Tuesday, March 27, 2007 — The Veterans Affairs Department sent investigators to its Salisbury hospital Monday to check up on claims of shoddy care.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs investigation team began its review at noon on Monday. At the present time there is little to be shared regarding the review of surgical procedures by medical investigators at the Hefner VA Medical Center,”Chief Medical Officer for The VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network Dr. Mark Shelhorse said.

Shelhorse said the team will conclude its visit today.

“We welcome this review since our goal is to continue to provide veterans with the highest quality health care,” he said.

The Hefner VA Medical Center, the Charlotte area‘s main veteran hospital which serves about 23 counties, has undergone significant scrutiny for what many local veterans say is the result of funding shortcomings.

Local DAV Chapter 12 Commander Mickey Drye said the criticisms and complaints are “symptomatic of a great lack of funding from a non-caring U.S. Congress.”

“The cost of the care is skyrocketing and they’re (Congress) just not keeping up with the demand and the VA is not being funded to be able to handle demands for care,” Drye said.

Though Drye has had mostly positive experiences with the care he’s received in outpatient services, his overall feelings about the hospital are a “mixed bag.”

“I’ve been delighted with the level of care I have had, but my one complaint is the long lines, the long waits and the telephone system that’s very difficult to get through to the intended.”

Drye said on many occasions when he called the hospital to get information about prescriptions and appointments he was not able to reach anyone who could help him.

“I go through a maze of automation and no one answers at any extension and rarely return messages,” he said.

Stanly County Veteran Service Officer Tim Presley said of the 5,500 county veterans, some are pleased with the hospital and some are not.

“Usually they complain about the waiting period.”

Presley said the root of the problems is simple. “What it boils down to is funding. They’re still trying to serve all the veterans but because of the volume, it’s hard to get appointments. That’s frustrating for some folks,” he said.

Drye’s prescription for improvement of services at the hospital would be forcing mandatory funding.

“They (Congress) think about numbers, not the veteran. Numbers equal votes and reelection and that’s all they care about anymore and Congress cares about a budget just as much as a rabbit cares about a B-52 bomber.”

Drye said the lack of funding in turn causes the inability to hire staff and operate programs at the hospital.

“I’m throwing rocks at a broken system, not at the VA.”

Amy Auth deputy press secretary to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole R of Salisbury, said Dole is aware of the reports concerning the VA hospital and “is very concerned any time she hears reports of veterans receiving anything less than the highest quality medical care.”

“She believes that our veterans should always be treated with the dignity and care they have rightfully earned,” Auth said.

“One of the reports cited in recent press accounts about the Salisbury VA medical center was a September 2006 Combined Assessment Program Review of the medical center, conducted by the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” she said.

The review indicated that the facility had a number of strengths, but also some weaknesses.

“For example, the review pointed to a number of cases of inadequate conditions. The review included recommendations for correcting these problems and also indicated that every recommendation had been completed, according to the then-director of the medical center.”

Auth said the senator is aware the VA is now taking a close look at the facility, and that the Salisbury facility would be one of the institutions examined in a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing.

“In the aftermath of the appalling revelations of deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Congress and the Administration are examining the quality of care at all of our military and veteran medical centers.

“As a member of the Armed Services Committee and as a senator representing hundreds of thousands of veterans who call North Carolina home, Senator Dole will remain fully engaged in this issue and looks forward to working with her colleagues to ensure the very best care for our nation’s heroes,” Auth said.

VA center officials said Monday that despite the inspections, the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) announced the Salisbury hospital received full accreditation of its research program which is valid for three years.

Led by Dr. Joseph Sutter, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Education, the Hefner VA program received the designation along with Cleveland Clinic Foundation, an international healthcare group, and three other VA medical centers.

The seven organizations accredited Monday join the list of research institutions already accredited by AAHRPP, which now includes 52 organizations. The list is comprised of organizations in the biomedical and behavioral and social sciences research fields, including community hospitals, teaching hospitals, independent review boards, research institutes, contract research organizations and universities.



Kim Kinnecom can be contacted at snaponline24@yahoo.com