Posts tagged Eric Shinseki
Shinseki Announces Veterans’ Stories Posted on VA’s Web Page
Nov 5th
Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
Veterans Affairs, WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join with the Library of Congress to host a “Veterans History Countdown” on the VA Web site – www.va.gov – featuring the oral histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
“VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans, preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and heroism will never be forgotten,” said Secretary Shinseki. “We want to encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future generations.”
Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA’s Web feature will introduce new personal histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran’s history from each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on the U.S. map in the display.
As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to “Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!” The display will link to the library’s Veterans History Project Web site — www.loc.gov/vets – which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to follow in recording and submitting Veterans’ oral histories and to access the project’s extensive digital archive.
VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program. VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they know—relatives, neighbors, friends,” said Bob Patrick, director of the Veterans History Project.
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.
The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately 65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans’ remembrances using guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/. Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov or the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.
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Popularity: 10% [?]
Illinois: Inquiry at Veterans Hospital
Nov 5th
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki ordered a high-level, quality-management team to assess problems at a troubled Veterans Affairs hospital in Southern Illinois, lawmakers said. Mr. Shinseki met with members of the state’s Congressional delegation and Gov. Patrick J. Quinn two days after the Veterans Affairs inspector general issued a report outlining serious problems at the Marion V.A. Medical Center, where major surgeries were halted in 2007 because of a spike in deaths. A review of the hospital found inconsistencies with reporting deaths and problems with patient safety, including surgeons performing procedures they were not authorized to do. The hospital has been under scrutiny since 2007, when a former surgeon resigned three days after a patient bled to death after gall bladder surgery. The administration found that at least nine deaths between October 2006 and March 2007 resulted from substandard care at the hospital.
Popularity: 8% [?]
VA’s bold goal: Eradicate homelessness among veterans in 5 years
Nov 4th
“General Shinseki is a soldier and treating this like a military operation, and in the
military you have to have hope for your missions,” said Justin Brown of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Washington (CNN) — With a simple, declarative statement, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs announced his ambitious goal to eradicate one of the country’s most shameful problems.
“My name is Shinseki, and I am here to end veteran homelessness,” VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said Tuesday in a speech to the National Summit on Homeless Veterans.
But Shinseki indicated the challenge in meeting his goal by adding, “I learned long ago there are never any absolutes in life, and a goal of zero homeless veterans sure sounds like an absolute.”
The plan unveiled by Shinseki includes trying to leverage existing education and jobs programs, boosting the ability of veteran-owned businesses to compete for federal contracts and spend an additional $3 billion on medical services and homeless programs.
An estimated 131,000 veterans are homeless, according to the VA. That is an improvement from 2003, when the number was as high as 196,000. But the secretary warned that given the ailing economy, the number could increase by as much as 10 percent to 15 percent in the next five years.
The VA plans to focus its new efforts on preventing the problem.
“Our plan enlarges the scope of VA’s efforts to combat homelessness,” said Shinseki in a news release. “In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless veterans off the streets. Our five-year plan aims also at preventing them from ever ending up homeless.”
The department plans to expand the recently passed educational grants program for veterans who served after September 11, 2001, to include not just college but vocational programs as well, according to VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts.
Steps that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki plans to take:
– Leverage existing education and jobs programs
– Boost the ability of veteran-owned businesses to compete for federal contracts
– Spend an additional $3 billion on medical services and homeless programs
– Expand educational grants to include not just college but vocational programs as well
“Not every veteran wants to spend four years pursuing a college degree, but they might be interested in learning a trade that would get them into the taxpaying work force sooner,” Shinseki said.
The VA will also try to win more federal contracts for veteran-owned businesses, encouraging other agencies to exceed the minimum goal of 3 percent of contracts to veteran-owned small businesses. The increase, the VA believes, will also help employ more veterans since “veterans hire veterans,” Shinseki said.
