

By Matt Bristol

Kristin Lopez, POW support group facilatator at the Hines,Ill., VA Medical Center, with the cookbook former POW andBataan Death March survivor Mike Wepsiec created during hiscaptivity in World War II. Lopez believes Wepsiec’s creationserved as a coping mechanism.

Sensitivity Tips

10 VAnguard

Ground was brokenlast month for the con-struction of a new five-story inpatient bed towerat the VA NorthernCalifornia Health CareSystem’s SacramentoMedical Center at MatherField. The $39.5 million,55-bed tower will beadded to the existinghospital building at theformer Mather Air ForceBase.

Although the existinghospital, built in 1971, wastransferred to VA in 1998,services have been limited.The new tower will morethan double the number of inpatientbeds, and will include a radiologydepartment with new magneticresonance imaging (MRI) andcomputerized tomography (CT) scan

facilities, a 24-hour urgent carecenter, four surgery suites, a clinicalresearch department and an endos-copy center.

A nine-bed clinical research

center with 16,000 squarefeet of laboratory space willoccupy the fifth floor.Construction of the 120,000-square-foot building isexpected to be completedby April 2002. The existingfacility will be renovatedafter the tower is com-pleted. The Sacramento area ishome to the second-largestnumber of military retireesin the United States. A totalof more than 200,000veterans and retirees livein the area, making Sacra-mento previously thelargest city in the nation

without a VA medical center. Secre-tary of Veterans Affairs Togo D.West, Jr., was the keynote speaker atthe groundbreaking ceremony onMarch 7. ❏

Sacramento Medical Center to Get New Addition

Keynote speaker Secretary West joins other officials in Sacramentobreaking ground for the construction of a new inpatient bed tower.

This year’s Federal Savings Bondcampaign will run throughout themonth of May. Secretary Togo D.West, Jr., is the chair of VA’s cam-paign and Acting Under Secretaryfor Memorial Affairs Robert M.Walker is the vice chair.

The Savings Bond Campaign isan annual event that promotes thepurchase of U.S. Savings Bonds as aninvestment opportunity. SavingsBonds help promote thrift andincrease personal savings. By encour-aging personal savings, we help our

co-workers, VA,and our country.Bonds offer a safevehicle forinvestment, taxadvantages andmarket-basedinterest ratesfrom the date ofpurchase. A big differ-ence between thisyear’s campaignand previousones is thatSavings Bondallotments arenow started ormodified usingHR LINK$. There

will be no sign-up cards. “Using HRLINK$ makes starting or increasingyour allotment easier than ever,”noted Walker. “With HR LINK$there are no paper transactions foremployees.”

There are three ways to access HRLINK$ to start or increase yourSavings Bond allotment. You willneed your personal identificationnumber (PIN) and social securitynumber (SSN) for each. The first wayis through the desktop application onyour workstation computer or on the

computers located at one of the HRLINK$ Access Points. Simply double-click on the HR LINK$ icon and thenclick on the Self Service icon.

You can also use the InteractiveVoice Response (IVR) systemthrough a touch-tone telephone fromwork or home. Dial the toll-freenumber (1-800-414-5272), and followthe directions. The desktop applica-tion and the IVR system may beaccessed 7:30 a.m. to midnight,Eastern Time, seven days a week.

The third way to access HRLINK$ is through the Shared ServiceCenter (SSC). Simply call the SSC (1-800-414-5272), and the SSC staff cananswer your questions or initiatetransactions on your behalf. The SSCis open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Eastern Time, Monday throughFriday.

The goals of the VA campaign areto increase the number of employeesparticipating by five percent, achievea 10 percent increase in new partici-pants or current participants whoincrease their level of savings, and tohave 50 percent of employeesparticipate through payroll deduc-tion. A volunteer canvasser fromyour organization will contact yousoon about starting or increasingyour allotment. ❏

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo D. West, Jr., and Acting UnderSecretary for Memorial Affairs Robert M. Walker check out how topurchase Savings Bonds using HR LINK$.

