Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 08/13/2001

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Thanks to you and Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS) for your good words and strong convictions about our newest product, Scrip Talk. This product allows vets that have difficulty reading or understanding their VA-issued prescription labels the ability to get this information spoken to them using a hand-held Scrip Talk reader. In your July 16 column, you discussed the results of the seven-month pilot study on Scrip Talk at the Hines VA near Chicago. The very positive results of this study has already prompted many VA hospitals to begin providing Scrip Talk to their vets.

As you mentioned, the study did indicate that the system had some "delivery issues", and I just want it to be clear on what this meant. One of the key objectives of the study was to understand how easy the system is for pharmacists to furnish the prescription voice software so that blinded and other visually handicapped veterans can easily scan their prescriptions. The pharmacy staff along with Hines Pharmacy Chief, Dave Zacher did highlight some pharmacy process problems that needed to be fixed. With few minor pharmacy software changes, these issues were successfully addressed. Zacher is delighted with the results of these changes.

With your support, along with the support of the House Subcommittee on Health, we are attempting to significantly decrease the risk of adverse effects when medicines are improperly taken. When veterans are able to consistently comply with doctors' instructions, both the hospital and emergency room admissions for these groups can be decreased, saving significantly on health care dollars.

Keep standing tall for the veterans.

David Raistrick
Vice President
En-Vision America, Inc.

Dear Dave:
You have a wonderful product. I urge the United States Congress, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, pharmaceutical companies, and retail outlets such as Wal-Mart to totally endorse Scrip Talk and the concept that all prescriptions carry smart labels and the means for blinded and all visually impaired persons to scan their medications in a safe manner, thereby hearing in synthesized speech what appears on the label.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I read your article in the Washington Times, 7/30/01, concerning cemetery sites honoring departed veterans. It is always nice to see information going out to our nations veterans concerning burial in a national cemetery.

I am writing to correct a portion of the information. I have been the director for one of the 20 busiest cemeteries for the past year. Yes, we are located in the Seattle/Tacoma area, but our name is Tahoma. It is derived from an Indian word for the mountain (Mt. Rainer). Which, by the way, is a beautiful sight as you look Dow our main avenue.

Thanks again for sharing this news.

Mary Ann Gillispie (Fisher)
Director, Tahoma National Cemetery
18600 SE 240th Street
Kent, WA 89042

Dear Mary Ann:
OOPS. Thanks for correcting the Sarge. This gives the Sarge an opportunity to remind all veterans that it is very important to make sure that their military and VA information is safe, current, and available to their loved ones so that, when the time comes, burial preparations can be made appropriately and expeditiously. Very simply, veterans, the road to VA benefits is paved with good intentions, but so is the road to hell. Know your benefits and share the information with your buddies. 

Shaft Kudos
Congratulations to two special veterans: Leo S. Mackay, Jr., and Dennis J. Hejlik. Mackay is the new Deputy Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs and chief operating officer of the VA. Prior to his nomination and confirmation, he was vice president of the Aircraft Services Business Unit at Bell Helicopter Textron, inc., of Fort Worth, Texas. A 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Dr. Mackay was a Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Midshipman Graduate. He completed pilot training in 1985 and served in several missions overseas. From 1989 to 1993, Dr. Mackay was a Kennedy Fellow at Harvard University, earning a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government and a pH.D. in political and economic analysis from the Graduate School of Arms and Sciences. Dr. Mackay and his wife, Heather, live in northern Virginia with their children, Sarah and Josiah.

And a Semper High Fi to Dennis Hejlik, who was recently promoted to Brigadier General in the U.S. Marine Corps and has been assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before his rise to the star, Hejlik served at Headquarters Marine Corps, first as the Senior Military Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. He assumed command of the Marine Barracks, 8th and I, in Washington, D.C., home of the Marine Brand the the Marine Corps Battle Detachment, in July of 1997 and became Military Secretary to the Commandant in 1999. Born and raised in Garner, Iowa, Hejlik enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1972. Upon graduation from Mankato State University in 1975, Hejlik began his career anew by being commissioned a second lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class Program. Since then, he has commanded at the platoon, company, and battalion levels. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and the Leftwich Award. He is married to the former Sandy Schaefer of Garner, Iowa. They have two children: a son, Jason, residing in San Diego, CA; and a daughter, Jill, who is stationed with her husband in Gulfport, MS. And as a Shaft personal note, the new General works and plays well with others.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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