Dallas VA Hospital Support

Recently the the internal audit performed by the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) of the Veterans Administration. The OIG audit concluded that
the Dallas VA Hospital ranked as the worst of any facility in the country.
In 82 pages the VA's own OIG describes a litany of extremely serious
conditions. Time and again the report identifies unsanitary, unsafe and
filthy conditions.

Which is why we are organizing a show of support for our Veterans and for
active duty military personnel who are putting their lives on the line every
day - for us and for their families who are suffering immeasurable anxiety.
We are inviting TDV members and all like-minded folks, regardless of
political affiliation, to join us in expressing our concerns at the Dallas
VA Hospital.

The action will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2005, beginning around
10:00 A.M. Come as early as you like and stay as long as you can - we expect
our numbers to grow throughout the morning and early afternoon. Join with
TDV and all others who want their voices heard and who want to see VA Health
Care become what it should be.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this activity or any other
matters please call Tommy Smelser, State Chair, at 972-647-2828. Let's
really make a strong show of support for our Veterans and all active U.S.
military!

In no way is this a protest or demostration against those who work hard at
the hospital. This is an event to raise awareness that our veterans need our
support and that the Dallas facility needs to be fixed. We want to show
support for everyone involved, but we need our legislators to fix this
facility and keep the promises we gave our veterans. Normally these types of
reports are death sentences to facilities like this. We need the VA hospital
in Dallas to stay open and serve our men and women in the service.

Here is a link to the map of the area. They should be meeting at the main
entrance.

http://www.north-texas.med.va.gov/Dallas_Visitor_Guide.pdf

 

We want the facility fixed no matter what it takes. There are probably some
that need to be replaced, no doubt, but to condemn them all would be a bad
thing to do. Don't blame everyone for problems that exist.
Some of the problems have to deal with funding for more personel. They have
the budget to hire more people, but no funds are dedicated to being able to
hire those people. Sometimes all you can do in those situations is to do the
best at your job and just ignore the rest.
Obviously there is an morale problem with the employees, so the last thing
we want to do is to further add to the morale problem and cause further
issues for the patients that are there. Lots of patients are getting good
care and nothing but good things to say about the hospital, but still many
are disgusted and we would like to see it fixed.
So this ride is a support ride for our veterans and the hospital. We need
the facility fixed, if it means hiring more people then do it, if some lose
their jobs then do it, just give our veterans the kind of health services
they were promised.

 

Having been to the facilities in both Seattle
and the one in Lakewood, Wa. And most recently the
one at Fort William Henry Harrison the biggest
problem is the age of the facilities. It's hard
for staff to keep places that old and
unrefurbished clean and safe.
I wont go into what I think of quite a few of
the people who work in those facilities except to
say that 5% of the people do the work and show up
on time while the other 95% bitch, whine, ignore
and generally find ways to not get fired, get paid
and do little to nothing and what they do do is
kaka. My wife has worked for the VA...now she's
working for IHS and the quality of people is far
better.

 

Elmer.. I have been informed since the Wednesday TMRA 2 meeting, that
members of the Texas Democratic Veterans advocacy group has met with the new
administration officeals in the Dallas VA Hospital facility.. The reception
was warm, cordial and constructive.. The administration officials have
assured them that corrective steps have been taken already and that measures
will be sustained to ensure improvement in conditions and services will
realize improvement in the future..

The gathering tomorrow will not be in demonstation or protest, rather than
in support of the inpatients and outpatients who have served our country ..
They are the ones who deserve the best support and consideration that our
Nation can provide.. They've been promised that their contributions to the
service of our country would be rewarded with medical and healthcare ..
Although there are no contracts, that has been the comittment that we have
made to them, as Americans.. Anything less than fulfilling that committment
is a betrayal to them..

I will be there tomorrow.. See you then..

Your Friend and Brother in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Has one of my division people leave FHWA for the VA because it allowed
her to move closer to family. Heard back within 6 months that she hated
it. Conditions were awful, pay scales were lower for the same duties,
and many co-workers didn't have the "work ethic" that she had come to
expect (few people "took ownership" of the areas for which they were
responsible). Of course, our conversations went into more detail but
that pretty much sums it all up.

 

"Bownse"
SNIP

Yep and the one in Lakewood(American Lake VA) was
working with the Union to put everyone on a
timeclock because people were consistently LATE.
It's so bad at that facility that the UNION
brought up the subject to the VA. Currently the
administration doesn't want to play ball.

 

I forgot to mention that her facility was in ABQ, NM. So it's not just a
Dallas issue.

 

"Bownse"

SNIP

Nope it's systemic from my understanding. IHS
has fewer problems than the VA. Ironic isn't it?
But tell me ever wonder how many people remember
"Ira Hays". It took the man in black to remind
me...yes like any other honest soldier I cried
knowing that we his fellow veterans failed him.

 

In the past three years, I've posted several times about the conditions of
VA Hospitals from California to Texas.. Don't you thing it is about time
someone does something about it ? Now's a good opportunity..

Bill Walker
Irving, Tx.