WASHINGTON (AP) — According to the inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs, managers at more than a dozen of the agency’s medical facilities lied to investigators about scheduling practices and other issues.
Richard Griffin told lawmakers today that his office is looking into allegations of wrongdoing at 93 sites across the country.
The investigation follows reports of widespread delays in care that forced veterans to wait for months for appointments at VA hospitals and clinics. Investigators have said efforts to cover up or hide the delays were systemic throughout the agency’s network of nearly 1,000 hospitals and clinics.
Griffin says in order to meet on-time performance goals, staff at 19 sites canceled appointments and then rescheduled them for the same day. He says 16 facilities used paper waiting lists for patients instead of the electronic list that was required.
Griffin was testifying about an investigative report focusing on the Phoenix veterans’ hospital. The report said workers there falsified waiting lists while their supervisors looked the other way or even directed it. The inspector general’s office identified 40 patients who died while awaiting appointments in Phoenix.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald calls the report troubling, and says the agency has begun working on remedies recommended by the report.
%@AP Links
060-a-10-(Veterans Affairs Secretary robert Mc Donald, at news conference)-“not happen again”-VA Secretary Bob McDonald says the agency is working to fix the problems uncovered in Phoenix. ((cut used in wrap)) (9 Sep 2014)
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061-a-12-(Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, at news conference)-“occurred in Phoenix”-VA Secretary Robert McDonald says the inspector-general’s findings are disheartening. (9 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO DCLB102: Veterans Affairs acting Inspector General Richard Griffin testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Managers at more than a dozen Veterans Affairs medical facilities lied to investigators about scheduling practices and other issues, the department’s inspector general said Tuesday. Griffin said his office is investigating allegations of wrongdoing at 93 VA sites across the country, including 12 reports that have been completed and submitted to the VA for review. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke) (9 Sep 2014)
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