Webb Visits VA Medical Center After Receiving Complaints
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb made his first visit Friday to the Hampton VA Medical Center, where he praised the dedication of health care workers but said he is still following the incomplete investigations of many patient complaints.
In the fall, Webb asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to examine the quality of care at the Hampton facility after his office had received 149 complaints, including allegations that ranged from abusive patient treatment to wrongful death.
“We have disposed a number of those and there are others we’re still looking at,” said Webb, who declined to discuss the specifics of the complaints. “Any time anybody contacts us, we’re going to take it very seriously.” He made the remarks after touring the Hampton hospital with his staff.
Webb said his office has received several new complaints since writing to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki about the allegations by patients or their families.
The Virginia Democrat said his staff was briefed this week about the findings of an internal VA peer investigation – known as a System Wide Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy, or SOARS – that was initiated by his complaint and was completed last month.
The SOARS probe was a “thorough investigation” that led to development of an action plan for the hospital, Webb said. He declined to elaborate.
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