Press Releases
HVAC to Examine Preventable Deaths, Accountability at VA
Washington, DC,
August 5, 2013
On Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. ET at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a field hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ approach to stopping preventable patient deaths and lapses in care at VA medical centers around the country. The Veterans Health Administration provides health care services for some eight million American veterans, but a rash of preventable suicides, veteran deaths and infectious disease outbreaks at several VHA facilities throughout the country has put the organization under intense scrutiny. Despite the fact that multiple VA Inspector General reports have linked a number of veteran deaths to widespread mismanagement at VHA facilities, the department has consistently given executives who presided over these events glowing performance reviews and cash bonuses of up to $63,000. The purpose of this hearing is to examine whether VA has the proper management and accountability structures in place to stop the emerging pattern of preventable veteran deaths and serious patient-safety issues at VA medical centers across the country. In doing so, the committee will specifically look at VA’s handling of recent events in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Buffalo, N.Y., and Jackson, Miss. The following event is open to the press: WHO: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs WHEN: 9:00 a.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 9, 2013 WHERE: Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Witness List Panel 1 Brandie Petit Veteran Family Member Atlanta, GA Gerald J. Rakiecki Veteran and VA Police Officer Buffalo, NY Sydney N.W. Schoellman Veteran Family Member Dallas, TX Phyllis A.M. Hollenbeck M.D., FAAP VA Primary Care Physician Jackson, MS Robert E. Nicklas Veteran Family Member Pittsburgh, PA Accompanied by: Judy Nicklas Veteran Family Member Pittsburgh, PA Maureen A. Ciarolla Veteran Family Member Pittsburgh, PA Panel 2 The Honorable Robert A. Petzel Under Secretary for Health U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Accompanied by: Thomas Lynch, M.D. Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Operations and Management Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Michael E. Moreland FACHE Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 4 Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Leslie B. Wiggins Atlanta VA Medical Center Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Brian G. Stiller VA Western New York Healthcare System Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Jeffery L. Milligan Medical Center Director VA North Texas Health Care System Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Joe D. Battle Medical Center Director G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs At the committee’s request, individuals to be present and available to answer questions: Charles Sepich, FACHE Network Director VA Southeast Network (VISN 7) Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs James Cody Interim Network Director VA Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2) Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Joe Dalpiaz Network Director VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17) Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Rica Lewis-Payton Network Director South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Terry Gerigk Wolf Medical Center Director and Chief Executive Officer VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Veterans Health Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Statement for the Record The American Legion |