July 1, 2025, Press Release from OhioHealth:
VAN WERT, Ohio (WLIO) - This summer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is launching a new program dedicated to supporting veterans in their care.
Starting this month, patients at the hospital who are also veterans will be given special pins to honor their service and sacrifice. Those patients will also receive care from OhioHealth associates who are also veterans. Jared Motycka is a nurse administrator and an army veteran. He says that when a nurse and patient have that shared experience - it can go a long way.
"They are probably a lot more willing to relay things to you that they might not with somebody else. And not just potential combat service but even just getting out, getting back into the world. Even if you didn't deploy overseas, it's still a big adjustment to make. And I think that's something everybody goes through," said Motycka.
The program will also be supported by volunteers at the hospital who help greet patients when they arrive. Robert Mohr is a navy veteran and a volunteer at Van Wert Hospital, and this month marks his 25th year volunteering there. He says he's proud to see the program launch.
"Veterans don't always get the recognition that they deserve. They made the decision to spend time defending their country and their country is not just land, it's people. Especially the people in Vietnam coming back, they did not get the recognition they deserved," said Mohr.
If a veteran patient passes away at the hospital, there will also be a special flag ceremony to honor their life and service.
Dozens of flags were recently donated to the hospital on behalf of the local VFW.
