How Aromatherapy Is Supporting Veteran Wellness at a VA Medical Center

Description: See how the Chalmers P. Wylie VA in Columbus, OH, is using clinical aromatherapy to support veterans and why staff training is key to its success. Disclaimer: I have consent to write about and share this story.

How Aromatherapy Is Supporting Veteran Wellness at a VA Medical Center

Recently, I had the privilege of working with the team at the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Care Center in Columbus, OH. In collaboration with Shane Smith, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Program Manager, we identified their goals were to improve the efficiency of their pre-existing aromatherapy program and expand reach to benefit more veterans.

To do so, we identified two solutions

• Integrate Aromatherapy Inhalation Patches for patient-use, alongside staff training to ensure quality care 
• Switch to pre-formulated essential oil blends to quickly make aroma sticks & lotions for inpatient and at-home use, saving staff valuable appointment time to provide more consistent support.
  

According to Shane, the center connects with around 300 veterans each month through aromatherapy alone. These supportive tools are becoming a natural part of care routines, designed to promote a sense of calm and well-being for veterans facing a wide range of challenges.

What They're Seeing So Far

• 83% patient satisfaction rate with aromatherapy interventions

• Better outcomes in post-surgical nausea when using our Q-Easy Patch

• More empowerment for staff, who can now offer at-home support tools for pain and relaxation

One caregiver shared a powerful story about her father, a veteran who had long struggled with chronic pain and sleep issues. After using the products at night, he finally slept through the night for the first time in years.

“This has been life-changing for him and for me”

How Quella Supports VA Clinics Like This One

For over a decade, Quella Essential Oils has partnered with healthcare providers, including many VA medical centers, and staff Whole Health programs to help launch and grow compliant, effective aromatherapy programs.

We support healthcare teams with:

• Custom policy creation and on-boarding support

• Self-paced, 24/7 access to clinical aromatherapy training

• Pre-blended, easy-to-use essential oil products

Whether you're starting from the ground up or fine-tuning an existing program, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Explore Jodi Baglien's Clinical Aromatherapy Training & Consulting Services.