[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E744]]
                         PT PHONE HOME PROGRAM

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the hard work of my 
constituents back in Buffalo, NY, as we celebrate the completion of the 
PT Phone Home Program at the Buffalo VA Medical Center on Saturday.
  PT Phone Home is a cost-effective volunteer program which solicits 
equipment, labor, and donations from a variety of groups for patient 
bedside telephone service at VAMC's across the Nation. VA officials, 
NYNEX, the Service Employees International Union [SEIU] Local 200C, and 
the Communications Workers of America [CWA] Local 1122 have been 
collaborating to bring the PT Phone Home Program to Buffalo.
  A patient bedside telephone initial report issued by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs recognized that without the efforts of the PT Phone 
Home Program and its volunteers, the bedside telephone project would 
not have been started at this point.
  With the services of PT Phone Home, VA has estimated that $18 million 
will allow the planned installation of patient bedside telephone 
systems to be completed. Without these services, estimates run closer 
to $80 million. Without the direct involvement of the volunteer 
organizations mobilized under PT Phone Home, the cost of such a program 
is certainly prohibitive.
  Experience with this worthwhile program has convinced me that bedside 
telephones are an absolute necessity for our VA hospitals nationwide. 
Bedside telephone service allows nurses and support staff to spend more 
time on clinical activities and increases patient morale by allowing 
veterans invaluable contact with their family and friends.
  The veterans who use our veteran hospitals are here because of the 
sacrifices they were willing to make for their country. They were 
willing to serve in the name of freedom, and I am very happy to be part 
of an effort to give them something in return.
  I believe we owe all participants in the PT Phone Home Program a 
great debt of gratitude and would ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing those who made the Buffalo project successful.
  Mr. Speaker, I am certain you agree that all the medicine in the 
world cannot replace the therapeutic value of contact with family and 
friends.


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