May 27, 2009

Hearing Will Examine VA Mistakes That Exposed Vets To Infectious Diseases.

In continuing coverage, the AP (5/29) reports, "Mistakes that put patients at three Department of Veterans Affairs" facilities "at risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious body fluids will be discussed by a congressional panel." The House Committee on Veterans Affairs oversight and investigations subcommittee "has set a June 16 hearing in Washington, D.C., on 'Endoscopy Procedures at the VA, What Happened and What Has Changed.'" The AP adds, "Among more than 10,000 former VA patients in Murfreesboro, Miami and Augusta, Ga., who the VA has warned to get follow-up blood checks, five have tested positive for HIV and 39 have tested positive for hepatitis."

Miami VA Hospital To Make Additional Outreach Efforts..

The Miami Herald (5/29, Tasker) reports the VA hospital in Miami "will take additional steps to reach the veterans it has not yet been able to contact to warn them that improperly cleaned VA colonoscopy equipment might have infected them with hepatitis or HIV. Among the efforts: sending seven nurses door-to-door on June 6 seeking the 216 veterans, and a 'Reach Out Fair" June 13 at the Miami VA to try to change the minds of 72 veterans who have been notified but have declined to come in for testing." US Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) "reported the outreach effort Thursday after a briefing the previous day at the Miami VA hospital." On Thursday, Ros-Lehtinen "called the new VA actions 'appropriate and correct.'"
Impact: Congress, Endoscopy hearing

VA's Performance And Accountability Report Praised.

The third story in the syndicated "Sgt. Shaft" column, appearing in the Washington Times (5/28, Fales), offered congratulations to the Department of Veterans Affairs, whose "2008 performance and accountability report ranked second among the largest" Federal agencies, "according to the Mercatus Center of George Mason University. This independent research organization evaluates and ranks" Federal "agency reports on how transparently they report their successes and failures, how well they document the tangible public benefits they produce and whether they demonstrate that their leadership uses performance information to devise strategies for making program improvements." The "VA's report was also recognized as the government's best in the leadership category."
Impact: VA accountability and performance report praised

Obama To Visit Wounded Troops In Germany Next Week.

The AP (5/28) reports President Obama "will visit wounded US troops when he travels to Germany next week." The White House "announced Thursday that Obama will visit the troops and their families at the military hospital in Landstuhl. Obama is visiting Germany June 5 as part of a previously announced trip that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and France." The AP adds that "some Republicans had criticized the president during his European trip in April because he made no plans to visit the American military hospital." AFP (5/28) says "the Pentagon advised Obama last year that he could visit the military hospital in Germany only in his official capacity as a senator, without the trappings of a political campaign." Obama, who was "then the presumptive Democratic nominee, cancelled the visit after deciding the stop on his campaign plane with staff and reporters in tow would be inappropriate as part of a trip financed by his White House effort."
 Suicide Prevention Efforts Continue At US Army Base. In continuing coverage, the CBS Evening News (5/28, story 3, 2:20, Couric) broadcast that a stand-down is in effect "at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to deal with a suicide epidemic. Eleven soldiers have taken their lives already this year, the highest number of any US military base." Beginning Wednesday, "all regular duties" at the US Army's Fort Campbell base "were suspended so soldiers can get the help they need." The stand-down "will continue until close of business" Friday. In the "meantime, the post commander is addressing all of his soldiers in large groups."
Personal Loss Leads To Anti-Suicide Mission At Fort Carson. ABC World News (5/28, story 7, 2:40, Gibson) broadcast that Thursday "was the second day of the general stand-down" at Fort Campbell, where "all normal duties...have been suspended in order to identify soldiers at risk for suicide." But preventing suicides has also "become a...very personal" priority for Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, the commander at Fort Carson, a US Army base in Colorado. Graham's youngest son, Kevin, "was a top ROTC cadet when he committed suicide," and not long after, his "eldest son, Jeffrey, was killed in Iraq." The "twin losses left the general devastated," but he has now "turned Ft. Carson into a testing ground to find new methods to combat stress and prevent suicide."
Impact: OEF/OIF, Mental Health