Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Urge VA Secretary To Oversee Selection of Next Roseburg VA Director
Washington, DC- Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Congressman Peter DeFazio today to urge VA Secretary Bob McDonald to oversee the selection of the next director for the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (VARHS). Because of long-standing concerns about management, unacceptable delays in care, and allegations of unethical practices at VARHS, the Oregon lawmakers asked in a joint letter that the VA Secretary personally “oversee this critical hiring decision.”
In their letter to Secretary McDonald, the Oregon lawmakers noted that high-level attention is warranted because of concerns from local veterans, veterans groups, as well as current and former VAHRS employees who have been unable to get adequate response from regional VA management, known as Northwest Health Network, or VISN20.
“We have heard repeatedly from veterans and employees who have perceived dismissive management attitudes at VARHS and were unable to get help from VISN20 on these matters,” the letter to Secretary McDonald states. “When you addressed the American Legion Convention in August, we found agreement in your assessment that ‘too many VA leaders failed to take ownership of the problems facing their facilities and employees; failed to identify shortfalls in resources and take action to obtain the additional resources they needed, and they failed to set the standard for honesty and integrity and quash the culture of self-protection and retaliation.’”
Secretary McDonald, who assumed his position at the VA in late July, has stated that one of his highest priorities is to change the culture and climate at VA facilities across the country in the wake of revelations of secret waiting lists and short staffing.
The Oregon lawmakers’ letter continued: “We urge you to bring that change to Roseburg. In your American Legion Convention address, you listed these institutional values: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence. Please provide an ongoing review of the VARHS hiring process to guarantee the new VARHS director is guided by those ideals.”
The former director of VARHS, Carol Bodegain, stepped down earlier this month.
The full text of the letter to Secretary McDonald is below.
Oct. 21, 2014
The Honorable Robert McDonald
Secretary
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington DC 20420
We are seeking your involvement in the selection of a new director for the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (VARHS). In light of long-standing concerns about management, unacceptable delays in care, and allegations of unethical practices at VARHS, we urge you to oversee this critical hiring decision.
Local veterans, veteran groups, and current and former VAHRS employees have contacted our offices for years with concerns about the lack of leadership, patient care, and customer service at VARHS. Many of these concerns have been validated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audited VARHS in 2010, for example, and concluded that VARHS did not schedule and report medical exams as required. The OIG report also identified problems with VARHS staffing and quality care and also found planning to be inadequate. In a 2014 letter to Congressman DeFazio, our Veterans Integrated Service Network, VISN 20, noted that VARHS remained backlogged and continued to struggle with staffing levels. The VISN also described veterans’ concerns about health care services at VARHS as “significant obstacles.” We have attached that letter for your reference.
We have heard repeatedly from veterans and employees who have perceived dismissive management attitudes at VARHS and were unable to get help from VISN20 on these matters. When you addressed the American Legion Convention in August, we found agreement in your assessment that “[t]oo many VA leaders failed to take ownership of the problems facing their facilities and employees; failed to identify shortfalls in resources and take action to obtain the additional resources they needed, and they failed to set the standard for honesty and integrity and quash the culture of self-protection and retaliation.”
VARHS clearly needs a strong and dynamic leadership team that is willing and able to work with local veterans. This will require the new administrators to engage all local stakeholders, including VARHS employees, to rebuild the trust that has been eroded over the last several years. We expect the new VARHS director to manage change while minimizing disruptions, to achieve results and, above all, to be an advocate for veterans.
We know that one of your highest priorities is to change the culture and climate at VA facilities across the country, and we urge you to bring that change to Roseburg. In your American Legion Convention address, you listed these institutional values: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence. Please provide an ongoing review of the VARHS hiring process to guarantee the new VARHS director is guided by these ideals.
Sincerely,
Peter DeFazio Ron Wyden Jeff Merkley
Member of Congress Senator Senator
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