This summer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is introducing a new Veterans Program aimed at honoring and supporting patients who have served in the United States military. The program, which officially begins on July 1, seeks to provide meaningful recognition to veteran patients and foster connections between them and OhioHealth associates with military backgrounds.
As part of this initiative, each admitted veteran will receive a commemorative pin as an expression of gratitude for their service. Additionally, the hospital plans to honor deceased veterans with a flag-folding ceremony using American flags donated by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post.
The program emphasizes personal connections between caregivers and patients. Many leading the program are veterans themselves, including Jared Motycka, RN, nurse administrator and U.S. Army veteran. Motycka highlighted the shared military experience as key to building understanding and trust. “[Patients] are probably a lot more willing to relay things to you that they might not with somebody else,” he said. He noted that even adjusting back into civilian life can be significant for veterans.
Motycka is joined by fellow OhioHealth associates Bret Lewis, Jim Harvey, Darren Wainscott, Keith Allen, and Jody Chilton in providing clinical care and emotional support reflecting military camaraderie.
Hospital volunteers also play a vital role in the program. Robert Mohr, a Navy veteran who has volunteered at Van Wert Hospital for 25 years, emphasized the importance of recognizing veterans' sacrifices. “Veterans don’t always get the recognition that they deserve,” Mohr said. He added that this effort is particularly meaningful for families of Vietnam veterans who did not receive due recognition upon returning home.
OhioHealth's commitment to serving those who have served extends from welcoming veteran patients at admission to honoring their legacy at life's end. “Caring for veterans goes beyond medicine,” stated Paula Stabler, president of Van Wert Hospital. “It’s about showing them that their sacrifices are seen, remembered, and valued.”