We will never know how much we Kossacks impacted this change but Goodness knows
we made a lot of noise. We wrote a lot of letters, made a lot of calls, and talked interviews that went inside The White House and meeting rooms of the Joints Chief of Staff. You, Hal Donahue from The Huffington Post and so many others raised your voices and we demanded better treatment for our veterans in Gainesville, Florida.
This is an update of the changes so far...There is more to do and more wrongs to be made right but this is a darn good start.
I was informed today by a person at the VA a new administrator will be on board after the sudden and recent departure of the former administrator. The one with the vision to build wings to hospitals without proper staffing.
jump below the fold and see what has transpired in a mere 2 months. There is no doubt we got attention to the right people. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. We get letters informing us that we have their attention and claims and complaints have the White House involved. Jump below the fold .................
This is hot off the press....
VA Sunshine Healthcare Network Announces New Healthcare System Director
April 20, 2012
Print Version (PDF)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of
Thomas Wisnieski, MPA, FACHE, as the new
director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
“We are excited to bring Mr. Wisnieski on board as the new director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. His sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve,” said Nevin M. Weaver, VISN 8 Network Director. “We anticipate he will arrive at the medical center within the next 45 to 60 days to begin his appointment.”
Wisnieski joined the VA more than 30 years ago and has held progressive leadership positions at VA medical centers in New York, Louisiana and South Carolina. Most recently, he served as the medical center director at the Biloxi VA medical center which includes four outpatient clinics, a community living center and blind rehabilitation center. He was responsible for a budget of nearly $359 million and approximately 2,000 employees.
Wisnieski holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration with Health Care Emphasis from State University of New York at Brockport, N.Y. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Wisnieski will oversee delivery of health care to more than 121,200 Veterans and an operating budget of $850 million at one of the nation’s largest VA health care systems. With nearly 4,800 staff and facilities in Gainesville, Lake City, Jacksonville, Lecanto, Marianna, Ocala, Palatka, St. Augustine, St. Marys (GA), Tallahassee, The Villages, Valdosta (GA), and Waycross (GA), the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System is one of the most complex of the nation’s 152 VA Medical Centers
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More news.....
VA to add about 1,900 to mental health staff
By Eric Tucker
The Associated Press
Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 6:57 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 6:57 p.m.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday it is increasing its staff of mental health workers by roughly 1,900, part of an effort to anticipate medical needs of veterans returning home from war.
The department plans to add about 1,600 clinicians, including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and social workers, and about 300 support staff to an existing mental health staff of roughly 20,590.
It was not clear on Thursday how the added staff might affect care for veterans in North Central Florida. VA medical centers in Gainesville and Ocala serve a large number of veterans in North Florida and South Georgia
Sen. Patty Murray, who chairs the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, has scheduled a hearing on the topic for next week. A VA inspector general report that Murray had requested on mental health is due in days.
Murray said the new hires were "desperately needed" at a time when "staff vacancies, scheduling delays and red tape" are leaving veterans witho
ut help.
I suspect Patty Murrary will be calling another hearing soon when all the i's are dotted and t's crossed about situations that came to light during this nightmare regarding the treatment of our Gainesville veterans.
I was told today that an email came through the Gainesville VA System regarding new staff to fill the gap very soon. I was told that today. You folks know about the autracity of what I have witnessed first hand and there is still more that has to be addressed but it looks to me there is an effort going on for North Florida's veterans.
My husband is being seen twice a week and called several times a day with well checks from doctors and nurses along with reminders.
We get an update once a week on the regional side and progress of the claim for daily quality of life assistance and now have the evaluation called c * p set up within 4 weeks. We have waited over a year and a half.
I sincerely hope the day will come when pushing and fighting so hard for what should be a given is no longer necessary but for now.. I will say again...You can stand me up at the gates of Hell but I won't back down.
I am glad we pushed and wrote and demanded change. It appears to be happening.
I battle different arms of the bureaucratic mammoth but I usually just go back to VISN and the Congress and White House and try to stay on top of things. I don't want to be billed for emergency heart attacks and there is still information on behalf of these disabled veterans being sent into the machine at least every other day. There are some very bad stories and the people at the top are being informed. The last letter received informed us that this had their attention and was being handled with priority.
Do not think for a moment you did not have a hand in this better treatment attempt I know better. Thanks and more thanks.
http://www.gainesville.com/...