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SEN. ROCKEFELLER SAYS PROBLEMS AT BECKLEY VA
HOSPITAL IGNORED -- Has asked VA Secretary
Jim Nicholson to investigate complaints of
chronic staffing shortages and low morale.
Beckley, West Virginia VA Hospital
Story here...
http://www.dailymail.com/story/
News/2007040457/Rockefeller-says-probl
ems-at-Beckley-veterans-hospital-ignored/
Story below:
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Rockefeller says problems at Beckley veterans
hospital ignored
by The Associated Press
BECKLEY -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller has asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim
Nicholson to investigate complaints of chronic staffing shortages and
low morale at the Beckley VA Medical Center.
Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said he has received numerous complaints about the
hospital. He said the hospital's administration has ignored the
problems.
"I have complained about it for a long time,'' said Rockefeller, "but
the secretary was given false information about Beckley, by Beckley,
about the shortages, and therefore they were satisfied there wasn't a
problem, so nothing happened.''
There currently are nine physician vacancies and ten other provider
vacancies, hospital officials said.
Many nurses and doctors in the VA health care system will not fill open
positions at the Beckley hospital because it has a negative reputation,
said Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
"I can't put it any more bluntly than that. I'm sure it will be denied
by them, but it's the truth,'' he said.
Jerry Husson, director of the Beckley hospital, defended the quality of
care provided by the hospital. He said staffing shortages are not a
problem.
"Did the physicians have a hard time for a while? Certainly. When they
were down they were pulling some extra duties,'' he said. "At one time
people just opted to go. Every one of them that left said to me that
they were either going for personal reasons or they were leaving for
family reasons.''
Dr. Andrew Thymius, who worked at the hospital until May 2005, said the
facility could not meet the demand for services. He said patients had to
wait months for appointments.
"It's cruel to make them wait that long. They run on HMO mentality. So
if you see the patient face to face, it tends to be not what they want.
They want more indirect patient care than direct,'' Thymius said.
The federal government mandated an onsite training program, "Civility
and Respect in the Workplace,'' at the hospital after a national VA
employee survey last year indicated low morale at the facility.
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Larry Scott --
