Veterans

2022 Webinar Series

• Community Hospices: Suicide Prevention for Veterans (04/19/2022)

This knowledge-based presentation will help to prepare hospice providers and other healthcare teams to identify signs of suicidal thoughts and behavior among Veterans. Appropriate suicide assessment tools for identifying high risk Veterans will be described. Options for intervention and care will be discussed, both within the VA and externally. The one-hour presentation is followed by a Q&A with subject matter expert Dr. Peter Gutierrez from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ workgroup.

Click Here to View the Recording

Click Here to Download PPT Slides

VA Illiana Health Care Services
1900 E Main St
Danville, IL 61832
www.danville.va.gov

Name and contact for Regional (VISN) office: Kim Kelley, MA, MSW, LCSW. 217-554-3276.

Palliative care contact and alternate:

F. Gibson – Palliative Care Coordinator
217-554-5137
FAX: 217-554-4310
fanta.gibson@va.gov

Alternates:

Janet Myers, RN 217-554-5833;
Emily Sheldon, MSW, LSW, 217-554-5339.

After hours contact:

Palliative Care In-patient Unit Nurses’ Station – 217-554-5833.

Service area covered by VA:

Illiana cachement area includes Central Illinois, East Central Illinois, West Central Indiana. Our CBOCs are located in Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Mattoon, West Lafayette.

Brief description of palliative and hospice care program:

Fifteen bed in-patient unit, Consult Team, Interdisciplinary Team, Out-patient Clinic, Telepalliative Care, E-Consults.

Process for expedited enrollment and approval of VA-paid hospice services:

Melissa Nelson, Palliative Care Coordinator – Phone: 217-554-5137  Fax: 217-554-4310.
Janet Myers, RN – 217-554-5648.

Name and contact information for approval of VA paid hospice:

Melissa Nelson, Palliative Care Coordinator – 217-554-5137.
Janet Myers, RN – 217-554-5648.

Name and number for person who approves changes in hospice levels of care:

Melissa Nelson, Palliative Care Coordinator – 217-554-5137.
Janet Myers, RN – 217-554-5648.

Name and number to contact for Veteran admission to VA inpatient hospice unit:

Melissa Nelson, RN, LCSW – 217-554-5137.
Janet Myers, RN – 217-554-5648.

Death notification requirement:

Melissa Nelson, RN, LCSW – 217-554-5137.
Janet Myers, RN – 217-554-5648.

Community Care Contact:

Mattie Engel – 217-544-4533

Business office contact for reimbursement and billing issues:

Fee Basis Department – 217-554-6532

Decedent Affairs Officer:

Julie Smith – 217-554-5374

PTSD Resource:

Tim Kohlbecker, MSW, PTSD Coordinator – 217-554-4260

Homeless Veteran Resource:

Jennifer Gerrib, LCSW, Homeless Veterans Program Coordinator – 217-554-5679

Vet Centers:

Peoria Vet Center
8305 N. Allen Rd.
Peoria, IL 61615
309-689-9708
877-927-8387
FAX: 309-689-9720

Springfield Vet Center
1227 S. Ninth St.
Springfield, IL 62703
217-492-4955
877-927-8387
FAX: 217-492-4963

RESOURCES:

National Suicide prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
National Cemetery information: www.cem.va.gov
Death and Burial benefits: www.cem.va.gov
Military discharge information: www.vba.va.gov
We Honor Veterans: www.wehonorveterans.org

Download VA Fact Sheet – Hines

Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
5000 South 5th Avenue
Hines, IL 60141
Phone: 708-202-8387
http://www.hines.va.gov

Name and contact for Regional (VISN) office:

Jolene Renda, NP
VISN 12 Palliative Care Program Manager
(608)372-3971 x61217

Palliative care contact and alternate:

Alexi Vahlkamp, LCSW
Hospice and Palliative Care Program Coordinator
P: 708-202-2584
F: 708-202-2163
Alexi.vahlkamp@va.gov

After hours contact:
Contact Hines VA Operator at 708-202-8387 and request to page after-hours geriatric attending

Service area covered by VA:

Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana

Brief description of palliative and hospice care program:

15 bed Hospice unit
Palliative care/hospice consult service available for inpatients
Outpatient clinic