Purchase Savings Bonds Through HR LINK$!

April 2000 11

S tanding before a large audi-ence of co-workers, you rubyour palms nervously againstyour thighs. Your throat

tightens and your mouth feelsincredibly dry as you begin to speak.A strange, quivering voice echoesthrough the dark room. Wordsslowly drift away and you findyourself overcome with fear.

If the thought ofspeaking before a largeaudience brings feelings ofanxiety or apprehension,don’t worry, you’re notalone. In a poll of 3,000Americans, public speak-ing ranked as the top fear,higher than the fear of snakes,heights, disease or even death.

But there is hope. Clubs like theVA Gaveliers provide a warm,supportive environment for thoseseeking to master the art of publicspeaking while developing funda-mental leadership skills.

Founded in VA Central Office’sOmar Bradley Conference Room in1959, the VA Gaveliers is the VACOchapter of the Toastmasters Club, aninternational organization with180,000 members in 70 countries. TheGaveliers recently celebrated its 40th

anniversary and has seen somesignificant changes over the years.

It started as an all-male club, andit wasn’t until the early 1970s thatwomen were allowed to join. Butnow, Julie Gough, a program analystin the Office of Planning and Analy-sis, is the club’s president. She’s beenwith VA for 20 years and theGaveliers for two, and she firmlybelieves that the skills she developed

at the club’s meetings were partiallyresponsible for her career advance-ment. “I was able to make presenta-tions to senior staff without fear,”said Gough. “Your confidence levelreally soars, and now I stand up andspeak up whenever I can.”

Some things have remained thesame. The club still meets at noontwice a month. Members still prepareand deliver speeches, participate inpeer evaluations, and conduct tabletopic presentations to sharpen theirextemporaneous speaking skills.They still begin by tackling the

VA Gaveliers

Finding the Courage to Conquer a Common FearCommunication and Leadershipmanual, a workbook containing aseries of ten speech projects, each onetougher than the last. Completing theassignments earns the title of Com-petent Toastmaster. But the chal-lenges don’t stop there. An advancedprogram helps members polish theirnew-found skills, ultimately leadingto the title of Distinguished Toast-master.

People join the Gaveliers fordifferent reasons. Last year, RhondaWilson, a program analyst with theOffice of Information Technology,had to give several big presentationswhile working on Y2K-relatedprojects.

Although her colleagues ap-plauded her efforts, Wilson reallywasn’t satisfied with her perfor-mance. So in February 2000, shejoined the Gaveliers. Why? “I want tobe confident in my performance andmore comfortable when speaking infront of large audiences,” she ex-plained. Her first speech is scheduledfor May 11, and while she admits tobeing a little apprehensive, she saysthat she is definitely looking forwardto it.

A co-worker invited SheltonPope, a program assistant with theNational Cemetery Administration,to join the Gaveliers. It’s a move hedoesn’t regret. “I was approachedseveral times,” he recalled. “And I

knew that I needed toimprove my speakingskills, but my fearsoutweighed my naturalinstinct to speak.” Popehas since conquered hisfears, and he recently

stood before the group and gave histenth speech, completing his firstworkbook and earning the title ofCompetent Toastmaster. Now he’sready to move on to the AdvancedToastmaster program. “I think it willbe very challenging, but I have nomore fear.”

Finding the courage to conquerfears — that is precisely why peoplejoin the Gaveliers. Want to learnmore about the club? Contact JulieGough at (202) 273-5048. ❏

By Matt Bristol

Clarence E. Featherson, an attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency, was aguest speaker at the VA Gaveliers’ 40th anniversary celebration. The three-yearToastmasters Club member has won many Washington, D.C.-area speech contests.

In a poll of 3,000 Americans, public speakingranked as the top fear, higher than the fear ofsnakes, heights, disease or even death.

