Stories
Read about what's happening in our VA Northeast Ohio health care community.
Bruce Kafer, RN, MSN, and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, recounts a story of an American Indian World War II combat Veteran he helped connect with long overdue VA benefits.
![Bruce Kafer, RN, MSN at VA Northeast Ohio](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2024-07/FulfillingTheMission2.jpg)
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough visited VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Louis Stokes VA Medical Center May 15, meeting with healthcare system leaders and engaging with staff and Veterans.
![USAF Veteran Bob Salo with VA Secretary McDonough and Maria Tillman, EMS](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2024-05/SECVA_HOPSvid1.gif)
VA research has led directly to improved Veteran non-critical emergency care. Three years of VA research begun at the LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan has led to nationwide rollout of new telephone-access Tele-Emergency (Tele-EC) services.
![Senior and young woman viewing tablet computer](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2024-04/Woman-assists-senior_vp1.jpg)
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center hosted five members of the Serbian Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia , Feb. 5, 2024.
VA Northeast Ohio Health System's Personnel and Employee Whole Health is hosting a New Year, New You weight loss challenge. Open to all employees, the 12-week competition includes three crucial weigh-ins at the challenge's beginning, middle, and end.
![Megan French stands next to a digital scale](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2024-01/231204-KK576-001New%20Year%2C%20New%20You%20Challenge-Megan%20French.jpg)
Nine VA Northeast Ohio Health System supervisors received the Employer Support of the Guard Reserve Patriot Award during a recognition, on Dec. 12, 2023.
![Group photo with TV of Cleveland VA in the background](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2023-12/231212_ESGR-001_Group.jpg)
Physical Therapists are trained to understand how a body moves, and to work with patients who have difficulty moving due to illnesses, accidents, or other injuries.
![L to R: Kathleen Keane, Connie Lewis, Courtney Roca, Amber Simecek](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2023-12/four.jpg)
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System Chaplain Nancy Lueschen has been providing spiritual healing programs within the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center for almost 6 years and has been steadily discovering new ways to help female veterans.
![Lisa Edwards, Army Veteran and Collaborative Art mural program participant points to a panel she created.](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2023-08/20230526-Womens_Health_Mural-8464.jpg)
During a breast procedure, patients are often required to stand and maintain uncomfortable positions for the mammography team to successfully perform the procedure.
![Raychel Testa, Frank Zitko and Natalie Mandel display their modified mammography chair design.](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2023-07/20230724-56978-56978-Innovation_Mammogram_Chair-0377.jpg)
Cleveland, OH – Today VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System announced that Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This is the first time CMS has included VA facilities in their annual Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings.
![VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is proud to be Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five Star Rated for Quality Measures.](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2023-07/CMS.jpg)