IOWA CITY ? The Iowa City VA Health Care System will soon join six other VA Hospitals in a program that interviews veterans about their life stories and makes the transcribed oral histories part of the patients' medical record.

The program, called My Life, My Story, was started by the VA Hospital in Madison, Wis., in 2013 and is expanding to six other VA hospitals around the country beginning in March. The new sites, in addition to Iowa City, are Asheville, N.C.; Bronx, N.Y.; Reno, Nev.; Topeka, Kan.; and White River Junction, Vt.

Madison VA therapist and My Life, My Story coordinator Thor Ringler has been with the project since it began.
"I think it's about people having a voice," Ringler said. "The story is really a way to connect providers with veterans and have them connect over something that's real and meaningful. I think there's something missing in healthcare and this project is just one way to bring the spark back and remind us why we're here - who we're here for."

Marine Corps veteran Michael Gundlach was recently interviewed at the Madison VA.

"Being able to talk about my experience was a morale builder, first of all, for the acknowledgement of [my] service," Gundlach said. "And second of all?and more long-term?it gave me the chance to review my life. The way the interview was conducted felt very stress-free. I think the program is absolutely something that should be expanded."

After conducting an interview, which typically takes about one hour, project staff and volunteers write up a story about the veteran's life. They then review it with the veteran and, with veteran approval, add the story to the veteran's medical record. They also alert the veteran's primary care and inpatient care providers when the story is added.

Polly Boynton is a nurse practitioner at the Madison VA who consults the stories frequently.

"I have taken the time to read each "My Story" I have encountered in my patients' charts and am grateful to have the additional dimension and background," Boynton said. "It is a true pleasure to read these stories; I feel I gain such valuable insight into the humanity of my patients."

Until recently, the Madison VA was the only facility offering this service to veterans. A grant from the VA Office of Patient Centered Care allowed the project to expand to the six new sites.

Gundlach knows that for many veterans, it is not an easy thing to tell your story, but he encourages their participation.

"I would highly recommend this to any veteran who is at a point in his emotional status where he can talk about it," Gundlach said. "If you think that you don't want to talk to people?say your friends and family?this is another way to release and talk about something that is so important. There's absolutely no downside to participating in this."

The program in Wisconsin has interviewed more than 500 veterans and trained more than 25 community and student volunteers to gather their stories since it began in 2013.

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Iowa City – The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Judith Johnson-Mekota as the new Director of the Iowa City VA Health Care System.

"We are excited to bring Ms. Johnson-Mekota on board as the new Director of the Iowa City VA Health Care System," said Ms. Janet Murphy, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 23) Director. "Her sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the health care system, the employees, volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve. We anticipate she will arrive at the Iowa City VA medical center February 8 to begin her appointment."

Ms. Johnson-Mekota holds a Master Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa and an undergraduate degree in Nursing from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Johnson-Mekota has served more than 20 years in health care leadership positions within VA, most recently as Director, VA Central Iowa Health Care System.

The Iowa City VA Health Care System provides health care to more than 40,000 Veterans with an operating budget of about $182M - to include ten Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). With 1,100 employees, the system covers 32 counties in eastern Iowa and 16 counties in western Illinois.

It is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology, as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care.

Ms. Johnson-Mekota has an exceptional background and possesses the leadership, knowledge, and skills necessary to successfully lead the Iowa City VA Health Care System into the future.

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