National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
OCE Partnerships and COVID-19
‘Silver Lining Stories’: VA staff call promotes good news stories about both Veterans and staff
During these difficult times, everyone can use a little good news. Employees of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are no exception. One program office within VA recently created an opportunity for employees and staff members to share uplifting stories with one another: Employees within Palliative and Hospice Care at VA hosted a “Silver Lining Stories” discussion during their national call on Tuesday, May 12. Staff members from VA medical centers and facilities across the country lifted each other’s spirits with stories about all the good that is happening for Veterans at their facilities as well as in their own lives.
“If our palliative care teams are going to deliver quality care in these challenging times, they need to take care of themselves first. I keep thinking of the instructions when flying: ‘Put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then help others,’” said Dr. Scott Shreve, national director for Palliative and Hospice Care. “My sense is these Silver Lining Stories will provide some ‘oxygen’ for our teams.”
Here are some of the uplifting stories that were shared that day:
- Hospice and Palliative Care Program Manager Mary Jo Hughes at the Grand Junction, Colorado VAMC said she and her team have been using the VA Video Connect (VVC) program to help patients stay in touch with their loved ones. One patient undergoing treatment for cancer was able to speak with their spouse and children by way of VVC. “It was the most moving experience. As a nurse of 38 years I think myself, and our chaplain, were both in tears.” She said that the family sang “You Are My Sunshine” to the patient. “There is nothing like the power of seeing your family members and feeling nurtured and cared for by them,” Ms. Hughes said.
- Melissa Cyrus from the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania shared that on Mother’s Day, her doorbell rang. She found a bouquet of flowers and a box filled with treats— a local funeral home randomly gifted 100 mothers, and Dr. Cyrus’ husband put her name on a list to win. Given some of the “heavier things that we deal with,” Dr. Cyrus said, referring to working in hospice and palliative care, it was a “real treat.”
- Carisa Sullivan, a hospice nurse practitioner within the Amarillo VA Health Care System Community Living Center (CLC) in Texas, shared that she recently was “part of one of the most memorable things I’ve ever experienced as a hospice nurse practitioner.” Her colleagues organized a drive-by parade for Veterans at that facility. “There were supposed to be 55 cars, but somehow it got out into the community, and we had 180 vehicles come by. It was just a phenomenal experience for these Veterans to enjoy safely,” Ms. Sullivan said. Staff members at the Amarillo VA facility also organized a B-1 bomber plane flyover with the Cannon Air Force Base which was also exciting for the Veterans. She encouraged other CLCs to explore if something similar could be arranged at other facilities.
Ryan Weller, national program manager of Palliative and Hospice Care at VA, shared that his family recently celebrated his daughter’s 10th birthday on Zoom. Some family friends, he said, “took it a step further” and organized a car parade in front of his house. “There were signs wishing my daughter a happy birthday, kids were shooting silly string out of the car windows, chucking birthday presents into our front yard, and waving and cheering,” Mr. Weller said. “She later said that it was the best birthday party she ever had.”
These stories focus on people’s sense of social connectedness, an important social determinant of health (SDOH). SDOH are conditions in the environment in which Veterans live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. SDOH are the theme of the VHA Office of Community Engagement (OCE) 2020 Community Partnership Challenge. OCE supports many partnerships throughout VHA and VA that bring Veterans greater access to SDOH.
“Is it such a pleasure to see how VHA and VA colleagues are coming together to not only help Veterans in new ways right now, but also to help each other by sharing good news,” said Dr. Tracy L. Weistreich, Nurse Executive of OCE. “A sense of social connection is critical, especially right now, for Veterans and staff members alike.”
For more information on OCE and its partnership work, please visit www.va.gov/healthpartnerships.
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Posted June 3, 2020
