No doubt VA Secretary David Shulkin will utilize the newest legislation passed in March which makes it easier to fire VA employees found to be deficient in their responsibility to provide veterans healthcare.  President Trump has also enhanced the accountability within the VA system with whistleblower protections and a specific office of accountability.

(Via Washington Free Beacon)  More than 100 veterans died while waiting for care at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Los Angeles, Calif., over a nine-month span ending in August 2015, according to a new government report.

The VA Office of Inspector General found in a recent healthcare inspection that 225 veterans at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System facility died with open or pending consults between Oct. 1, 2015 and Aug. 9, 2015. Nearly half—117—of those patients died while experiencing delays in receiving care.

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As an outcome of the systemic corruption and administrative malfeasance uncovered by whistleblowers in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, on April 27th President Trump and Vice-President Pence participate in an Executive Order signing to enhance the accountability and whistleblower protections within federal government.

President Trump created the VA Accountability Office.  This was a major campaign promise to veterans fulfilled.  You could tell by the intensity of delivery this was a very important reform objective to President Trump personally.  Now today…

(Via Fox News) The director of the beleaguered Shreveport VA hospital in Louisiana has been fired following a three-year tenure filled with scandal — including accusations of covering up a secret wait-list, creating severe staffing shortages and refusing to buy essentials like vital signs machines, linens or mattresses.

Toby Mathew, who became director of Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in June 2014, was fired on April 13 due to “charges related to general misconduct, and failure to follow policy and provide effective oversight of the Center’s credentialing and privileging program,” said an internal VA memo obtained by Fox News.

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As an outcome of the systemic corruption and administrative malfeasance uncovered by whistleblowers in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, President Trump and Vice-President Pence participate in an Executive Order signing to enhance the accountability and whistleblower protections within federal government.

President Trump creates the VA Accountability Office.  This is a major campaign promise to veterans fulfilled.  You can tell by the intensity of delivery this is a very important reform objective to President Trump personally.

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[TRANSCRIPT] 4:44 P.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. And, Mike, you’ve been so magnificent as our Vice President that we very much appreciate it. Thank you very much.

I’m pleased to be here. And we’re joined by so many members of Congress. It’s been really a fantastic period of time for me. And I’m honored also to be at the Department of Veterans Affairs, because I will tell you this has been something, right from the beginning of the campaign — does not get any more important for me than making life really great for our phenomenal veterans. That I can say.

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Earlier today President Trump delivered on a reform promise to Veterans who are regionally impacted by poor healthcare options/providers within the VA system.  This is a really big deal.

[Transcript] 11:32 A.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  We’re honored to join and be joined today by some absolutely tremendous people and great veterans.  Thanks, as well — and I have to thank them dearly — but as well to Representative Phil Roe.  Where is he?  What a job you’ve done.  And all the members of Congress who worked on the bill that we’re about to sign.  Such an important bill.

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President Donald Trump, Vice-President Mike Pence and VA Secretary David Shulkin meet today with veterans to discuss ongoing VA programs including healthcare and veterans support initiatives.
The purpose of today’s meeting was to listen to the ongoing concerns, understand the proposals being implemented, and further recommit to institutional reform and improved standards of care for veterans.

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According to a report citing two transition sources, Governor Sarah Palin is being considered for the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Governor Palin has been a strong supporter of Donald Trump for several years and was one of his most fierce defenders against the insufferable GOP establishment class.  She would make an exceptional cabinet member in either VA or Interior.
The bench for possible VA Secretary is extremely deep and loaded with dream team candidates, including:  Governor Sarah Palin, Senator Scott Brown and Chairman Jeff Miller (House VA Committee).   The challenge of modernizing, restructuring, removing the corruptocrats and rebuilding the VA structure to provide improved veteran benefits, including healthcare, is urgent and important.
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Weird story and even more weird explanation/apology. Ego, I guess.

(Via The Hill) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald falsely claimed that he served in a military special forces unit, he admitted to the Huffington Post.

When a homeless veteran told McDonald in a conversation captured by CBS that he had served in special forces, the head of the VA replied that he had, too. The conversation aired during a CBS News story chronicling how the agency is working to house homeless veterans.

“I have no excuse,” McDonald told The Huffington Post. “I was not in special forces.”

He added that he “reacted spontaneously” and “wrongly [with] no intent in any way to describe my record as any different than it is.” (more…)

There was a lot of shock testimony during the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee Hearing last night. The hearing lasted until midnight, but started four hours earlier with testimony from four whistleblowers who outlined the targeting they encountered as a result of their speaking out.
One of the more damaging testimonials came from Mr. Scott Davis, Program Specialist, VA National Health Eligibility Center. Mr. Davis explained how he became the target for harassment after contacting Rob Nabors, President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff.

You might remember the name Rob Nabors after the initial VA scandal hit the headlines. Nabors was the person President Obama dispatched to Arizona to be his “hands on” representative and investigator: (more…)

Two panels are scheduled to give explosive testimony tonight (7:30pm EST) at the House Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing.   (Link HERE)  The Whistleblowers will be giving testimony about how they were targeted because they spoke up.

LIVE ON CSPAN-2

live link HERE

Panel 1
1. Jose Mathews, M.D., Former Chief of Psychiatry, St. Louis VA Health Care System
2. Christian Head, M.D., Associate Director–Chief of Staff–Legal and Quality Assurance, Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System
3. Kathrine Mitchell, M.D., Medical Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Post-Deployment Center, Phoenix VA Health Care System
4. Mr. Scott Davis, Program Specialist, VA National Health Eligibility Center

(more…)

Don’t know much about him, we’ll probably find out more in the coming days…

WASHINGTON DC – President Obama on Monday will nominate Bob McDonald, a West Point graduate who served as the chief executive of Procter & Gamble, to take over as head of the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs, according to White House officials.
The un­or­tho­dox pick of a retired corporate executive whose former company produces iconic household products such as Tide detergent and Charmin toilet paper — rather than a former military general — underscores the serious management problems facing the agency charged with serving more than 8 million veterans a year. On Friday, White House deputy chief of staff Rob Nabors submitted a report to the president finding “significant and chronic system failures” and a “corrosive culture” at the Veterans Health Administration, which has come under fire for skewed record-keeping in an effort to cover up the long waits it has imposed on former soldiers seeking medical care. (more…)