Veterans Program Honored at STPH
MILITARY ORDER OF PURPLE HEART SUPPORTS
STPH VETERANS RECOGNITION PROGRAM
COVINGTON – The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and its Ladies Auxiliary and the Woodmen of the World presented flags and financial support Thursday, Nov. 14, to St. Tammany Parish Hospital and its foundation for the hospital’s program to honor veterans.
The brainchild of employee Susan Titman and a project of the hospital’s Patient Experience Task Force, Honor Red, White and Blue recognizes United States Veterans who are employees, volunteers, physicians or patients.
“At the suggestion of our Patient Experience Task Force, St. Tammany Parish Hospital honors the service and sacrifices of our armed forces,” said Patti Ellish, President and CEO. “It is a beautiful opportunity for us to show our respect.”
At patient registration, admissions personnel ask patients if they are veterans and secure permission to recognize them during their stay. Such veterans are designated with a star in their electronic record and an American flag sticker on the patient room nameplate. These visual markers allow staff to identify and thank each veteran for their service to our country.
In recognition of physicians, employees and volunteers, the hospital provides a special ID badge holder for veterans, enabling fellow team members to recognize their service to our country.
If a veteran dies while in the hospital, STPH offers the family a flag tribute. Throughout the hospital, an overhead page calls, “Attention, please, honor red, white and blue.” This is the signal for all available staff to assemble in the appropriate hallway to stand in silence as the veteran is escorted out, draped with an American Flag.
The Military Order of Purple Heart and the American Legion presented checks to the hospital foundation for support of the program, and all organizations present presented flags for use in the tributes. The Woodmen of the World pledged to continue providing flags as long as the hospital program continues. The Military Order of the Purple Heart also recognized Titman’s initiative in starting the program with a plaque of special recognition, citing her dedication and support in honoring American’s Veterans and families.
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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. STPH.org
The St. Tammany Hospital Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization established to support and enhance the healing work of the physicians and staff of St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Through the development of philanthropic support, the foundation seeks to fortify the promise to provide world-class health care close to home, now and for generations to come. sthfoundation.org
PHOTO IDENTITIES
US Veteran and St. Tammany Parish Hospital CFO Tim Lessing with Karen Roy, Community Outreach Manager for Louisiana Woodmen of the World; Edward Oltmann, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Commander for the State of Louisiana; Susan Titman, STPH critical care nurse and Patient Experience Task Force member; Mike Peats, Veterans of Foreign Wars District Commander and Finance Officer for American Legion; May Hartley, Ladies Auxiliary President, American Legion Unit #16, Covington; and STPH CEO Patti Ellish.