Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49) and Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-50) are seeking solutions to help improve care for veterans at the San Diego VA in response to recent reports showing a 'large decline' in its national healthcare scoring.

Issa and Hunter today released a letter to the Director of San Diego VA Healthcare System asking him to respond with a list of changes being made in response to the decline in scores.

Of the 146 VA medical centers nationally, only four others — Tomah in Wisconsin, Hot Springs in South Dakota, Fargo, N.D., and El Paso, Texas — also showed “large declines” in performance in 2016. According to the latest report, the San Diego VA has declined from its four-star rating of a year ago to its current three-star rating.

The scores are based on a long list of measures of medical care and “access issues,” such as call center performance and wait times for appointments. VA hospitals are rated on a scale with five being the best and one being the worst.

“These results are unacceptable and signify that your branch of the VA has substantial room for improvement," Congressman Issa and Hunter wrote in the letter.

Issa and his team have met with Dr. Smith multiple times since assuming the top posting at the San Diego VA to discuss local successes and work to improve services in response to veteran identified needs. 
 

The full letter can be read here or below the fold.

A write up from the San Diego Union-Tribune can be found here.

January 6, 2017

Robert M. Smith, M.D.
Director, Veterans Affairs of San Diego
3350 La Jolla Village Dr.
San Diego, CA 92161
 
Dear Doctor Smith,
 
Ensuring our veterans get the best service and care possible should be the Department of Veterans Affairs’ top priority. To that end, we appreciate your continued efforts in working to improve internal processes and procedures.
 
However, today we are writing to express concern about your Department of Veterans Affairs quality-of-care rating results for 2016. The results indicate a “large decline” in San Diego’s year over year performance.  San Diego County’s VA health system was listed as one of only five in the nation marked as “declined” in 2016 performance scores. These results are unacceptable and signify that your branch of the VA has substantial room for improvement.
 
Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs must remain partners in ensuring that our veterans receive the highest quality of care possible in accordance with our obligations to our service members.  As such, we request that you provide, in writing, what steps you are taking to address issues at Veterans Affairs of San Diego. Specifically, recent changes which were made in response to the rating, why those changes were made, and how they will help ensure system-wide improvements to our veterans’ quality of care.
 
For any follow-up questions or concerns, please contact Bryan Maass at Bryan.maass@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2386.
 
Sincerely,


Darrell Issa        
Member of Congress                                                    

Duncan Hunter
Member of Congress