The IL-HPCO Veterans Work Group salutes all current and former service personas during Military Appreciation Month. Special observances during this month include:
Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 10) – Recognizes the important role our military families play in keeping our Armed Forces strong and our country safe
Armed Forced Day (May 18) – Honors everyone serving in the U.S. Military branches: Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, Space Force
Memorial Day (May 27) – Commemorates the men and women who died while in military service. All Americans are encouraged to pause, wherever they are, at 3:00pm local time for a minute of silence.
IL-HPCO is proud to support the We Honor Veterans program and all who participate in it.
Strengthening Support for Veterans Programs
One out of every four dying Americans is a Veteran. IL-HPCO supports fostering and strengthening the provision of palliative and hospice care to Illinois veteran through the enhancement of knowledge and collaboration between hospice agencies and regional, state and local Veterans Administration entities and representatives.
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.
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:
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
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
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
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.
Illinois / Southern Wisconsin / Western Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical Centers
Download VA Regional (VISN) Offices
Name and contact for VA Regional (VISN) Offices:
Jolene Renda NP- Region 12 Palliative Care Program Manager:
Phone: 608-372-1217
Cell: 608-387-9506
Email: Jolene.Renda@va.gov
Marcos Montagnini, MD – Acting Region 11 Palliative Care Program Manager:
Phone: 734-845-5517
Email: Marcos.Montagnini@va.gov
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (North Chicago) – Phone: 847-688-1900
Respite Care Coordinator: Terri Bohlman: 224-610-4833 Caregiver Support Program: Pam Rosentreter: 224-610-3472 Approval of VA Hospice Benefit: Lisa Gibson RN: 224-610-3665 Decedent Affairs Officer: Jeannette Chandler: 224-610-5512 Business Office/Geriatrics and Extended Care: Allen Vintola, Business Manager: 224-610-4227 Palliative Care Coordinator: Annamma Abraham: 224-610-5010 Cell: 224-226-6369 Annamma.Abraham3@va.gov
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (Hines) – Phone: 708-202-8387
Geriatric Extended Care: Rose Zarnowski, LCSW: 708-202-2467 Community Health Office (receive/process referrals only): 708-202-5069 Approval of Hospice Benefit, SW Clinical Mgr: Rose Zarnowski, LCSW: 708-202-2467 Changes in Hospice Level of Care: Referring Physician Decedent Affairs Officer: Deborah Zajac: 708-202-2503 Fax: PAS.FAX 708-202-7998 Business Office: Tiffany Mattox: 708-202-3508
Hospice and Palliative Care Coordinator:
Laura Luc Gorby, NP: 708-202-2408
Fax: 708-202-2163
Pager: 708-988-8632
Email: Laura.LucGorby@va.gov
Phone: 800-637-0128 or 319-338-0581 Palliative Medical Support Assistant: Dixie Emmert: ext. 6835
Email: Dixie.Emmert@va.gov
Social Worker & Program Coordinator: Roberta Luckel: ext. 6317 DNP: Sharon Cozad, ARNP: ext. 6835 Case Manager: Lisa Irwin, RN: ext. 6864 Palliative Physician: Dr. John Lanaghan: ext. 6835
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (Chicago) – Phone: 312-569-8387
Community Health Coordinators: ext. 57589
(call this # and they will direct you to the right person based on the last 2 #s of the Veteran’s SS#) Shelley Causey, RN: ext. 55520 Curtise Tatem: ext. 56364 Cheryl Pyron: ext. 57639 Approval of Hospice Benefit: Jude Valery-Avinger, RN: ext. 56363 Decedent Affairs Officer/Billing contact: Wanda Scott: ext. 56107 Palliative Care Coordinator: Lynne O’donnell, RN,MSN,ANP,HTPA
Telephone: ext. 57842
Pager: 312-820-0202
Cell: 708-285-0537
Email: Lynne.Odonnell@va.gov Palliative Physicians: Dr. Joshua Hauser: 312-695-5405 Dr. Seema Limaye: 312-389-3026 Social Worker: Todd Nelson, LCSW: ext. 58602
Pager: 312-389-3026
Marion VA Medical Center (Marion) – Phone: 618-997-5311
Payment Authorization: Elaine Ray: ext. 55051 Community Heath PSA: Andrea Parsons: ext. 59160 Caregiver Support / Respite Coordinator: Angela Goodwin: ext. 59185 Hospice & Palliative Care Coordinator: Cathy Wood: ext. 54310
VA Illiana Health Care System (Danville) – Phone: 217-554-3000
Caregiver Support Coordinator: Suzanne Brandon: 217-554-5124 Respite Care Coordinator: Mattie Engel: 217-554-4533 Homemaker/Aide Coordinator: Mattie Engel: 217-554-4533 Palliative Care Coordinator: Melissa Nelson: 217-554-5137
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (Madison) – Phone: 888-478-8321 or 608-256-1901
Approval of Hospice Benefit/Business Office:
Tim Latimer, LCSW / MSSW
Phone: 608-280-7247
Fax: 608-280-2057
Changes in Hospice Level of Care:
Tim Latimer, LCSW / MSSW: 608-280-7247
Jennifer Anderson-Ott, RN – Case Manager
Ellen Sullivan, MSSW
Fax: 608-280-2057
Caregiver Support Program Coordinator: Jennifer Jaqua, LCSW: 609-256-1901 ext. 11485 Decedent Affairs: Bernadine Stovall: 608-256-1901 ext. 11905 Palliative Care Program Coordinator:
Sheila Schroedl, LCSW, SW Office 608-280-7085
Telephone: 608-256-1901 ext. 11579
Fax: 608-280-7187
Email: Sheila.Schroedl@va.gov
Download VA Fact Sheet – Danville