Memphis VA Broke Protocols Regarding Veteran Wait List
August 08, 2017
After complaints from Congress and special counsel, a government audit found that 140 veterans who were seeking specialized service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Memphis were wrongly booted from wait lists. Some of these veterans had already been waiting months. The complaints asserted that the VA was attempting to disguise wait times and inappropriately boost performance metrics.
The audit also found that the Memphis VA was attempting to steer around the established procedures that would give the veterans an opportunity to get their care elsewhere at a private facility through the Choice program. However, the audit found that there was no conclusive evidence that there was a deliberate attempt to manipulate performance metrics for the VAMC.
The audit resulted in four recommendations regarding the complaints. Memphis VAMC Director David Dunning expressed that two of those were already in the works. They’ve ensured that there is proper training in Choice protocols which will allow the veterans to get their care elsewhere if they choose. Second, the medical center will be hiring staff in two different departments by the end of August. The medical center is continuing to take progressive steps towards creating fair procedures for all veterans.