Process for expedited enrollment and approval of VA-paid hospice services:

Alexi Vahlkamp, LCSW
Hospice and Palliative Care Program Coordinator
P: 708-202-2584
F: 708-202-2163
Alexi.vahlkamp@va.gov

Name and contact information for approval of VA paid hospice:

Alexi Vahlkamp, LCSW
Hospice and Palliative Care Program Coordinator
P: 708-202-2584
F: 708-202-2163
Alexi.vahlkamp@va.gov

Name and number for person who approves changes in hospice levels of care:

The referring physician would have to be contacted to enter a new palliative care consult. This is required by Non-VA Care.

Name and number to contact for Veteran admission to VA inpatient hospice unit:

Alexi Vahlkamp, LCSW
Hospice and Palliative Care Program Coordinator
P: 708-202-2584
F: 708-202-2397
Alexi.vahlkamp@va.gov

Virginia Bove, LCSW
P: 708-202-4855
F: 708-202-2397
Virginia.bove@va.gov

Death notification requirement:

Patient Administrative Services must be notified at 708-202-8387 ext. 22761 and a copy of the death certificate should be sent to Patient Administrative Services at:

Attn: PAS
5000 S. 5th Ave
Hines, IL, 60141

Business office contact for reimbursement and billing issues:

Non-VA Care – 708-202-8387 ext. 27200

Decedent Affairs Officer:

Deborah Zajac, Decedent Affairs/Details Clerk – Phone: 708-202-2503
Officer can provide information regarding death benefits, including military honors.

PTSD resource:

Holly Hunley, PhD, Trauma Services Program Manager – Phone: 708-473-1203

Homeless coordinator:

Meggan MacFarlane, LCSW – Phone: 708-202-8387 ext. 24928

Vet Center:

Oak Park Vet Center
155 S. Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
Phone: 708-383-3225
Jeanne Douglas, Team Leader

Orland Park Vet Center
8651 W. 159th St. Suite 1
Orland Park, IL 60462
Phone: 708-444-0561
Theresa Hartmann, Team Leader

DuPage County Vet Center
750 Shoreline Drive, Suite 150
Aurora, IL 60504
Phone: 630-585-1853

RESOURCES:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
National Cemetery Information: www.cem.va.gov/
Death and Burial Benefits: www.cem.va.gov/bbene/benvba.asp
We Honor Veterans: www.wehonorveterans.org

Download VA Fact Sheet – Jesse Brown

JBVAMC
820 S Damen Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: 312.569.8387
Lynne.odonnell@va.gov

Name and contact for Regional (VISN) office:

Jolene Renda DNP APN/CNP
VISN 12 Palliative Care Program Manager
500 E. Veterans St.
Tomah, WI 54660
608-372-1217
jolene.renda@va.gov

Palliative care contact and alternate: name, title, phone number; fax; email:

Lynne O’Donnell, RN, MSN, ANP, HTPA
JBVAMC
820 S Damen Ave #118
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.569.7842

After hours contact:

Palliative care physician on call – Pager 312.569.8387 ask to page palliative care physician

Service area covered by VA:

Palliative Care Consult Team; evaluation and assistance to veterans and families with end of life planning; symptom management in end of life care; bereavement support for veterans and families; referrals to community hospice partners for home hospice services and bereavement care; coordination of hospice community services.

Brief description of palliative and hospice care program:

Palliative Care Consult Team. Services as above

Name and contact information for approval of VA paid hospice:

Community Health Coordinators Jude Valery-Avinger, RN – 312.569.6363

ABJ – Sandra Crane-Kupchik, RN – 219-662-5010

Name and number for person who approves changes in hospice levels of care:

Dr. U. Jayakumar, Dr. J. Hauser or Lynne O’Donnell, NP – 312.569.6828 or 312.569.7842

Name and number to contact for Veteran admission to VA inpatient hospice unit:

VA in-patient hospice unit is at Hines VA. Please contact Hines VA or JBVAMC, PCCT social worker: Kay Kezele, LCSW – 312.569.7907

Death notification requirement:

Please contact JBVAMC Details Clerk: Wanda Scott –  312.569. 6107

Business office contact for reimbursement and billing issues:

