News

Serving Those Who Served: Health Screenings for Veterans Offered June 2-4

U.S. veterans serving a new mission as health navigators are teaming up with New Jersey hospitals to offer free health care screenings to past and present U.S. service members June 2-4 at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Department of Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett and New Jersey Hospital Association President and CEO Betsy Ryan will attend on June 2 to talk to veterans and clinicians.

WHO: Department of Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett and NJHA President and CEO Betsy Ryan will meet with veterans and clinicians during a free health screening event at noon on June 2. NJHA’s veteran health navigators will provide information and referrals for any service members, past or present. Clinicians from AtlantiCare and Rowan Family Medicine will perform the screenings. This event is hosted by the Wildwoods Convention Center, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Elks Convention. The screenings are supported by Kennedy Health, with grant funding from the Department of Health. 

WHAT: Serving Those Who Served is an initiative by NJHA to improve access to health care for NJ veterans. NJHA has hired a team of U.S. veterans from all branches of service who have been trained for new roles as health navigators. They are joining forces with NJHA member hospitals in a series of events this spring to provide free health screenings to service members.

WHERE: The screenings will be performed in the Mobile Satellite Emergency Department (MSED), a fully-equipped mobile medical facility. It will be parked at the Convention Center at 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood. Veteran navigators will also be in the Convention Center, alerting attendees to the screenings.

WHEN: Commissioner Bennett and Betsy Ryan will visit the MSED June 2 at noon. The screenings will run June 2, 3 and 4, from noon to 4 p.m. 

WHY: Through its Serving Those Who Served initiative, NJHA is committed to increasing access to health care for service members and providing employment to veterans. With support from the Department of Health, the navigators are able to bring services to veterans in conjunction with popular events.

HOW: No appointments are necessary. Health navigators will be available outside the mobile facility to provide information, assistance and referrals to their fellow service members. Services available may include blood pressure screening, stroke risk assessment, blood glucose screening, behavioral health screening, referrals for additional services and peer support. Viral hepatitis testing will also be available.

For hours and additional informatio, visit Serving Those Who Served on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ServingThoseWhoServed or contact Veteran Navigator Norm Glover at nglover@njha.com or 609-608-2337.

For additional information, or if you plan to attend, contact:

Kerry McKean Kelly, 609-275-4069, kmckean@njha.com

Nicole Mulvaney, 609-984-7160, nicole.mulvaney@doh.nj.gov

Melinda Caliendo, 609-275-4076, mcaliendo@njha.com