In addition, it is increasing the amount of vouchers for public-financed housing, adding 10,000 more vouchers in 2010. The plan also calls for more programs to aid transition from prison and psychiatric facilities, as well as a renewed call to treat veterans’ psychiatric conditions.
Popularity: 14% [?]
VA to lay out plan to end veterans’ homelessness in 3 day summit
Nov 3rd
Recieved from VA–
Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki will lay out his plan to end homelessness among Veterans within five years at the National Summit on Ending Veteran Homelessness. The first of its kind summit is drawing more than 1,200 homeless Veteran service providers and advocates from federal and state agencies, faith-based and community service providers and the business community. Media advisory attached and below.
This summit, from Nov. 3-5, will be an unprecedented gathering of government, business and community service providers. Secretary Shinseki will address the group at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. This is an opportunity to build support for combating homelessness and to increase community partnerships.
In his address, Secretary Shinseki will be outlining his framework for the plan to get Veterans off the streets, including preventing Veterans from becoming homeless in the first place. Preventative measures include discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will help steer folks into classrooms and off the streets. Secretary Shinseki will also be speaking about VA’s partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the HUD-VASH program. Through this program, HUD provided 10,150 HUD-VASH housing vouchers for homeless Veterans in 2008, and the program is expanding to get more Veterans off the streets in 2010. Of course, VA will continue expanded efforts to provide education, jobs, health care and housing.
Popularity: 15% [?]
Webb Calls for VA Examination of Services at Hampton Veteran Medical Center, Citing Documented Deficiencies and Complaints
Oct 22nd
Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) this week called on the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs to examine the quality of healthcare services being provided patients at the Hampton Veteran Medical Center (VMC) in Hampton, Virginia. Senator Webb cited the 149 complaints his office had received since 2007 from Virginians, critical media reports on the Hampton facility and two VA Inspector General investigations revealing that the medical center had failed to comply with a number of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and guidelines.
“I am aware that the vast majority of the staff at the center is dedicated, hardworking and committed to veterans’ healthcare,” Webb wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. “Nevertheless, the allegations, news stories and GAO reports, when taken collectively, are a source of great concern.”
Senator Webb’s letter to Secretary Shinseki, calling for a review, follows.
October 19, 2009
The Honorable Eric Shinseki
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
I am writing to convey my continued concern about the quality of healthcare services being provided patients at the Hampton Veteran Medical Center (VMC) in Hampton, Virginia.
Since January 2007, my staff has received 149 complaints about the Hampton VMC from patients or their spouses. The allegations range from abusive patient treatment to wrongful death. In addition, a number of news reports have raised serious concerns with the level of care provided at the Hampton VMC.
According to a Combined Assessment Program (CAP) Review of the Hampton VMC conducted by the VA’s Inspector General last year (Report Number 08-00916-204, 9/15/2008), this medical center failed to comply with a number of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and guidelines.
This IG report also detailed unsatisfactory results of the Hampton VMC Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) that captures patient perceptions of care in 12 service areas: “The medical center’s inpatient and outpatient overall SHEP scores for FY 2007 and the 1st quarter of FY 2008 did not meet established targets and were lower than national and VISN scores.”
Another IG investigation of the Hampton VMC conducted last month (Report Number 09-02307-220, 9/18/2009) confirmed a patient’s accusation of a serious misdiagnosis by an attending doctor in the medical center’s Emergency Department (ED): “We substantiated the allegation that the treating physician did not conduct an adequate work-up of the patient’s stroke symptoms..” The report added that, “..the ED physician improperly copied and pasted laboratory results from a patient he’d seen earlier in the ED into the medical record of the complainant.”
I am aware that the vast majority of the staff at the center is dedicated, hardworking and committed to veterans’ healthcare. Nevertheless, the allegations, news stories and GAO reports, when taken collectively, are a source of great concern.
Therefore, I request a thorough examination of the Hampton VMC be conducted; that any deficiencies subsequently detected be corrected so as not to recur; and that I be informed of the results.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
Popularity: 8% [?]