Please start with Wanda Scott for information – 312.569.6107

Decedent Affairs Officer:

Wanda Scott – 312.569.6107

PTSD resource: name, title, phone number:

Mark Allen, OEF/OIF Case Manager – 312.569.7549

Homeless coordinator: name, title, phone number:

Mike Gates, Homeless Coordinator – 312.569.6929

RESOURCES:

National Suicide prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
National Cemetery information: www.cem.va.gov
Death and Burial benefits www.cem.va.gov
Military discharge information: www.vba.va.gov
We Honor Veterans: www.wehonorveterans.org

Download VA Fact Sheet – Lovell

Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC)
3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064
847-688-1900

http://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov

Name and contact for Regional (VISN) office:

Jolene Renda DNP APN/CNP
VISN 12 Palliative Care Program Manager
500 E. Veterans St.
Tomah, WI 54660
608-372-1217
jolene.renda@va.gov

Palliative care contact and alternate: name, title, phone number; fax; email:

Primary contact: Dr. Kavita Sharma, Lead Physician Hospice and Palliative Care – 708-321-0532(tel), 224-610-2907(fax), Kavita.sharma@va.gov
Alternate contact: Dr. Sandra.Garretson Physician Geriatrics and Extended Care & Hospice and Palliative Care – 847-224-1015 (Cell)
After hours contact: On-Call Geriatrician – 847-688-1900

Service area covered by VA:

Veterans enrolled at the FHCC

Brief description of palliative and hospice care program:

(Hospice unit, palliative care consult team, palliative care outpatient clinics): Hospice and palliative care services are provided to inpatients by the multidisciplinary Palliative Care Team. Home hospice and palliative care are provided by our Home Based Primary Care program and by community partners. In patient hospice services are typically provided in the Community Living Center. A pilot hospice volunteer program is in service of the “No Veteran Dies Alone” initiative. The Caregiver Support Coordinator and the Pastoral Care program provide bereavement support. There is a monthly bereavement support group on site.

Process for expedited enrollment and approval of VA-paid hospice services:

Name and contact information for approval of VA paid hospice:

Lisa Gibson RN (224-610-3665) Referral by the Primary Care Provider is reviewed by a Palliative Care MD or NP and referred to Lisa Gibson via consult as appropriate. She contacts the family and the home agency. Hospice referrals are handled as top priority.

Name and number for person who approves changes in hospice levels of care:

Initial point of contact is Lisa,Gibson LCSW – 224-610-3665

Name and number to contact for Veteran admission to VA inpatient hospice unit:

Mr.Ali Bleibel, Nurse Manager and Community Living Center Admission Coordinator, Geriatrics and Extended Care – 224-538-8100

Death notification requirement:

Decedent Affairs Office – 224-610-5512

Business office contact for reimbursement and billing issues:

Allen Vintola Business Manager, Geriatrics and Extended Care – 224-610-4227

Decedent Affairs Officer:

Jeannette Chandler – 224-610-5512

PTSD resource: name, title, phone number:

Anthony Peterson, PhD, Section Chief, PTSD Program – 224-610-4673

Homeless coordinator:

William Flood, LCSW, Program Manager, Homeless Program 224-610-4842
Or Jeff Willgale, LCSW at 224-610-5884
Vet Center: location, name, title, phone number:
Betsy Tolstedt, Team Leader
565 Howard St.
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: 847-332-1019 Or 877-927-8387
Fax: 847-332-1024

RESOURCES:
National Suicide prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
National Cemetery information: www.cem.va.gov/
Death and Burial benefits www.cem.va.gov/bbene/benvba.asp
Military discharge information: www.vba.va.gov/vba/benefits/offices.asp
We Honor Veterans: www.wehonorveterans.org

CHAPCA is proud to be a partner of We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

We Honor Veterans provides educational tools and resources in advancing these goals:

• Promote Veteran-centric educational activities
• Increase organizational capacity to serve Veterans
• Support development of strategic partnerships
• Increase access and improve quality

We Honor Veterans also provides tiered recognition to organizations, known as Partners, that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans. There are five levels that partners can achieve in the program. Partner organizations assess their ability to serve veterans and, using resources provided as part of the program, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans into their organization.

Learn More