Miami Herald - June 17, 2009
Lesley Clark, lclark@MiamiHerald.com

The disclosure of the potential punishments came as federal lawmakers chided the Department of Veterans Affairs for not moving faster to address mistakes that may have exposed thousands of veterans to HIV and hepatitis. A VA inspector general's report released Tuesday showed that less than half of VA medical facilities reviewed during a recent surprise inspection could provide evidence of proper procedures and training -- though VA officials had promised Congress prompt action following the disclosure of problems at three VA facilities, including Miami.

VA DIRECTIVE

"You certainly would think that after the initial discoveries and the directive from the VA that medical directors would make sure that all of their equipment and procedures were brought into line and yet this investigation shows that many, many did not," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. "There will be a public accounting of this situation."

In the Miami case, the hospital gave itself a clean bill of health in January, only to discover problems two months later after a more intensive review. Between 5 and 10 employees are likely to face some sort of discipline, ranging from admonishments to suspension without pay. No firings are likely, said John Vara, the Miami hospital's chief of staff.

Top veterans affairs officials promised lawmakers they would redouble efforts to prevent a repeat. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki issued a statement after the hearing saying it was "unacceptable that any of our veterans may have been exposed to harm as a result of an endoscopic procedure."

The VA issued its first alert last December, warning of possible contamination problems with equipment being used in colonoscopies, based on problems at a VA hospital in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Problems were later found with endoscopic procedures at the VA's Augusta, Ga., ear, nose and throat clinic, and with colonoscopies performed in Miami.

But the inspector general's report said surprise inspections May 13 and 14 found that only 43 percent of the facilities inspected had appropriate operating procedures for endoscopes in place and could document that staffers had been properly trained.

"I sit here today and still feel a lack of confidence in what veterans are going through," said Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, who said he was promised several months ago that the situation would be addressed. "I want to know what can I tell my constituents and my veterans who say they can't believe this is still happening."

'DISAPPOINTED'

William Duncan, a VA official in charge of health quality and safety, said the VA was "extremely disappointed" with its performance and committed to "reducing those adverse affects to the lowest possible level."

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