VA Employees’ Union Blames Chronic Understaffing for Long Wait Lists

[Omaha Steve]

http://nhlabornews.com/2014/05/va-employees-union-blames-chronic-understaffing-for-long-wait-lists/

By NH Labor | May 23, 2014



Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center (WikiCommon)
AFGE calls for reallocation of resources to frontline caregivers


WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) points to understaffing and inadequate funding of frontline services as main causes of long wait times for veterans seeking care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. The agency made promises and set standards that, in many locations, may have been impossible to fulfill, given the inadequate allocation of resources to frontline VA Logocaregivers. In such an environment, instances of wait list gaming become almost inevitable.

FGE members report shortages of providers and support personnel to provide timely access to veterans seeking care at most VHA facilities. The shortages in primary care and a number of specialties, including psychiatry, are directly linked to management’s manipulation of wait list data at many VA medical facilities. Scheduling clerks consistently report that they lack the sufficient provider slots to make timely appointments. But VA’s performance standards provide strong financial incentives for managers to hide underlying staffing and resource problems by “scrubbing wait lists”.

“When we look deeper into this issue of extended wait times for veterans to receive an appointment, we have to recognize that understaffing is a major culprit,” said AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. “All around the country, medical facilities are understaffed, with numerous frontline care positions going unfilled. How can the VA expect to keep up with the growing needs of our nation’s heroes if it doesn’t properly staff its facilities?”

Congress has made earnest efforts to provide the agency with the resources it needs to carry out its mission, but it has not gone far enough. According to the Independent Budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs, developed each year by leading veterans groups, funding levels will remain an estimated $2 billion short in FY 2015 and approximately $500 million short for FY 2016. Making matters worse, far too many precious dollars are spent on unnecessary layers of management and administration, rather than direct patient care. The growth of middle management positions within the agency has ballooned to unprecedented levels, from fewer than 300 in 1995 to more than 1,700 by a recent count, costing taxpayers $203 million annually.

FULL story at link.

[Rozlee]

1. I worked at the VA in WV for a while and I can attest that poor staffing takes its toll.

That was in the 1990's and federal hiring freezes took a big bite out of us. We'd lose personnel and never get replacements and our workload would be crushing. The pay and benefits were good, but it was very stressful.

[Drahthaardogs]

2. Sequester had no ramifications.....

RIiiiiiight

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Congress funded the war but it won't fund the peace

What does that tell you about Congress?

[Wellstone ruled]

4. This short staffing VA facilities

is just the tip of things to come. Way the F--- up,it's all about breaking the Government Service Employees Union. TSA employees are dealing with this on a daily basis. Hope everyone understands what the real story is with GSA workers. The Rethugs are out to privatize every damn thing they can.