Photo By Jennifer Scales | Neiley McAdams, a Due West, South Carolina native and clinical pharmacist for the...... read more read more
Clinical Pharmacist, Neiley McAdams, who works in the Outpatient Pharmacy at the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, went well beyond the boundaries of the Columbia VA Health Care System to assist a Veteran in Bagram, Afghanistan recently.
But for McAdams, who comes from a family full of Veterans, this call for aid was within the norm for her.
The Due West native, a town located in the Upstate of South Carolina, knew that she was either going to be a part of the military or work for Veterans Affairs…point blank.
“I grew up in a military atmosphere,” McAdams began. “My father, the late Franklin J. McAdams, was a Marine. My brother, Franklin J. McAdams serves in the Navy. Plus, I have a host of aunts, uncles and other relatives who served in the military also, from Vietnam Era to present.”
After receiving her pharmacist degree, she worked at Fort Bliss, Texas in the deployment center. “In that position, I was exposed to all services and civilians who were involved in a deployment cycle and needed to get their medicines before they left,” McAdams said. “I got so many calls from generals and colonels and others who said their personnel did not get, or rather needed medicines, in their respective area of operations.”
From those calls, McAdams developed and implemented a program at Fort Bliss to ensure that their medication needs during respective deployments were met.
Fast forward to an early morning in Columbia.
McAdams answered the call from a Department of the Army Civilian in Bagram, who was in distress for not having the ability to get his medications refilled. Knowing his situation from her experience at Fort Bliss, plus her compassion and inherent family Veteran awareness, she was able to assist him in getting current and all future medications filled by way of the Joint Legacy Viewer.
“I take pride in serving Veterans,” McAdams said. “I understood his frustrations and with him being in our system here, he is assured of getting all his medications from this point on.”
David Omura, CEO/Director of the Columbia VA Health Care System appreciates exceptional role models such as McAdams, who service the Veterans of South Carolina.
“Ms. McAdams shows that doing the norm many times turns into exceptional service for Veterans,” Omura said. “She is a wonderful employee who has displayed that there are no borders or boundaries which prevent out Veterans from getting the help and assistance they need.”
The Veteran and Department of the Army Civilian provided a letter to the Columbia VA Health Care System. It reads in portions as follows:
“Good Morning. I am a US Army Combat Veteran who has been receiving health care services at Dorn VA Hospital since around 2010.
I am currently deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan as a DA Civilian.
Before deploying, I had to go to through the Fort Bliss CRC. During the
medical phase of the pre deployment I was diagnosed with High Blood pressure and prescribed medications for treatment.
Well to make a long story short, after arriving in Afghanistan, I was having major issues getting my medications refilled, I eventually called to the Columbia VA Dorn Hospital, got in contact with the pharmacy and explained my situation.
The pharmacist I spoke to was Ms. McAdams (I hope I have her correct name), Ms. Adams went above and beyond my expectations to assist me. She was able to pull my medical records from the US Army Fort Bliss - William Beaumont Hospital and see the medications I was prescribed by the Cardiologist there and fill the prescription and mail them to my stateside address where my wife mailed them to me here in Afghanistan.
We do have a medical facility and a pharmacy here at Bagram, Afghanistan, but they do not have the capability to provide the medications daily, they send their prescriptions through Express-Scripts in the US.
I would truly like to commend Ms. McAdams (Pharmacist Tech) for her
professionalism, customer service, patience and dedication to helping
veterans, whether they are there at VA Dorn or on the phone calling from
Afghanistan. Without her willingness to go the extra mile and find my
records at William Beaumont Army Hospital, Fort Bliss TX and enter them into the system there, I don't know what I would have done.
Her willingness to provide such great customer service, really put my mind at ease, allowing me to focus on the Army Mission here in Afghanistan and put my families mind at ease knowing I have the medications needed to maintain my health.
Thank you to Ms. McAdams (Pharmacist Tech) and to the VA Dorn for the
excellent service I have received there since 2010.
As the thoughts of appreciation flow through my head, I would just like to
add that the actions, customer service, professionalism, integrity,
dignified service and dedication to duty of Ms. McAdams, reflects great
credit on the Pharmacy and the VA Dorn Hospital and also gives credit to
the leadership at this great hospital that serves those who have served.
I personally thank the VA Dorn admin and staff for the years of GREAT
service I have received there, I almost can't wait to come back for more
continued great service and treatment at this fine institution.
Army Strong
| Date Taken: | 10.10.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2019 10:37 |
| Story ID: | 347982 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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