Hospital Liaison:

Ensuring quality medical care for our members is the most critical objective of our organization and always proves to be the most challenging. This is the primary reason why the chapter has a voluntary Hospital Committee comprised of members who advocate for quality healthcare for veterans with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D). Currently, the chapter has a hospital liaison located in the St. Louis, Columbia and the Kansas City areas. An ongoing task for the Hospital Committee is to meet with the SCI/D chief in St. Louis, and the medical center staff and physicians from the VA medical centers throughout the state. In addition to meeting with staff, the committee members meet with inpatients and members who may have complaints or issues that are not being addressed regarding their medical care. Here in St. Louis, the vast majority of those issues have concerned the quality of care at the John Cochran facility. These concerns have been ongoing for many years and are reflected in the VA's own SHEP surveys (Survey of Health Care Experiences of Patients).

Currently, Gateway’s Hospital Liaisons are as follows:

Jim Holland, PhD (Chairman of the Hospital Committee)-St. Louis, MO
We are extremely fortunate to have Jim assisting the chapter and members by frequently visiting both the Jefferson Barracks SCI unit and John Cochran division to ensure patients are receiving adequate healthcare. He also meets monthly with the St. Louis VAMC Director along with the Chapter President and National Service Officer to discuss any medical care issues, and to report pertinent information back to the Chapter Board of Directors.

Bob Larkin-Kansas City, MO
A longtime board member, Bob has greatly assisted the chapter in several capacities, including his diligent service as our liaison representative for the Kansas City VAMC. He works closely with all of the VA staff, as well as with the K.C. benefits officer. The Chapter is grateful for Bob’s energy and the countless hours he has invested in serving our veterans in the western part of the state.

William "Rusty" Montague-Columbia, MO
Rusty is our newly appointed hospital liaison for the Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. He visits the center and stays in contact with the Chief Medical Officer to ensure excellent service to our members. Rusty recently attended the Health Care Advocacy Seminar in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to train for his position.