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  WNC-MOAA : Western North Carolina Chapter MOAA News & Events: Chapter and Community News

 
 
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Charles George VA Medical Center Update Tuesday May 5 2020

* Our CLC residents and hospitalized Veterans have received over 500 virtual visits through supportive cards - THANK YOU!!!

* We are working to support the national blood shortage by continuing our scheduled blood drives - employees only are scheduled at the drive at this time, with social distancing measures in place.

* Our traditional summer youth program has been cancelled, however, we are working with past students to create meaningful virtual positions and ways to connect with our CLC residents.

* We have partnered with the Buncombe County Public Library System to provide library resources and activities for our CLC/Hospitalized Veterans. They are delivering a resource box from Friends of the Library containing books, handouts for internet resources, puzzle books, letters, notes and postcards. The box is updated weekly with needed items and resource information to share. We also have secured library cards that allow on line access to books/movies/magazines via the internet for our hospitalized Veterans.

* We have coordinated the purchase of no-contract phones for 25 homeless Veterans, allowing these Veterans to continue with their medical appointments.

* Voluntary Service is working/planning our reintegration plan for when we are able to start bringing volunteers back. Through our weekly calls, we have been told that the reopening of our VA will open at a slower rate than our community.

* Voluntary Service is still connecting with our Veteran Service Officers to ensure dissemination of all critical information/updates are reaching their counties and Veterans. We are conducting our regularly scheduled meetings virtually.

* Attached are the latest stay at home activities/ideas.

* Veterans having procedures are now being asked to arrive early and are having a COVID 19 test on the day of their procedure. Test results are received within 1 hour.

* All Veterans entering our facilities are issued a mask to wear while receiving services. Veterans are asked to bring a mask with them to their appointments.

* Reminder - We are still asking for homemade cloth masks for issuing to Veterans, our goal is to have enough masks for mailing to all Veterans we serve. Thank you to those who have already donated!

MESSAGE FROM THE VHA EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE

Today's video (below) is our second weekly operational update. I've heard loud and clear that you appreciate learning where the organization is on our fight against this pandemic, so I intend to do an operational update each Friday. Please keep your feedback coming; I know your time is valuable and want these to be helpful.

As of this morning, we have completed over 105,000 COVID-19 tests, with a little more than 7,500 positive results. The vast majority of Veterans whom we have treated have been recovering in an outpatient status. We have also provided care to over 200 non-Veterans across our network.

We are working diligently on our plans for re-opening our facilities, and as you can imagine, this is a complex task. Every VAMC, CBOC, and Vet Center will be a little different, and we are working through that now to keep you, our Veterans, and their families safe. You'll be hearing more on that soon.

Thank you for everything you are doing for our nation, and enjoy your weekend.

Richard A. Stone, MD

Executive in Charge

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Posted 04/17/20 by WNC MOAA Under COVID-19 News Permalink 1587164246