VA Secretary Wilkie Visits Columbia VA
Secretary Wilkie (left) thanks Dr. Rebeca Flores-Morales (right), chief of primary care, for her staff’s continued service to veterans. David Omura (back left), medical center director, and Jeff Soots (back right), associate director, for the Columbia VA Health Care System.
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie makes a visit to the Columbia VA
Recognizes VA staff for their continued service to veterans
COLUMBIA, SC - On Oct. 30, Department of Veterans Affairs’ Secretary Robert Wilkie stopped by the Columbia VA Health Care System (HCS) to tour the hospital and its sprawling, historic 97-acre campus.
The secretary had a singular purpose for the trip: to show his gratitude for the Columbia VA’s staff’s continued perseverance and excellent service to our veterans.
Last week, in an interview with Columbia’s WVOC radio station, Wilkie said, “The folks here in Columbia have gone above and beyond when it comes to not only serving veterans, but the people of South Carolina. We’ve been in places like the Catawba Nation, we’ve sent out nurses, doctors and PPE into nursing homes across the Palmetto State. I am thanking them for always being online and on-duty.”
Accompanied by Columbia VA HCS Director and CEO David Omura, and the Acting VISN 7 Network Director Joe Battle, Wilkie began the tour at the main COVID-19 Screening Area. He thanked veterans for their service and acknowledged the workers for their selfless support for our veterans throughout the pandemic.
“Meeting with Secretary Wilke was a high point in my VA career,” said Ron Aderhold, supervisor, Red Coat Ambassadors. “He took the time to meet with each Ambassador, talked with them about their military career, and expressed to them how vital they are to our veterans and the Columbia VA.”
Regional COVD-19 testing facility
From the organized screening process and strict safety measures implemented to the amount of testing being done by the facility, Wilkie was impressed by the Columbia VA’s operations and response to Coronavirus.
Since March, the Columbia VA has served as a regional COVID-19 testing facility for VAs in the Southeast. Using a Roche analyzer – a high-volume testing instrument – the Columbia VA has performed over 36,500 COVID-19 tests, the most of any VA in the country. The average turnaround time? About one day.
“There was a time where it took up to 15 days to get tests back in the community,” Omura said. “We are proud to get results back so quickly to veterans and their providers so they can make the best clinical decision for the veterans’ care.”
The Columbia VA is fortunate to have the essential resources and technology to combat the COVID-19 at all stages from diagnosis to treatment. With three different diagnostic tests available, results can be provided within one hour if necessary.
Meeting with front-line staff
During his visit, Wilkie met with front-line workers to hear directly what the Columbia VA is doing to combat COVID-19 as well as what the facility is doing to increase access to quality health care for South Carolina veterans.
The staff was humbled by Wilkie’s generosity, exemplified by the significance of his visit, and for taking the time to talk to front-line employees, the real heroes of the facility.
“My staff and I were very appreciative for the secretary’s recognition of our hard work and dedication to our veterans,” said Dr. Rebeca Flores-Morales, chief of primary care. “We are glad that he saw, firsthand, the passion and commitment of our employees in how we take care of our veterans.”
“I felt honored and appreciated by Secretary Wilkie for stopping by to say, ‘thank you’,” said Patricia Haynes, food service worker, Veterans Canteen Service. “Especially during this pandemic, it felt good to be recognized for the work that I do to serve our veterans every day.
“Despite the challenges faced during the pandemic, primary care continued to deliver outstanding health care to veterans,” said Nick Beach, nurse manager, primary care. “It speaks volumes when the VA Secretary takes the time out of his busy schedule to speak with our front-line heroes. I truly appreciate and am grateful that our senior leadership cares about its staff.”
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About the Columbia VA HCS: The Columbia VA Health Care System comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, S.C. and seven community-based outpatient clinics located throughout South Carolina in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter. The Columbia VA HCS serves more than 84,000 veterans annually in 36 of 46 counties in South Carolina.
