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Last updated 5:52 pm CT November 20, 2009.
Audit Shows Continued Shortcomings at Marion VA
The audit by the Veteran's Affairs inspector general reveals a series of shortcomings from reporting patient deaths to overseeing patient safety. It covers the fiscal year ending in 2009.
The findings are troubling since the hospital has been under the microscope since 2007, when a string of deaths were attributed to poor care. Two resulted in high-priced malpractice settlements.
Monday officials at the hospital told reporters they've already taken steps to fix the problems highlighted in the report, but lawmakers argue this new report proves the Marion VA should have done more sooner.
"This is absolutely inexcusable. After two years the VA has run out of excuses," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, (D)-Illinois.
The sentiment is echoed by U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, (D)-Illinois, and U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello, (D)-Belleville, and John Shimkus, (R )- Collinsville.
Since 2007 the Marion VA has brought in a new director, and opened the facility so that veteran's families could check up on their hospital.
Still, “Two years after nine veterans died at the Marion VA because of mismanagement and malpractice, the inspector general's report tells us that many of the same deficiencies are still in place at the facility,” Durbin said.
The thirty-page report reveals that some previously identified issues had been corrected.
Still, a team of auditors, led by a physician, found a list of problems.
“We found that two providers performed procedures for which they did not have privileges,” the report said.
Three sets of documents showed three different death totals for April 2009.
According to the report, Marion VA staff did not properly follow infection control procedures.
In one case, auditors report, “We found that a patient with a history Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and an order of contact precautions was inappropriately placed in a room that shared a bathroom with two patients who did not require contact precautions.”
"They found innocent veterans were exposed to MRSA, one of the deadliest forms of infection," Durbin said.
In a press conference held before the report was released VA Network Director James Floyd downplayed the negative parts of the report.
"There were no findings relating to any adverse outcomes regarding health care," Floyd said.
He said the hospital has already taken action on eight out of the ten recommendations made by auditors, and surveys show that both patient and employee satisfaction is up.
Officials from Washington were on-hand to discuss changes.
"Marion is a special place. A lot of attention was drawn to this medical center in 2007 and we want to see that things go well," said Acting Deputy Under-Secretary for Health Robert Petzel.
Some of that attention is focused on a change in personnel. Current Marion Director Warren Hill has taken a job at another VA facility in Wisconsin.
Officials have called in a highly-experienced VA retiree to handle the transition, "So that we're certain that we'll have a single person here until we can recruit a permanent replacement for Mr. Hill," Petzel said.
James Roseborough has been named as the new director of the Marion VA Medical Center. He retired from the department in 2008 after holding the role at several locations.
Roseborough starts Tuesday. He is expected to be in Marion for a year.
Presumably, Roseborough’s to-do list will include getting the hospital re-authorized to do inpatient surgery. Officials say the Marion hospital could re-apply for the privilege in a matter of months.
Inpatient surgeries have been suspended since September 2007.
By Dana Jay
djay@wsiltv.com
Additional Links:
Click here to read the inspector general's report
Now: 1258769053