12 VAnguard

M arch 2 startedout as an typicalday on the jobfor Beasley

Lindsey, Jr., a veteransservice representative(VSR) at the St. Peters-burg, Fla., VA RegionalOffice. His duties includehandling a portion of the4,000 calls the facilityreceives daily from Floridaveterans or family mem-bers who need VA benefitsinformation.

Then came the callfrom the son of a veteran’swidow. He had questionsabout the entitlement ofwidows to Dependency and Indem-nity Compensation (DIC) benefits,and was impressed with the quickand accurate responses Lindsey gavehim. That’s when Lindsey’s day tookan unusual turn — he had no ideathe caller was a well-known actor.

James Woods, star of such filmsas “The Onion Field,” “Salvador,”“Ghosts of Mississippi” and “AnyGiven Sunday,” is also the son of amilitary hero, and he had called theVARO on behalf of his widowedmother. His mother had seen the

Actor James Woods Thanks Helpful VARO Employeesletter on widows’ entitle-ment to DIC benefits sentto advice columnist AnnLanders recently bySecretary of VeteransAffairs Togo D. West, Jr.Woods’ father died whenthe actor was 12 years old. Woods brought hismother to the VARO tomeet with staff members.The actor took the opportu-nity to personally thankLindsey for his assistance,and he also met severalveterans who were visiting

the office that day. Woodsreturned the next day toautograph 100 photos for

employees, and then stayed to posefor photos with employees.

“Congratulations of the highestsort for your great staff,” Woods toldSt. Petersburg VARO Service CenterManager Barbara Harker. “Thankyou, forever.” ❏

T hough most federal employeessaid they were happy withtheir jobs, levels of satisfactionvary widely across govern-

ment, according to the second annualfederal employee satisfaction surveyadministered by the National Part-nership for Reinventing Government(NPR).

The results are based on a ques-tionnaire mailed to a sample ofemployees in 47 federal agencies lastyear. Sixty percent of the 13,000employees who responded said theyare satisfied with their jobs overall,while 27 percent said they weredissatisfied. Another 13 percentexpressed no opinion.

The survey was administered tothree separate “agencies” within VA:the Veterans Benefits Administra-tion, the Veterans Health Adminis-tration, and “other” which includedstaff offices and the National Cem-etery Administration. Of the 736questionnaires randomly mailed toVBA employees, 235 responded; forVHA, 162 out of 733 responded; andfor all other, 120 out of 200 re-sponded. Overall job satisfaction forthe three groups ranked in themedium response range of 56 to 69

percent satisfied, where most agen-cies (38) ended up.

VBA responses showed markedimprovement over the first surveyconducted in 1998, particularly inareas such as satisfaction withrewards for teamwork, productivityand training. VBA responses weresignificantly stronger than govern-ment-wide averages in satisfactionwith labor-management cooperationand use of plain language.

VHA responses were higher thangovernment averages regardingtraining and guidance to improvecustomer service, but fell off 1998satisfaction ratings in a number ofareas, such as teamwork, productiv-ity and reward for innovation.

VA all-other employee satisfac-tion responses showed generalstability and some improvement,particularly regarding management-union relations and work quality.This group’s satisfaction with linkingcustomer feedback to employeeaction was markedly higher than thegovernment average.

VA and the other agenciessurveyed responded to the resultswith an “improvement strategy”outlining short- and long-term steps

planned to address low-satisfactionareas. VA’s strategy calls for rede-sign of an employee orientationprogram and improved internalcommunications with a focus onemployee recognition and rewards.Long-term actions call for develop-ment and use of the High Perfor-mance Developmental Model forperformance management through-out VA; further streamlining ofpersonnel services through HRLINK$; a new One VA EmployeeStrategic Plan to match staffing at alllevels with VA strategic goals andobjectives; ensuring access to media-tion services by all employees; andincreased employee developmentthrough the VA Learning University.

