IRON MOUNTAYN — he Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC) announced today it has hired 163 employees to care for Veterans and non-Veterans in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin area during the COVID-19 pandemic since March 29.

Oscar G. Johnson VAMC has hired a number of positions during the pandemic, to include Registered Nurses, Nursing Assistants, and Pharmacist and currently has opportunities in a variety of areas to include Police Officers, LPNs, and Providers.

“As we recognize Veterans Day during these unprecedented times, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is proud to hire qualified personnel to care for our Nation’s Veterans and support our community in response to COVID-19,” said Oscar G. Johnson Medical Center Director Jim Rice. “VA has the most noble of missions to provide high-quality health care to America’s Veterans.”

To streamline the hiring process, VA significantly reduced the amount of time it typically takes to hire and onboard new employees by implementing expedited credentialing practices to onboard highly qualified, licensed medical staff in a timely manner, lifting the bi-weekly pay cap for General Schedule (GS) employees and broadening authority for awards and incentive approvals.