Washington – There may be problems at veterans’ hospitals and clinics across the nation — problems severe enough to require congressional hearings and federal investigations – but everything is fine at New Haven’s VA facility, says Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District.
DeLauro said she visited West Haven Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center on Friday, and received an update from the director of the VA CT Healthcare System, Gerald F. Culliton, on findings by the VA inspector general released in February that cleaning procedures in the facility’s operating room were not performed appropriately. The IG also found patients with infectious diseases who may require special precautions were scheduled for surgical procedures throughout the day along with patients who were not infectious.
DeLauro said she is pleased the West Haven medical center has “gone above and beyond the IG’s recommendations” to fix the problems found at the facility.
DeLauro also said she discussed “the national VA patient scheduling controversy,” with Culliton.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is under fire because of charges that delays of care that may have caused the deaths of veterans have been covered up at VA hospitals in Arizona and Colorado – and perhaps elsewhere.
“The VA scheduling controversy that has impacted medical centers nationally is deplorable, and must be addressed swiftly and effectively,” DeLauro said. “Fortunately, it has not been an issue in West Haven.”