IRON MOUNTAIN — U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough visited the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center to speak with leadership, tour the facility, and meet with employees.

In addition, the secretary held a press event with local media to discuss the PACT Act and other topics. The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

“The visit provided many opportunities for the secretary to interact with staff and express his appreciation for a job well done,” said Medical Center Director John P. Shealey. “Our meetings yielded positive feedback regarding potential future rural health initiatives.”

Accompanying McDonough were U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet; Veteran Affairs Health Services Research and Development Psychologist Carolyn Turvey; Director of Michigan Department of Veteran Affairs Brian Love; and Veterans Integrated Services Network12 Network Director Daniel Zomchek.

The secretary’s visit began with a roundtable meeting with the facility’s executive leadership team to discuss rural healthcare opportunities followed by interactions with frontline staff and the local labor union, AFGE Local 2280.

Bobbie Adell, center, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center LPN, meets Friday with VA Secretary Denis McDonough, left, and U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet.

“We are truly honored that the secretary and Rep. Bergman have expressed an interest in rural health care and the role our facility plays in meeting the needs of our veterans,” Shealey said.

Five people were individually recognized for their outstanding commitment to the ICARE values and the mission of the medical center to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers and survivors.

Sault Ste. Marie CBOC Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Colleen Burton, Suicide Prevention Coordinator Sharon Anastas, Chief Supply Chain Officer John Grayvold, Inpatient Unit LPN Bobbie Adell and Associate Group Practice Manager Joe Hord each received a challenge coin from the secretary.

“Meeting the secretary was a great experience,” said Adell. “I was surprised and humbled by the recognition and would like to accept the award on behalf of all of my fellow nurses here at the VA. Each and every one of us work here to serve the veterans. We do so with pride to thank America’s heroes for the sacrifices they made for us.”

McDonough and others visited the dentist lab as part of a tour of the facility and then went on to the kitchen.

“To have someone at that level model ICARE values — integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence — in both his words and his actions — was such an honor,” said Jaclyn Hintsala, Nutrition Communication Center coordinator. “It just made it so real My heart is full.”

From the kitchen, the tour continued into the Community Living Center, where the secretary and Bergman talked with two residents, John Moddie and Ken Davis.

Moddie served during World War II and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge, becoming a POW for approximately four months. Davis served in Vietnam and was a Navy corpsman.

“I’m here today to say to this great team, thank you and keep it up because we see right now veteran satisfaction with care at Iron Mountain is 94.6%. That far exceeds the national average,” McDonough said. “And those kinds of veteran satisfaction patient satisfaction scores could be the envy of any healthcare system Everyone in this facility has the veteran at the center of care.”

After answering the media’s questions, McDonough and Bergman departed for Baraga where they met with members of the Baraga County Memorial Hospital and others to discuss rural health care. With the PACT Act expansion of benefits, about 16,000 veterans in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin have received exposure screenings so far.

Once the meeting was finished the group headed to the Hancock Community Based Outpatient Clinic for further discussion regarding rural health care, and to present Primary Care Section Chief Allison Helman, M.D., and Primary Care Section Chief Audrey Liston, M.D. with challenge coins and express gratitude for their dedication to the ICARE values.

This was the first time since the Iron Mountain VA was built in 1950 that a secretary of the VA has visited the facility.