UPMC Donation Connects Veterans with Health Care Services

October 24, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Veterans who reside at Veterans Grove, a tiny home village operated by Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania (VOPA), can now see health care providers without the need to travel thanks to the generous donation of telemedicine equipment from UPMC. The donation was made possible through the ongoing partnership between the two organizations ensuring residents at Veterans Grove have easy access to quality clinical care.

“This community is designed to help unhoused veterans in transition obtain stability in their lives and support their journey by breaking down barriers to services they may need,” said Marc Migala, director, Veteran Care Services, UPMC in Central Pa. “Quality health care and supportive services are an essential piece of the equation, and we understand that individuals face many challenges when accessing care. With this equipment, the veterans have everything they need in one convenient, safe, and private location to access Life Changing telemedicine services, helping close critical clinical care gaps and offering our community the best opportunities possible to achieve whole wellness.”

Veterans Grove is a therapeutic community for men and women who are homeless and in need of assistance with things such as housing, coordination of medical and mental health care, enrollment into VA-eligible programs, employment and resume support, as well as finding work, adapting to a new technological environment, and much more. The village is made up of 15 individually occupied tiny homes and a community center where the telemedicine equipment is located.

“Before we can even begin to address the root causes of veteran homelessness, we must ensure that our veterans are healthy. Many of our veterans haven't seen a doctor in years,” said Tom Zimmerman, co-founder and chairman, Board of Directors, Veterans Outreach of PA. “Having access to medical experts whenever needed, through the convenience of telemedicine, is a godsend, and we are truly grateful to UPMC for adding to their already generous contributions to Veterans Grove through the gift of this high-tech equipment. We appreciate having the power to serve veterans where they are, eliminating commute times, protecting their privacy and security, and expediting recovery times.”

Representatives from UPMC Telemedicine delivered and set up all the needed telemedicine equipment, including a computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, blood pressure cuff (arm), blood pressure cuff (wrist), digital scale, digital stethoscope, cameras, speakers, and additional clinical tools.