Representative Filner Hits VA Misteps

Congressman Filner Challenges VA Leadership at Hearing
Written by Imperial Valley News
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Washington, DC – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement following a Congressional hearing to examine an incident involving reusable dental equipment and veteran patient safety at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri:

“I would like to thank the veterans who bravely told their stories of receiving a certified letter in the mail from the Department of Veterans Affairs notifying them of possible exposure to deadly diseases following routine dental procedures at a VA medical facility. After 1,812 veterans received this letter, they were directed to a hotline to answer their personal questions and orchestrate their follow-up care. To learn that VA employees that answered that hotline were not prepared with facts – much less the necessary compassion to attend to these veterans – is shameful.

“I remain concerned with VA’s lack of transparency. When mistakes are made, honesty and truthfulness are the only way to begin to rebuild trust with the public. Success is measured by veteran service, not bureaucratic preservation.

“I challenge the leaders at the John Cochran VA Medical Center, and the leaders at VA Medical Centers around the country, to step up their game. The time is now – to ensure safety procedures are in place, to establish strong employee training programs, to continue to strengthen their national oversight structure, to improve their veteran notification process, to provide timely information to veterans, and to prove to our veterans that these problems are not systemic of the VA medical system.

“The VA’s response at the hearing was instructive. Only when Under Secretary Petzel abandoned his prepared remarks, and responded directly to the personal struggles of our veterans, were we able to begin to address the issues at hand. My biggest concern is that we have been here before. It is my commitment to deliver accountability to the veterans of St. Louis and across the country. I will be back in six months to ask the tough questions, speak directly with these veterans, and monitor the progress of this Department in caring for those who have so bravely borne the battle for our country.”