Two VA staff transferred pending investigation on delayed time-sensitive care
Two senior VA officials at a New York VA medical center were transferred from their posts. This transfer, away from veteran-facing positions, came in the aftermath of an Inspector General report. These individuals were accused of delaying radiation therapy and neurosurgery appointments. Veterans needing time-sensitive care services didn’t receive them in a timely manner. The delay resulted in veterans suffering more pain and injury than they needed to suffer.
From The Military Times:
Community care — where veterans can receive medical appointments and treatments at private-sector clinics but have the expenses covered by VA — has been a controversial topic in recent years, with conservatives claiming that department bureaucrats unnecessary limit those outside options.
In the New York investigation, the inspector general found that at least 42 patients had significant delays in accessing that care, despite facing serious health conditions that mandated fast action.
“For three of the 42 patients, the scheduling delay affected the provider’s management of the patient’s condition, and for 9 of the 42, the delay affected the patient’s clinical status or condition,” the report states.
In one case, a veteran with esophageal cancer had radiation therapy incorrectly denied for several months before dying from the illness. Investigators said the treatments would not likely have saved the individual, but a faster response “would likely have decreased the level of pain and improved the quality of life in the patient’s final months.”
In another case, a young veteran experiencing seizures waited more than 300 days for a consult to be scheduled, even as the patient was hospitalized several times a month for related health issues.
“Leaders failed to consistently focus on patients, respond to staff concerns, get to the root cause of concerns regarding delayed scheduling of urgent consults, and predict and eliminate risks before causing patient harm,” the report stated.
Additional Reading:
Shane III, L. (2024, September 30). VA leaders in New York accused of delaying critical medical visits. Military Times. Link.
Category: Veteran Health Care, Veterans in the news, Veterans Issues, Veterans' Affairs Department