NPR said that the survey showeda direct correlation between thoseagencies that had made reinvention apriority and the satisfaction of theiremployees. NPR noted that 84percent of employees who believereinvention is a priority in theiragency are satisfied with their jobs.Survey results are available on theInternet at www.employeesurvey.gov,and VA’s improvement strategy is atwww.va.gov/onevaactivities/empsurv.htm. ❏

NPR Survey Finds Job Satisfaction Varies Widely

Actor James Woods signs autographs at the St. Petersburg, Fla.,VA Regional Office.

April 2000 13

MEDICALadvances

Vascular surgeon Dr. John Marek, foreground, examines a patient’sX-ray with fellow vascular surgeons Dr. Michael Tullis and Dr. MarkLangsfeld, and vascular research nurse Diane Robertson.

VA Surgeons First to Perform NewProcedure for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Last fall, vascular surgeons at the New Mexico VA HealthCare System became the first in the country to operate on anabdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using the new endoluminalgraft procedure. Since then, thirteen additional patients at theAlbuquerque VA Medical Center have undergone the minimallyinvasive surgery. “Everything has gone pretty well,” concludedDr. Mark Langsfeld, a vascular surgeon who teamed with Drs.John Marek and Michael Tullis to perform that first operation.An abdominal aneurysm is a weakening and subsequentballooning of the walls of the aorta, the primary blood vessel inthe abdominal region. If the aneurysm ruptures it usually provesfatal — 80 percent of those with a ruptured abdominal aneu-rysm die before reaching the hospital. Approximately 15,000people die from AAA annually in the United States.

For decades, surgeons have performed the operation bycutting open the patient’s entire abdomen and moving aside theintestines to gain access to the aorta. The aorta was thenclamped both above and below the aneurysm and sliced open.Finally, a supportive Dacron sleeve was inserted. The patientwould then be stitched back together. “If all went well, youwould go home in five days. You’d feel like a truck had hit you.You couldn’t work for another month. It would be four to sixweeks before you could resume a reasonable level of activity,”said Langsfeld. Using the new procedure, surgeons make justtwo small incisions in the groin area to access blood vessels inthe legs’ circulatory system that connect to the aorta. They thenthread a catheter mounted with self-expandable grafts up theblood vessel to the damaged portion of the aorta. Oncereleased from the catheter, the grafts expand to fill the bloodvessel and stabilize the weakening walls of the aorta. The bestpart is that patients can usually go home the day after surgery.

VA Pilot Study Shows Magnet Ineffectiveat Relieving Lower Back Pain

An estimated five million Americans wake up each morningto share a hot cup of coffee with an old nemesis — lower backpain. And, despite a lack of scientific backing, many are turningto magnets for relief. The growing popularity of magnet therapyled researchers from the Prescott, Ariz., VA Medical Center tostudy their effectiveness. Their findings: the bipolar type ofmagnet they studied did nothing to alleviate patients’ low backpain. To conduct the study, Dr. Edward A. Collacott and col-leagues at the Prescott VAMC selected 20 patients whose X-rays showed signs of spondylosis, a condition characterized bydegeneration or deficient development of the articulating part ofthe vertebra. The patients involved in the study reported suffer-ing lower back pain for an average of 19 years. Researcherstook patients’ range of motion measurements and had eachcomplete a standard back pain questionnaire.

Patients were then provided with therapeutic bipolar magnetdevices. However, only ten of the devices had any magneticproperties; the others had been demagnetized and would act asplacebos. All of the patients followed a two-week treatmentprogram that involved wearing the magnetic device six hours aday for three days a week — one week with the actual magnetand one week with the placebo. After the two-week period,researchers concluded there was no significant differencebetween the patients wearing the placebo magnets and thosewearing the real ones.

