Written by
Joe Battle
As the director of the G.V. (Sonny)
Montgomery VA Medical Center, I wish all of our veterans and their families,
service men and women, VA employees and volunteers a happy and safe Fourth of
July holiday. We commemorate the Declaration of Independence on this day as our
statement of shared values and beliefs which manifests itself in the young men
and women who have served our country honorably for 237 years.
I spend my waking moments thinking about how
the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center can better serve our veterans,
and I think of recent events and how some folks are questioning our commitment.
The past few months have seen some challenging times at the Jackson VA.
Recent publicity has captured the attention
of oversight organizations charged with ensuring that health care facilities
are taking care of their patients and providing a safe working environment for
its employees. We welcome these organizations as a check to ensure we are
providing the best quality of care to our veterans in a safe and clean
environment. I’d like to share some results.
On April 1-9, an inspection team from the
Occupational Health and Safety Administration visited and reviewed employee
training records, inspected the equipment sterilization process, observed the
sterilization process and spoke with employees. After almost 10 days, there
were two minor findings — a power cord was “daisy-chained” together, which was
corrected on the spot, and some employee training was not completed within a
calendar year, which OSHA requires, but was completed within a fiscal year,
which the VA requires. We retrained the employees while the inspector was still
on site.
A few weeks later, on May 3, we had an
initial (unannounced) survey by The Joint Commission for Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations for our new Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery
Center. That inspection yielded one indirect finding — an emergency light in the
building had not been tested. We tested it on the spot.
Then, on June 3-4, TJC visited us again. This
time to conduct a “mini” full survey of the hospital based on the Office of
Special Counsel complaints which were filed. The survey team, consisting of a
doctor and nurse, from the VA’s Office of Medical Inspector, reviewed records,
spoke to employees and interviewed veterans. The result was only one indirect
finding regarding precharted documentation on a quality log.
So, in short, we have had three major
(unannounced) inspections over the past three months from oversight
organizations in the health care industry and employee safety. The findings did
not impact patient care.
While these are good results, we know we’re
not finished. Recently, two more OSC complaints have been filed, one related to
pharmacy and one related to credentialing and privileging of staff. When the
results of these reviews are known we will quickly address any opportunities
for improvement.
I have heard that a few wish to see the VA or
the Jackson VA shut down. I am disappointed by such thoughts, and such actions
would not serve veterans in Mississippi. I believe the VA is specifically
equipped to meet the full array of services our veterans need. I want every
eligible veteran in the state of Mississippi to use their earned medical benefits
and be comfortable using the VA Medical Center. The (Sonny) Montgomery VA
Medical Center has an annual operating budget of $350 million which
significantly impacts the economic base of our community while employing more
than 2,000 people. I want employees and veterans to know that my door is open
to ideas, which will improve patient care.
Much has been accomplished during the past
year. We were selected to be one of 15 National Pilots in Mental Health
exploring partnerships with community mental health organizations to increase
access for veterans. We’ve housed 244 homeless veterans and are providing them
with critical health care and other support, we’ve co-sponsored two very
successful job fairs and on Aug. 26 we’re opening our new women’s clinic. Female
veterans are our fastest growing population, and I want the 9,000 plus women
veterans in our catchment area to know that the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
Medical Center is here for you.
While all these changes are good for veteran
care, we recognize that we always will have work to do. This is a place of
honor. More than 44 percent of our employees are veterans. Every eligible
veteran in Mississippi deserves nothing less than our full devotion to their
care. It is our commitment to this nation.
As we move forward, we will continue to
embrace the tenets of ICARE (integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and
excellence) and seek to improve every facet of our health care. So on this July
4, we will be thinking of our veterans and their families. And if you’re traveling
down Woodrow Wilson, you will see the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical
Center, on the high ground, where all the American flags are flying.
