Multiple legislators called for the ouster of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki following the release of a report on Wednesday that confirmed inappropriate patient scheduling and record-keeping practices within the VA.
The VA Office of Inspector General found that 1,700 veterans who were awaiting a primary care appointment at a VA facility in Phoenix were not included on an electronic wait list, which meant their official “wait time” had not yet begun, according to a report.
“Our reviews at a growing number of VA medical facilities have thus far provided insight into the current extent of these inappropriate scheduling issues throughout the VA healthcare system and have confirmed that inappropriate scheduling practices are systemic throughout,” the VA Office of Inspector General said. “One challenge in these reviews is to determine whether these practices exist currently or were used in the past and subsequently corrected by VA managers.”
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said the report showed the need for reform in the VA system.
“This report highlights what we already know about the Department of Veterans Affairs: this department, as it stands now, is incapable of meeting the needs of all of our nation’s veterans,” Capito said. “We must reform this troubled agency to fulfill our commitment to our veterans and ensure that they receive timely, quality care. It’s time to institute real change at the VA, starting with the resignation of Secretary Eric Shinseki. Rebuilding and reforming the VA must start with accountability at the top.”
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said the Obama administration lacks accountability and called for the president to oust Shinseki.
“(On Wednesday) we learned that the mistreatment of our veterans and the cover-up of that mistreatment is systemic in Secretary Shinseki’s VA,” Roberts said. “This failure of management and leadership is entirely unacceptable, and must not be allowed to continue. Our veterans have given so much to our nation protecting freedom both at home and abroad, and they deserve so much more. And today, they deserve accountability.”
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) said trust is an integral part of the military, and he no longer trusts Shinseki.
“It is time for Secretary Shinseki to step aside and make way for new leadership at the VA that can restore trust and return our veterans to the high level of care that they have earned,” Duffy said.