Yesterday I was at the Portland, Oregon VA. I had a procedure that took about 30 minutes. However, I was there for over 5 hours taking the pulse of patients, their caregivers, doctors, nurses, technical support people, and clerks. Collectively there is one word that describes our attitude about what's wrong at the Veterans Administration.
WE ARE PISSED ! ! !
and what we are pissed about is that senior VA mangers are setting Shinseki up to take the blame for their own back-stabbing, incompetency and bullsh*t
Here's what these senior management people do to back-stab anyone who thinks they are going to change
THEIR VA: For years these slimy characters have worked closely with and become friends of Congressional staff and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Any Congressional staff person will tell you that more constituent requests come from Veterans and their families than from any other group. It doesn't matter which party you are talking about. Friends do favors for friends.
BUT if you, as a senior manager in Veterans Affairs who is helping Senator X, have a little problem with the boss, your friend in Senator X's office will have the Senator put in a good word for you.
The Guilty - so far
Newly appointed Deputy Director of VA Healthcare (but not yet confirmed by the Senate) is Dr. Jeffrey Murawsky, formerly director of the Great Lakes Health Care VISN. Hines VA Hospital was under Murawsky's supervision. He had reporting to him Hines VA Hospital Director Sharon Helman. Yep, the same Sharon Helman who was promoted to Phoenix Hospital VA Director. Helman got that promotion with the approval and recommendation of Murawsky.
The problem at VA has always been management integrity. Politicians have given political cover to the slimy characters who have for decades have run the Department. Those politicians exist on both sides of the aisle.
Therefore, I suggest the Portland, Oregon Medical Center be renamed in honor of and thanks for the service of General Erick Shinseki.
3:29 PM PT: Channel 2 Portland came out and filmed at noon. The cameraman said it would be on at 4 & 6 PM