Beyond A Failed Nominee: Whistleblower Retaliation Another Problem At The VA

[light Worker]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: NPR



Dan Martin is chief of engineering services for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Northern Indiana Health Care System, but for more than a year, he hasn't had much to do. He says he has been designated to work at a remote VA office with no work assignments, ever since he raised the alarm on what he believed were fraudulently awarded contracts for new water filtration systems in local VA hospitals.

Martin tells Here & Now that the filtration system was like "a several hundred pound paperweight" that didn't abide by VA regulations to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases in the hospitals. He reported the problem to the Office of the Inspector General, which he says took his allegations seriously.

Last year, the Trump administration tried to solve this problem by creating a new VA office designed to shield whistleblowers from retaliation. The problem of whistleblower retaliation further shines a light on the growing dysfunction inside the VA, which still awaits a permanent chief after Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination this week.

The VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection has taken on dozens of new cases of alleged whistleblower retaliation. The controversy over how the VA handles reports of wrongdoing from its own employees highlights the challenge of overhauling the troubled agency. Some employees who are flagging fraud, waste and abuse are skeptical that the new office will be able to protect them...

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Read more: https://www.npr.org/2018/04/27/606461746/beyond-a-failed-nominee-whistleblower-retaliation-another-problem-at-the-va

[BigOleDummy]

1. I agree

about the "feudal" comment somewhat. As a Veteran who uses the V.A. exclusively for my healthcare and as I travel in my work, I've seen the difference in the different administrative districts. Luckily all my interactions have been positive. VERY positive I might add for the most part. Top notch care, very nice staff. They have bent over backwards to accommodate me. My Dr. listens to me and acts on my concerns. While I'm sure there are people who have had worse experiences than I, I don't think the V.A. gets NEAR the praise they deserve for the help and support they give us veterans.
I would like to see a demographic of the whistleblower retaliation claims. It would not surprise me a bit if they were concentrated in a few districts/areas as there are bad apples in every bushel. THOSE areas need to looked at very closely indeed and I'm not saying otherwise but everyone should take a minute and applaud the V.A. for the outstanding work they do for us.

I cannot resist giving a shout out to the Robley Rex V.A. Medical Center and the Newberg V.A. Healthcare Center (my primary care clinic) here in Louisville. I have never been talked down to or had to wait an unreasonable time for appointments or tests. Dedicated , friendly people from the receptionist to the Doctors and Specialists. They do not get the credit they deserve.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Locking - the hosts feel this is analysis, rather than a breaking news story

It's looking at problems in the VA over several months, not something that just happened. As such, it should be posted either in the General Discussion forum, or the Editorial and Other Articles forum. Please repost in either of those. Thanks.