BCMH marks 1,000 vets through special program
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BARAGA -- Baraga County Memorial Hospital says that its Veteran Program has reached an important milestone: 1,000 veterans have now been identified and are connected with the program.
The program began in 2023 when BCMH was selected to become the first hospital in Michigan, and only the third in the country, to host an in-house VA coordinator. The program was created to help identify veterans in our community and connect them with the benefits, services and resources available to them through the VA.
BCMH's Lori Karvonen, LPN, has served as the hospital's VA coordinator since the program began. Veterans are referred to Lori, who reaches out to schedule a time to meet with them and discuss the VA benefits and resources they may be eligible for. She also serves as a local resource for veterans who have questions or need assistance navigating the process.
Since the program began, it has continued to grow and reach more veterans throughout our community. This month, BCMH welcomed veteran number 1,000, Frank Podkomorka, into the program.
Reaching 1,000 veterans is something we're incredibly proud of. More importantly, it means 1,000 local veterans have been identified and given another connection to the resources and support available to them because of their service.
“If you’ve served in the military, or have a family member or friend who has served, we encourage you to reach out to us at BCMH or to your local veterans service officer,” said Rob Stowe, CEO of BCMH. “Even if you’ve been turned down for benefits in the past, it’s worth checking again. The rules changed with the PACT Act in August 2022 and more veterans may now qualify for benefits they weren’t eligible for before.”