Whistleblower retaliation at the VA
Paul sends us a link to the New York Times which reports that “V.A. Punished Critics on Staff, Doctors Assert“;
The federal Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistle-blower complaints, is examining 37 claims of retaliation by V.A. employees in 19 states, and recently persuaded the V.A. to drop the disciplining of three staff members who had spoken out. Together with reports to other watchdog agencies and the Times interviews, the accounts by V.A. whistle-blowers cover several dozen hospitals, with complaints dating back seven years or longer.
[…]
[Dr. Jacqueline Brecht, a former urologist at the Alaska V.A. Healthcare System in Anchorage] complaints were corroborated by other Alaska personnel and were the subject of an email that Dr. Brecht sent to a military doctor at the time. Dr. Brecht wrote that administrators “schedule fake patient appointments (i.e. commit FRAUD).” They do so, she wrote, “just so our numbers look good to DC (and the administrators get their bonuses for these numbers).”
It’s a cultural thing, something that won’t go away easily or with the firing of their Secretary.
Category: Veterans' Affairs Department
The VA problems are a deep mine dug over a long time from Obama to Shinseki to the admin staffs at VAs across the country. I am glad these folks are coming forward. It is going to take a long time under Obama to dig the depths of this mess out and resolve these problems. Problem is, in the meanwhile, veterans are dying and in need of care not being received.
Anyone who received a bonus based on falsified data (i.e., waiting list times, etc.) should not only be required to pay it all back, but fired and prosecuted for criminal fraud too.
Or intentionally and systematically lowering disability claims and then hiding behind bureaucracy and the VHA vs. VBA argument.
Green Thumb…Roger That!!! Another huge VA issue often overlooked is exactly what you stated. It has happened to two vets I know. Just out of the blue with no reevaluation, their status of disability and resulting percentage of disability werelowered. One sided. The two had to go back to the VA and justify again, their original claim status. Only one succeeded. The other was basically told, tough shit, it’s the new status it’s going be for you. Period. He was also told if he protested and went through further evaluations he ran the risk of it being lowered again. Blackmail is what he called it…I agree.
Ironically enough, all of the “wait times” issues(s) get the coverage from politicians, VSO’s and the media.
This is another HUGE and intentionally marginalized issue and problem that is about to come to the forefront.
The reason that it is being “sat upon” is that it will trigger major policy reviews and changes.
B. Hussein 0bama & Company are bending over backward to take care of illegal aliens while we Vets get left to rot. That, and there is no low that entrenched pols and bureaucrats won’t stoop to in trying to defend their fiefdoms! I agree with you Arby, in a just world, the guilty parties, once convicted and sentenced, would have to give back their bonuses and be fined before they went to prison!
Ironically enough, all of the “wait times” issues(s) get the coverage from politicians, VSO’s and the media.
This is another HUGE and intentionally marginalized issue and problem that is about to come to the forefront.
The reason that it is being “sat upon” is that it will trigger major policy reviews and changes.
Integrity is for losers who need it to get ahead and anyone having it will be found-out and punished severly… left/liberal bureaucratic work culture in action.