Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Expands Veteran Care with New Specialists and Improved Access
The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) is committed to expanding access to healthcare for Veterans. Within the last year, several new specialty care positions have been recruited for as well as the implementation of gap providers.
OGJVAMC staff are proud to serve Veterans across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. The OGJVAMC employs and represents our area as a leader in telemedicine and rural healthcare. The facility employs over 800 individuals in the catchment area, which spans the entire Upper Peninsula and as well as nine counties northeastern Wisconsin.
Women Veterans are the fastest growing demographic to serve in the military and to enroll in VA health care. To meet this demand, OGJVAMC hired its first gynecologist, Casey Sager, MD, in 2023. Currently, primary care is under construction to expand clinic space which will include the expansion of the women’s clinic. Dr. Sager is accepting new patients for routine women’s care as well as pregnancy counseling services.
OGJVAMC hired its first gastroenterologist, Hosep Deyrmenjian, MD, in December 2023 to bring specialty care closer to home for many Veterans who experience digestive issues. Dr. Deyrmenjian is available to provide additional diagnostic and therapeutic services pertaining to digestive illnesses.
Patients in both civilian hospitals and Veterans may experience long wait times if an appointment is a cancelled due to planned or unexpected absences of staff. Although wait times at OGJVAMC are lower than average, in 2023, one gap provider was hired as well as one remote surrogate provider. The implementation of the gap and surrogate providers significantly reduces the need to reschedule when a provider is ill or on leave, allowing Veterans to be seen timely as scheduled.
To enroll in VA, Veterans may apply in person, by phone or online. To apply in person, please visit the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center at 325 E H Street Iron Mountain, MI. The enrollment and eligibility office is located on the first floor, room 1101. Veterans must bring their DD-214, government issued photo ID, previous year tax return and proof of medical expenses within the past 12 months.
To apply by phone, Veterans may call 906-774-3300 ext. 32810 or the Health Eligibility Center at 877-222-8387. Enrolled women Veterans may call 906-774-3300, press 2 then follow the prompts to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sager. To schedule an appointment for gastroenterology, enrolled Veterans may contact their primary care team for a referral.
As the OGJVAMC approaches its 75th anniversary in 2025, we look forward to many more years of serving Veterans, their caregivers and families in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin.
About the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center
The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) is located in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The facility oversees eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Gladstone, Hancock, Ironwood, Manistique Marquette, Menominee and Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and Rhinelander, WI. OGJVAMC and its CBOCs annually serve approximately 21,000 Veterans.
The facility was named the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center to honor a local WWII Veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. Mr. Johnson was a Foster City, MI, native who was honored for singlehandedly repelling six major counterattacks in the mountains of Italy in 1944.
OGJVAMC and its CBOCs annually serve over 21,000 Veterans over 98 percent of whom are living in rural or highly rural areas making the facility the most rural VA Medical Center in the nation. OGJVAMC has a large geographic patient area, encompassing fifteen Michigan counties and nine counties in northeastern Wisconsin.
OGJVAMC employs more than 820 staff at its main facility and community-based outreach clinics. Approximately 22% of its employees are Veterans. The facility is one of the largest employers in Dickinson County, MI. During fiscal year 2023, a total of $86M was spent on salaries.
OGJVAMC is a primary and secondary level care facility with 17 acute care, general medicine beds and a Surgical Department with Basic Ambulatory Surgery designation. OGJVAMC also provides rehabilitation and extended care, including palliative and hospice care, in its 40-bed Community Living Center.
The main facility also offers Urgent Care Monday through Friday, to include holidays. For higher level emergency and critical care cases, OGJVAMC coordinates care with hospitals in both the local community and at larger VA medical centers that have the capability and expertise to serve Veterans.
The services provided by OGJVAMC’s 40-bed Community Living Center (CLC) include extended care and short-term rehabilitation, geriatric care, general nursing home care; short term wound care, and hospice/palliative care. OGJVAMC provides ambulatory and acute health care including audiology, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care, general medicine, whole health (chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, wellness, yoga, tai chi, health coaching, aromatherapy, biofeedback) home-based primary care, mental health, oncology, optometry, orthopedics, Hepatitis C, palliative/hospice, physical and occupational therapy, prosthetics, podiatry, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychiatry, radiology, speech, spinal cord injury (SCI), substance abuse, surgery, cardiology, neurology, urology, gynecology, weight management, and women’s wellness.
The OGJVAMC employees provide excellent care and exceptional experience to Veterans. As a testament to their dedication, OGJVAMC is the only VA medical center to receive a VHA Best Patient Experience Award five consecutive years, every year since the awards inception. Three years, OGJVAMC won for the best small level facility. Two years, OGJVAMC won for the best overall out of all VAs.
OGJVAMC staff are proud to serve Veterans in across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. The OGJVAMC employs and represent our area as a leader in telemedicine and rural healthcare. The facility employs over 800 individuals who live, shop, and work locally.
Please read the 2023 annual report and watch the community impact video for additional information regarding the facility’s community impact.
Ever so grateful for the care my disabled combat husband received. Only the VA understands what the vet experience means. Hubby suffers no longer. Went to the supreme commander (The Savior). God bles all of the staff.
Ever so grateful for the care my disabled combat husband received. Only the VA understands what the vet experience means. Hubby suffers no longer. Went to the supreme commander (The Savior). God bles all of the staff.
I was disappointed with the article, as no mention was made of the services provided by the many Veteran Service Officers who direct and manage in each county of the UP.. Mackinac County has provided assistance to over 1300 veterans since inception in 2018. The work of these VSO’S are extremely critical and essential.