IRON MOUNTAIN -The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center received the 2022 Best Overall Experience Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Customer Experience Award Ceremony held this week in Washington, D.C.

The award recognizes the medical center’s excellence in providing veterans with outstanding health care experiences, surpassing the 169 other VA medical centers across the country.

The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is the only VA medical center to receive a Best Patient Experience Award five consecutive years, every year since the award’s inception.

“From my first day here as the director, it has been obvious to me that our staff are just different,” said Medical Center Director John P. Shealey. “They take a lot of pride in the mission and are dedicated to the veterans and family members they are serving.”

In addition to this recent accomplishment, the facility was previously awarded the Best Experience Award for level 3 (low complexity) level facilities in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and their first Best Overall Experience Award in 2020.

Since 2012, the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center has consistently ranked within the top 10 of all VA health care facilities for both employee and patient satisfaction, according to VA surveys.

Shealey explained that the biggest factor in the center’s continued success is having an engaged and mission-focused workforce that tries to do the right thing for the veterans they serve.

He also credits the collaborations they foster with internal and external stakeholders that allows them to continuously enhance veterans’ experiences.

“We really listen to our veterans and try to make improvements in the areas that matter most to them,” he added.

Notably. the Oscar G. Johnson VAMC has also been given a 5-star rating for quality by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in every category — the top rating possible.

To enroll with the Oscar G. Johnson VAMC, go to www.va.gov/iron-mountain-health-care and click the “Register for care” link or visit the center at 325 East H St., Iron Mountain.