This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/28/veterans-affairs-report-hospital-waiting-lists-shinseki

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pressure builds on Eric Shinseki as VA report reveals 'systemic problems' Pressure builds on Eric Shinseki as VA report reveals 'systemic problems'
(3 months later)
An independent investigation into the healthcare scandal engulfing the US Department of Veterans Affairs has concluded there were deliberate attempts to cover up hospital waiting list backlogs and evidence of a “systemic problem nationwide”.An independent investigation into the healthcare scandal engulfing the US Department of Veterans Affairs has concluded there were deliberate attempts to cover up hospital waiting list backlogs and evidence of a “systemic problem nationwide”.
In findings that will heap pressure on President Obama to take action against embattled veterans affairs secretary Eric Shinseki, the agency’s acting inspector general, Richard Griffin, reported he had found 1,700 patients who were waiting for appointments but missing from electronic waiting lists at the hospital in Phoenix where the issue first came to light. In findings that will heap pressure on President Obama to take action against embattled veterans affairs secretary Eric Shinseki, the agency’s acting inspector general, Richard Griffin, reported he had found 1,700 patients who were waiting for appointments but missing from electronic waiting lists at the hospital in Phoenix where the issue first came to light.
Although the interim report says further interviews are necessary to determine how far up the management chain knowledge of the practices went, the IG has referred matters to the Department of Justice for possible criminal investigation.Although the interim report says further interviews are necessary to determine how far up the management chain knowledge of the practices went, the IG has referred matters to the Department of Justice for possible criminal investigation.
“It appears that a significant number of schedulers are manipulating the waiting times of established patients by using the wrong desired date of care,” the IG said in the report.“It appears that a significant number of schedulers are manipulating the waiting times of established patients by using the wrong desired date of care,” the IG said in the report.
“Instead of schedulers using a date based on when the provider wants to see the veteran or when the veteran wants an appointment, the scheduler deviates from VHA’s scheduling policy by going into the system to determine when the next available appointment is and using that as a purported desired date. This results in a false 0-day wait time.”“Instead of schedulers using a date based on when the provider wants to see the veteran or when the veteran wants an appointment, the scheduler deviates from VHA’s scheduling policy by going into the system to determine when the next available appointment is and using that as a purported desired date. This results in a false 0-day wait time.”
Last week Obama put Shinseki on notice that he may be held personally accountable if evidence is discovered of a cover-up of the practice, which veterans campaigners claim has cost the lives of up to 40 patients who were denied care. In Senate testimony this month, Griffin said an investigation had found no evidence that long wait times led to patient deaths.Last week Obama put Shinseki on notice that he may be held personally accountable if evidence is discovered of a cover-up of the practice, which veterans campaigners claim has cost the lives of up to 40 patients who were denied care. In Senate testimony this month, Griffin said an investigation had found no evidence that long wait times led to patient deaths.
Although the report came to no conclusions on whether senior management were aware of waiting time manipulation, it did show evidence that staff were instructed to massage the figures and threatened if they did not comply.Although the report came to no conclusions on whether senior management were aware of waiting time manipulation, it did show evidence that staff were instructed to massage the figures and threatened if they did not comply.
“Scheduling supervisors told schedulers to review these reports and 'fix' any appointments greater than 14 days. Schedulers say they were instructed to reschedule the appointments for less than 14 days,” the report said.“Scheduling supervisors told schedulers to review these reports and 'fix' any appointments greater than 14 days. Schedulers say they were instructed to reschedule the appointments for less than 14 days,” the report said.
“At one location, a scheduler told us each supervisor was provided a list of schedulers who exceeded the 14-day goal. To keep their names off the supervisor’s list, schedulers automatically changed the desired date to the next available appointment, thereby, showing no wait time.”“At one location, a scheduler told us each supervisor was provided a list of schedulers who exceeded the 14-day goal. To keep their names off the supervisor’s list, schedulers automatically changed the desired date to the next available appointment, thereby, showing no wait time.”
The report also appears to support Congressional critics of the administration by suggesting the problem was widespread and had been warned about previously.The report also appears to support Congressional critics of the administration by suggesting the problem was widespread and had been warned about previously.
“We are finding that inappropriate scheduling practices are a systemic problem nationwide,” the report said.“We are finding that inappropriate scheduling practices are a systemic problem nationwide,” the report said.
The report recommended that Shinseki immediately “initiate a nationwide review of veterans on wait lists to ensure that veterans are seen in an appropriate time, given their clinical condition”.The report recommended that Shinseki immediately “initiate a nationwide review of veterans on wait lists to ensure that veterans are seen in an appropriate time, given their clinical condition”.
The veterans benefits system has long been criticised for extended delays in access to care, and was further strained by the admission of two million new patients since 2009 due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and policy changes recognizing new post-traumatic stress cases and Agent Orange victims from the Vietnam warThe veterans benefits system has long been criticised for extended delays in access to care, and was further strained by the admission of two million new patients since 2009 due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and policy changes recognizing new post-traumatic stress cases and Agent Orange victims from the Vietnam war
The VA is the second-largest bureaucracy in the nation, after the Department of Defense. More than 10 million US veterans are cared for under the VA's expansive public healthcare system, which operates roughly 1,700 hospitals, clinics and other facilities.The VA is the second-largest bureaucracy in the nation, after the Department of Defense. More than 10 million US veterans are cared for under the VA's expansive public healthcare system, which operates roughly 1,700 hospitals, clinics and other facilities.
The current scandal erupted a month ago, when a whistleblower alleged that secret wait lists were linked to the deaths of veterans in Phoenix. Early reports were bolstered by claims that officials fraudulently manipulated data to hide the size of the waiting list to avoid breaching internal rules – allegations which now appear to be substantially confirmed.The current scandal erupted a month ago, when a whistleblower alleged that secret wait lists were linked to the deaths of veterans in Phoenix. Early reports were bolstered by claims that officials fraudulently manipulated data to hide the size of the waiting list to avoid breaching internal rules – allegations which now appear to be substantially confirmed.
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has called three new witnesses to testify before Congress as soon as Wednesday evening.The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has called three new witnesses to testify before Congress as soon as Wednesday evening.