Legislators React Angrily to VA Findings
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Printable FormatThe Southern by JOHN D. HOMAN
MARION - Four Illinois Congressmen have voiced their displeasure with Veterans Administration officials following Monday's release of federal investigation results into 29 deaths the VA Medical Center.
The Inspector General's Office of Healthcare Inspections in Washington concluded that the surgical specialty care line at Marion was in disarray. A review of 29 deaths of veteran surgical patients in Fiscal Year 2007 indicated specific problems with the provided quality of care.
These problems included pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative issues. OHI also substantiated allegations of poor medical care involving two non-surgical patients.
"While I appreciate the efforts of the Inspector General, I am disappointed that after a five-month investigation so little has been added to the original facts and the VA is still dragging its feet," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield.
"The Marion VA Center is still awaiting critical personnel decisions by the Veterans Administration. And veterans downstate are waiting the slow turn of the bureaucratic wheels at the VA to resume the services they were promised. Our veterans and their families deserve more."
Congressman Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, agreed.
"Our veterans deserve to know that the medical professionals that are taking care of them have been thoroughly vetted and are highly qualified," Costello stated. "Oversight of each VA facility is critical and we will be working to fully inform the public about the findings of these investigations and implement much needed changes."
Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, said while many patients received quality care, others did not.
"There were many people - doctors and staff - who failed in their duties, who failed the veterans in their care," Shimkus said. "The former administrative staff at Marion also withheld information from the public and from us legislators. Something like this must not be allowed to ever happen again. Those responsible will now face administrative action."
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Chicago, said in a press release that veterans should expect nothing less than world-class care and treatment at VA facilities.
"These investigations have provided new information about failures in leadership and quality control. However, the VA must provide stronger assurances that these problems aren't occurring elsewhere, and that it has a plan to help the families who have lost loved ones, the release said.
VA officials say they started contacting to contact those veterans and families of veterans who are believed to have been harmed by surgical care at the Marion facility within the past two years to review their care with them and known instances of substandard care will be disclosed.
The department will also assist patients and families who believe they have been harmed in their efforts to receive compensation. The VA also announced it has initiated an Administrative Board of Investigation to review quality of care issues and issues raised by employee groups and neither the previous director nor the chief of staff will be returned to work at the facility, even if they are exonerated.