The study’s authors noted that their pilot study was notintended to prove or disprove the effectiveness of magnettherapy in general, and that additional studies using differentmagnets (unipolar and bipolar), treatment times, and patientpopulations are needed. The study appeared in the March 8issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

San Francisco VAMC Introduces Bay Area’sFirst Digital X-Ray Machine

The San Francisco VA Medical Center has replaced the oldanalog X-ray with the Bay area’s first digital X-ray machine. Thedigital technology reduces the time doctors must wait to see theimages from 10 or 20 minutes to just a few seconds. But that’snot the only benefit of going digital. The new technology alsoallows doctors to zoom in on hairline fractures or use computerenhancement to clarify a shady image. “You can squeeze a lotmore information from these images,” said Dr. Charles Ander-son, a doctor of radiology at the medical center. “You can bringout more details than you can with film.” And unlike X-ray filmsheets that take up storage space and are easily lost, digital X-rays are always accessible through the hospital’s computernetwork or the Internet, he added.

Conventional X-ray machines use invisible bursts of electro-magnetic radiation to produce images of bones and internalorgans on special film. The film must then be developed usingchemicals that require special handling. The digital X-raymachines avoid the entire film development process by simplycapturing the image with a digital camera. The image will thenappear on a computer monitor within seconds. The majorroadblock to going digital is cost. The $450,000 price tag for adigital machine soars above the conventional X-ray price of$170,000. ❏

14 VAnguard

HONORSand awards

The Government Informa-tion Technology ServicesBoard’s Center for InformationTechnology Excellencerecently selected the VAAustin Automation Centeras an “IT Best Practice” awardwinner. The AutomationCenter was recognized fordeveloping the ConsolidatedCo-payment ProcessingCenter Lockbox system.Designed to improve thecollection and handling of allfirst party medical debt co-payments, Lockbox alsoeliminates much of the labor-intensive tasks required indebt collection. The Lockboxis expected to process anestimated 5.2 million pay-ments in FY 2000, accountingfor approximately $120 millionin VA collections.

Gerald B. Bacon, avocational rehabilitationcounselor at the St. Paul,Minn., VA Regional Office,was recently selected as the1999 Veterans Small Busi-ness Advocate of the Year forMinnesota. Bacon’s supervi-sor, Barbara Quade, chief,Vocational Rehabilitation andEmployment Division, andJohn Sparling, director, SmallBusiness DevelopmentCenter in Pine City, Minne-sota, jointly nominated Baconfor his work with severelydisabled veterans. A Veter-ans’ Small Business Advocateworks with disabled veteransinterested in starting their ownsmall business. Working aspartners in a “One VA” effort,the veteran, VA, and theSmall Business Administration(SBA) develop a businessplan and assist the veteran inobtaining initial supplies,equipment and capital needed

to get the business started.Throughout the process, VAensures that the veteran hasneeded support in the areasof training, counseling,education and medical care.

Martin H. Steinberg,M.D., associate chief of stafffor Research and Develop-ment at the Jackson, Miss.,VA Medical Center, hasreceived the Founders Medalof the Southern Society forClinical Investigation (SSCI).Steinberg has published morethan 200 articles as well astwo books and is consideredan expert in sickle cell anemiaand other hemoglobindisorders. The FoundersMedal is awarded annually toa SSCI member who hasmade distinguished contribu-tions in clinical investigation.The medal depicts PierreLouis, who introduced thestatistical analysis of clinicalexperience and is consideredthe founder of modern clinicalinvestigation.

P. Hunter Peckham,Ph.D., director of the VARehabilitation Research andDevelopment Center inCleveland, has been namedengineer of the year by thereaders of Design Newsmagazine. He appears on thecover and is the subject of afeature story in the March 6issue. Peckham’s manyachievements includedevelopment of the FreehandSystem that allows quadriple-gics to use their hands againwith the help of a pacemaker-like device that stimulatesparalyzed forearm and handmuscles with electricalimpulses. The impulses allowthe hand to open and close as

if it were still receiving signalsfrom the brain. In 1997,Freehand became the firstsystem of its type to beapproved by the Food andDrug Administration.

