Veteran spends 500+ hours helping others access virtual care

After serving 26 years in the Army as a military intelligence officer, working 10 years at a global science-based technology company and volunteering for over five years as a substitute teacher in South Korea, you’d think Jim Olson’s patience for answering computer-related questions would be low.

Since 2021, Olson has spent over 500 hours volunteering at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center’s Virtual Health Resource Center (VHRC), helping his fellow Veterans navigate telehealth technologies. Finding the VHRC where he works is easy—just look for the huge American flag in the main atrium. It’s one of the largest flags in the state, measuring 60 feet long by 30 feet wide.

“I love being able to help my brothers and sisters overcome their technological hurdles and connect them to care,” said Olson. “A lot of Veterans come to me with problems or frustrations. I’m able to provide them with a solution and a positive experience.”

On a typical day, Olson helps Veterans log in to My HealtheVet on VA.gov, VA’s online patient portal. Most Veterans have questions about their password or about the different ways they can access the platform.

“Half of my job is getting Veterans connected to VA systems and the other half is getting them comfortable with the technology,” said Olson. “Most of my interactions require a little bit of both.”

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Source: VA News
Website: news.va.gov