VA Contacting Veteran-Students about New GI Bill
Oct 20th
Calls Part of Systematic Outreach to Improve Service
WASHINGTON — Representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be telephoning Veterans across the country to explain their education benefits under the new Post-911 GI Bill and ensure beneficiaries are able to receive payments due them.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of our highest priorities,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Instead of making people wait to hear from us, we’re reaching out to Veterans, so they can get the money they need to stay in school.”
The Department is conducting this telephone outreach in response to the large numbers of Veterans who have applied for education benefits for the fall 2009 semester. The calls are scheduled to go to Veterans who have applied for benefits under the new educational assistance program. Those who registered for advanced payments will be called, too, in ensure they received their benefits.
To protect the personal identity of Veterans, VA representatives making calls will not ask for any personal information, such as birthdates, bank account or social security numbers, but they may ask family members for information to contact Veterans who are away at school.
“Our procedures and policies to provide advanced payments remain in effect,” Shinseki said. “Meanwhile, we’re completing the on-time development of our automated processing system that will ensure timely delivery of checks in the future.”
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Popularity: 10% [?]
Webb Calls on Veterans Affairs Department to Examine Reports of Misrepresentation of Military Service
Jul 17th
Letter Asks for Immediate Action to Root out Fraud and Abuse in VA System
Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today asked Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to “immediately and proactively” examine recurring allegations of misrepresentation of military service that may have resulted in the awarding of unearned veterans benefits and false recognition for service. This correspondence reiterates concerns laid out in a July 7 letter by Senators Webb and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Webb, a former Marine Officer and highly decorated Vietnam veteran, said he was “increasingly concerned” by numerous media reports of investigations and studies focusing on fraudulent practices resulting in widespread abuses.
“These allegations have been made in many forums, frequently by individuals whose integrity and respect for service cannot be questioned. I have no way at present to measure their validity, particularly as it relates to the conduct of your Department. But since they go to the very core of military service, I believe they should be examined immediately and proactively, with oversight at the top levels of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” wrote Webb.
Cited in the Senator’s letter were numerous allegations of fraudulent POW disability claims; the honoring of fraudulent or exaggerated service claims; fraudulent claims for various combat decorations, awards and campaign ribbons; lax security of pertinent records at VA Regional Offices; inadequate vetting of claimant documentation and official statements; and claimants directly or indirectly altering or registering fraudulent service claims in their official records.
Senator Webb’s letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki follows.
July 13, 2009
The Honorable Eric Shinseki
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
On July 7, 2009, Senator Akaka and I sent a letter to you and Secretary of Defense Gates, seeking clarification on allegations of numerous fraudulent POW disability claims, and an apparent disparity between your department’s list of POWs and the official POW registry maintained by the Department of Defense.
In addition, I have become increasingly concerned by media reports, recurring studies and continuing investigations that focus on the broader issue of misrepresentation of military service, in many cases causing unearned veterans benefits to be provided and in others giving false recognition for service in a manner that detracts from the actual sacrifices that so many have made on behalf of our country. Among the issues, findings and allegations:
- Fraudulent or exaggerated service claims resulting in the awarding of pensions, disability compensation, and other benefits;
- Fraudulent claims for various combat decorations, awards and campaign ribbons;
- Lax security of pertinent records at VA Regional Offices;
- Lax vetting of claimant documentation and official statements; and,
- Claimants directly or indirectly altering or registering fraudulent service claims in their official records.
These allegations have been made in many forums, frequently by individuals whose integrity and respect for service cannot be questioned. I have no way at present to measure their validity, particularly as it relates to the conduct of your Department. But since they go to the very core of military service, I believe they should be examined immediately and proactively, with oversight at the top levels of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I would further ask that members of my staff be comprehensively briefed as soon as possible by VA officials regarding this issue and the measures that are being taken by the Department to combat it. I may participate in this briefing, or follow-on briefings, as well.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb, United States Senator
Popularity: 3% [?]