The Angleton Rotary Clubin Angleton, Texas, hasestablished an annualscholarship honoring Medal ofHonor recipient Clarence E.Sasser, a decision reviewofficer at the Houston VARegional Office . In a letterwritten to Sasser, the RotaryClub’s president said thescholarship was created “tonot only recognize yourservice, but to also keep yourstory in the minds of ourchildren, who so desperatelyneed positive role models.”Sasser will present the $4,000scholarship to a graduatingstudent at Angleton HighSchool.

Annetta Laye, VisualImpairment Services Teamcoordinator at the Shreve-port, La., VA MedicalCenter, has been selected toreceive the Guy E. LundService Award by the Louisi-ana Group of the BlindedVeterans Association.“Annetta has made a tremen-dous difference in the lives ofblinded veterans and we areextremely proud of her andthe many things she has doneto improve their quality of life,”said Michael R. Winn, actingmedical center director. Shewill be recognized during theassociation’s annual awardsbanquet in New Orleans.

Larry Young, chief fileroom and release of informa-tion officer at the Nashville,Tenn., VA Medical Center,was recognized by the Stateof Tennessee Department ofHuman Services for hiscontribution to the Welfare toWork program. Young wascommended for employingfive individuals from theWelfare to Work program in

the medical center’s file roomand supervising their progressfrom initial training to tempo-rary employment.

Mouris Ibrahim, chief ofconstruction at the Houston,VA Medical Center, wasnamed an “Energy Champion”by the Federal EnergyManagement Program.Ibrahim was awarded thishonor by the Department ofEnergy for installing a chilledwater storage system thatsaved $1.4 million in energycosts. But that’s not all he hasdone. Since 1991, Ibrahimhas achieved recurring annualsavings of $140,000 fromsewer utility credits. And in1996, he accomplishedrecurring annual savings of$85,000 by using under-ground water for the facility’sirrigation system instead ofcity water.

Cindy Jones, R.N., anoncology clinical nursespecialist, and Brian Dahl, apharmacist, both employeesof the VA San DiegoHealthcare System, receivedExcellence in Cancer PainManagement awards duringthe Southern CaliforniaCancer Pain Initiative.

At the 76th annualmeeting of the AmericanUrological AssociationWestern Section, Martha K.Terris, M.D., of the VA PaloAlto Health Care System ,gave 16 scientific presenta-tions, winning the best ofsession award for herpresentation titled “Sensitivityand Specificity of TransrectalUltrasound Guided SextantBiopsies.” She also receivedthe Bodner-Stegemann Awardfor her work on identifyingcost-cutting techniques suchas applying tissue marking inkto prostate needle biopsies,allowing them to be combinedin a single pathology speci-men container forprocessing. ❏

April 2000 15

you heardHAVE

Last November, Eugene A. Lesesne marked his 102nd birthday bybecoming the first African American World War I veteran in WesternPennsylvania to receive the French Legion of Honor medal. Jean-PierreCollet, French counsel for the Pittsburgh region, presented the medal infront of an audience that included members of local veterans serviceorganizations, congressional representatives, and local governmentofficials.

Art Gray , Minority Veterans Program coordinator at the Pittsburgh VARegional Office , was among the VA representatives in attendance. As hetalked with Lesesne at the ceremony, Gray realized that the veteran hadnever applied for VA benefits. Preliminary information indicated theLesesne was probably entitled to pension benefits, so Gray later returnedto his home to help him complete an application and to obtain medicaldocumentation to support a claim. Thanks to Gray’s efforts, Lesesne beganthe new century not only in good health and with a distinguished honorfrom France, but also as a new recipient of VA pension benefits. At left,Gray greets Lesesne during the medal presentation ceremony.

For the 10th straight year,patients in the NorthernArizona VA Health CareSystem’s Domiciliarycollected aluminum cans tohelp support the ArizonaNurses Association’s Dress-a-Child Project. And throughtheir efforts, they raised about$828 to purchase completeoutfits for needy children inthe area. Veterans in thedomiciliary are among themain contributors to theDress-a-Child Project.

