Letter to the Honorable Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs - Regarding Hines VA Hospital
Letter
Secretary Robert A. McDonald
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary McDonald:
I am writing to express my concern about the findings in the recent U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Analysis of Disclosure, Agency Report, and Whistleblower Comments at Edward Hines, Jr., Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Hines, Illinois, File No. DI-14-2762, and to request information about the Department of Veterans Affairs plans for corrective measures.
Over the years, I have shared with your Department concerns regarding allegations of inappropriate cardiovascular care, long wait times, and other issues of improper care at the Hines VA Hospital. While I have appreciated your Department's efforts to provide quality care for our veterans and uphold transparency and accountability, I remain deeply troubled about allegations of ongoing problems at Hines VA Hospital.
The OSC File No. DI-14-2762 reported on February 25, 2016, found that the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) 2015 investigation into whistleblower allegations of wait times and delays in veterans' access to mental health care at Hines VA Hospital was insufficient. The OSC report further states that the OIG investigation did not include any analysis of actual wait times, assessment of the impact of such delays on patient mental health care, recommendations for corrective action, nor accountability among Hines VA Hospital management and leadership. In addition, the OIG refused to allow the OSC access to its complete investigation reports and appeared to focus on discrediting the whistleblower at Hines VA Hospital.
As such, I request your Department implement immediately corrective actions at Hines VA Hospital to address the concern of wait times and timely response to whistleblower allegations in the future. I also request a meeting with you in person to discuss recommendations for Hines VA Hospital as well as the troubling fact that Hines VA Hospital has not had a permanent Director since 2014.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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