Senators Dick Durbin, Barack Obama Statement in Response to VA Report on Marion Medical Center

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today issued the following statement after reviewing a report issued by the Veterans Affairs Office of Resolution Management (ORM) which assessed the work environment at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

“This new report from the VA confirms many of our suspicions about the problem that existed at the Marion VA Medical Center. The report paints a disturbing picture -- a management culture that compounded problems at the facility; management at the regional level that did not serve as a quality check on the Marion facility; and no way for employees to complain or make meaningful suggestions about problems when they arose.”

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“The environment described in this report was ripe for the tragedy which occurred at the Marion VAMC last year.”

“The systemic problems raised in this new report are addressed in the legislation that we introduced late last year. The Veterans’ Health Care Quality Improvement Act will strengthen hiring practices and improve quality control measures at all VA Medical facilities.”

“By requiring a comprehensive review of VA policies and protocols for maintaining quality, the legislation will help identify problems that could jeopardize patient safety. By creating quality assurance officers, the legislation will help the development of quality assurance programs including a confidential system for submitting employee reports on the quality of facilities."

“Our veterans and their families have made incredible sacrifices for this country, and when they return home we owe them access to the best health care. Today’s report proves that this was not the case at the VA medical facility in Marion. We will continue to do all we can in Congress to ensure that never happens again.”

Source: Senator Dick Durbin