A group of VA managersand specialists from VBA andVHA facilities in Providence,R.I., Boston, Brockton, Mass.,and New Bedford, Mass.,gathered at the ProvidenceVA Regional Office todiscuss the concerns ofNative American veteranswith Glen Marshall, veteranrepresentative of theWampanoag Tribal Council.

Dr. Thomas Ruzicka,Minority Veterans Programcoordinator and counselingpsychologist at the Provi-dence VARO, planned theevent as the kick-off of anactive VA outreach programto Native American veterans.

The EmployeeAssociation’s Care and ShareCommittee at the Washing-ton, D.C., VA Medical Centeris demonstrating its commit-ment to the community bysponsoring several “commu-nity neighbor” projectsthroughout the year. In thespring, employees hold acontest to see who can makethe most creative Easterbasket. The baskets are thengiven to sick and hospitalizedchildren. Employees alsodonated nearly $1,000 for theBack-to-School project, aproject that provides schoolsupplies for an inner-city

elementary school located twoblocks away from the medicalcenter. And the ThanksgivingBasket project collectsbetween $700 and $1,000each year to purchaseThanksgiving meals with allthe trimmings for familiesliving in transitional housing.

The Minnesota ObesityCenter at the MinneapolisVA Medical Center is joiningforces with seven othermedical institutions fromaround the nation to form atraining program aimed ateducating physicians on themanagement and treatment ofobesity. According to Dr.Charles Billington , associatedirector of the MinnesotaObesity Center, obesity isbecoming an “epidemic” in theUnited States, with one in fourAmericans consideredoverweight or obese. Andmany physicians are notproperly trained on how tohelp people reduce theirweight and thereby minimizethe health risks associatedwith obesity, he said.“There’s a real gap in knowl-edge. It’s important to havesomething in place that tells

physicians that we have bothprograms and treatments andthat they are becoming moreand more effective.” Physi-cians interested in participat-ing in the training programshould contact Brenda Tisdaleat (612) 725-2000, ext. 5698.

Employees of the Wash-ington, D.C., VA RegionalOffice sponsored a “Cookiesfor Coats” drive for thehomeless. Employeesreceived cookies and abeverage when they donateda coat for the homeless. MikeChase, a local radio personal-ity, was on hand to greetemployees who participated.After work, a team of threeVARO employees — JeryleDorsey, Diana Hannah andPhyllis McPherson —personally delivered 13 coatsand other clothing theycollected to the homeless onthe streets. They gave awaytwo women’s coats, anddonated the remaining 14 tothe House of Ruth, anorganization that helpswomen, children and familiesaffected by domestic violence,homelessness and extremepoverty. ❏

WWI Veteran Starts 21st Centuryas a New VA Pension Recipient

16 VAnguard

HEROES✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

Three VA Puget SoundHealth Care System employ-ees were recently recognizedfor their life-saving actions.The three sprang into actionwhen a motorist called forhelp. A passenger in themotorist’s car was uncon-scious and not breathing.After assessing the situation,Lisa A. Kinney, DDS, called911 to report the medicalemergency. Meanwhile, DarylDetwiler, DDS, and his wifeElaine Detwiler, a nursemanager in the Spinal CordInjury Unit, began performingCPR while waiting for theparamedics to arrive. Thanksto their swift response, thepassenger’s life was saved.

The University of Iowa’sCarver-Hawkeye Arena waspacked for the Northwesternvs. Iowa wrestling match.Among the crowd was KristinJanssen, an advancedcardiac life support instructorand clinical manager at theIowa City VA MedicalCenter. When the roar of thecrowd was abruptly replacedwith screams of panic,Janssen sprang into action.Just a few sections away, awoman was screaming, herhusband lay collapsed at herfeet. Janssen rushed to helpand with other rescuersdiscovered the man had nopulse. “Once we determinedthat we couldn’t find a pulse, Iknew exactly what heneeded,” she recalled. Whathe needed was an AutomatedExternal Defibrillator (AED).The device is used to electri-cally shock the heart and getit pumping again. While othersbegan performing CPR,

