Veterans Affairs officials visit Sanford Veterans Club

Special recognition, private lounge help veterans feel at home

Veterans Affairs officials visit Sanford Veterans Club

Veterans at Sanford Health get recognized for their service whether they’re working or getting health care.

Special touches like veterans lanyards, name tags, pins and car decals impressed representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. They toured Sanford USD Medical Center during a visit to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this week.

As part of the tour, they got to see another special touch: the Sanford Veterans Club, a private space in the hospital for veterans and their families and caregivers.

Learn more: How Sanford Health supports veterans and military members

“We saw a facility — Sanford — who has openly welcomed veterans,” said James Wartski, executive director of the VA’s Veterans Experience Office.

He said the Veterans Club helps people feel at home, and a colleague agreed.

“This is the way it should be,” said Veterans Affairs field representative David Francavilla. “I already feel comfortable in a place like this. It’s tough being a veteran sometimes. This makes it a lot easier on a lot of folks.”

Sanford Health opened Veterans Clubs at its medical centers in Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls in 2018. The spaces give military vets and their families a dedicated place to grab a cup of coffee and meet others who have served their country.

The clubs are part of the organization’s efforts to streamline and add resources for veterans, military personnel and their families.

In addition to providing a space to relax or talk with fellow veterans between appointments, the club has coffee and water, guest computer access and a lounge area with a game table and TV.

Learn more

Posted In Company News, People & Culture, Veterans