Phx. VA chief on leave during death investigations

(Before It's News)

Shocking revelations of gross criminal negligence should lead to firings and charges

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki placed Phoenix VA Health Care System Director Sharon Helman, Associate Director Lance Robinson and a third employee on administrative leave amid charges that dozens of VA hospital patients may have died while awaiting medical treatment.

Shinseki released this statement of concern and announced the actions on Thursday. But this is how the Washington Examiner editorially described Shinseki the same day. 

Delays in providing appropriate treatment were purposely hidden as part of a complex cost-cutting scheme set up by Veterans Affairs managers. Their alleged goal was to hide the fact that between 1,400 and 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait up to 21 months to see a doctor, according to whistle-blowing retired top VA doctor, Samuel Foote, M.D.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs said staff investigators have evidence that the Phoenix VA Health Care System kept two sets of records to conceal prolonged waits for doctor appointments and treatment that patients were forced to endure. “It appears as though there could be as many as 40 veterans whose deaths could be related to delays in care,” Miller revealed.

To hide the fact that they were compelling sick veterans to wait indefensible months to see a doctor, Phoenix VA managers kept two separate lists. One was an official list sent to Washington that alleged progress in providing timely appointments. The second and secret one revealed the actual lengthy wait times. Dr. Foote says those records have been shredded.

Because the VA uses performance targets of reduced wait times to determine bonus levels,  Sharon Helman actually received nearly $10,000 in bonuses last year — despite knowing about the off-the-books list and defending its use to staff.

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