Janssen went to track downan AED. Luckily, the Univer-sity of Iowa had bought four ofthe devices in early 1999, andone was stored in the arena.Using the defibrillator,Janssen and the otherrescuers shocked the man’sheart back into action a fullthree minutes after it stopped.Paramedics arrived andrushed the victim to thehospital, where he underwenttriple-bypass surgery and isnow on the road to recovery.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

While attending a Lion’sClub convention, MarlysLandmark, R.N., a unitmanager at the Fargo, N.D.,VA Medical and RegionalOffice Center, stepped upwhen someone yelled, “isthere a doctor in the room?” Awoman had collapsed and noone seemed to know what todo, until Landmark tookcontrol of the situation. Thewoman did not appear to bebreathing, so Landmarkimmediately began performingCPR. By this time, anothernurse came forward to help.When the other nurseadmitted to never havingactually performed CPR in anemergency situation, Land-mark calmly walked herthrough the procedure.Thanks to her heroic efforts,the woman survived andreceived a pacemaker anddefibrillator to regulate hercondition.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

When crooks robbed asmall market near theMurfreesboro, Tenn., VAMedical Center, local law

enforcement authorities calledon the medical center’ssecurity office for assistancein apprehending the suspects.Officer Steve Sweet re-sponded to the call and beganpatrolling the hospital groundsin search of the suspect’svehicle. To his surprise, hecame upon a vehicle that fitthe description of the allegedgetaway car parked near theflagpole. He quickly calledlocal authorities and appre-hended the vehicle’s occu-pants. During a search of thevehicle, officers found not onlythe items reportedly stolen,but also drugs. OfficerSweet’s actions made clearthat the Murfreesboro VAMCis not a good place for crooksto hide.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

While on her way to workat the Salisbury, N.C., VAMedical Center, SusanBlume, R.N., was the firstperson to come upon thescene of an accident. The carwas lying on its roof, itswheels slowly spinning in theair. Blume comforted thedriver, who had hit her headand was badly shaken, untilemergency personnel arrived.

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Dorri Branch, an Admin-istrative Support assistant atthe Bakersfield, Calif.,Community Based Outpa-tient Clinic, always took fireand safety training seriously.She just hoped that she wouldnever have to use it. But that’sexactly what happened whileshe was grocery shoppingone day with her husband. Asthey stood in line, someone inthe store yelled, “Fire!”Customers and employees inthe vicinity stared in shock ata blazing pile of cardboardboxes. That’s when Branchsprang into action. Oneemployee handed her a fireextinguisher, but when she

pressed the handle, nothingcame out — it was empty.Another employee tried todouse the blaze with water,but missed, drenching Branchinstead. A frustrated Branchquickly grabbed the bucketand used it to scatter theburning boxes and snub outthe flames. Afterwards, shespoke with the store managerand suggested he improveemployee fire training. “I planto encourage others to takethe training they receive asseriously as I do,” she said.

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Kenean Harper, R.N.,and Deb Heskett, R.N., of theLeavenworth, Kan., VAMedical Center, wereshopping in a local store whenthey noticed a pale, elderlywoman suddenly fall to thefloor. They rushed to aid thewoman and were about tobegin performing CPR whenshe became partially respon-sive. After calling emergencypersonnel, they stayed withthe 84-year-old woman,calming both her and her 89-year-old husband, untilEmergency Medical Techni-cians arrived.

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Patricia Collogan, andAlisa and Frances Birkholt,Nutrition and Food Serviceemployees at the HotSprings, S.D., VA MedicalCenter, were preparing totake their pregnant friend tothe hospital when the expect-ant mother suddenly doubledover in pain. The trio had justenough time to lay the womandown before she began togive birth. They successfullydelivered the child and wereon hand when emergencymedical personnel arrived.But the woman was still inpain. Her contractions werecoming even stronger and shelater delivered a secondbaby. ❏

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