Page 3 - Va Needs News Today

Mr. neighbors identified that there are big problems. among the key finders, the 14-day scheduling period is arbitrary and has helped to fuel the misconduct, that the entire va needs to be restructured and reformed in large part because it lacks transparency and accountability. and finally, alex, the technology is really outdated. it calls for serious upgrades in technology. among the other solutions, the department needs to strengthen its management and reporting structures and that it needs to...

Mental illness problem checked into a hospital in 2003, was not evaluated by a psychiatrist until 2011. an eight-year delay before this mental illness patient was evaluated. the va determined no harm in that case. it just goes on and on. according to the office of special counsel, they say the va routinely suggest all the problems that you mentioned really are not affecting care. the osc simply says that is not possible and the va needs to address this issue immediately. >> so whats next? the sp...

Yesterday afternoon and i told him again if we dont receive all the information we requested in the subpoena that was issued now over three weeks ago that were going to proceed to federal court to force va to comply with that subpoena. >> in the meantime you still have these wait times and problems. im all for getting to the bottom of the scandal but i guess im more to getting to the bottom of helping these guys out right now. how can we crunch down their wait times and make sure someone is look...

Forward. >> thats exactly what they were saying. so when we look ahead here as far as leadership, we know that sloan gibson is taking over this post. who would you like to see in the job? >> we know sloan pretty well. he is an army ranger, a paratrooper and has got a business background. he is new at va but were optimistic and were standing by to support him. we want to see a transformation agent. somebody who can be a turn around artist. they have got to change the entire image and they have go...

Veterans with post-traumatic stress and mental health issues and improving care for our women veterans and at the same time he reduced veterans homelessness and helped more than 1 million veterans, service members and families pursue their education under the post- 9/11 g.i. bill so ricks commitment to our veterans is unquestioned. his service to our country is e e exemplary. i am grateful for his service as are many veterans across the country. he worked hard to investigate and identify the pro...

Uninsured and went to the va. and the iraq and afghanistan wars created not by this administration, brought 3 million new veterans who had access to the va that didnt -- remember the bush plan in the war was to foe to 30,000 by the end of 2003. that didnt happen. the system got overrun. it is a funding issue. medicare is fully funded every year. not discretionary. we have a hard time predicting how much money the va needs. doctors make half at the va what they would make if they worked for a pri...

In each instance, my primary decision is based on how can i deliver service to the american people and in this case how can i deliver for our veterans? and because they are people of integrity, i think in both cases of secretary sebelius but certainly in the case here of rick shinseki, theyve got the same priority. their view is what is it that is going to best deliver on behalf of folks who as rick said this morning have been let down? >> if i remember at the time you felt she had knowledge abo...

Sterling. hello, im wolf blitzer reporting from washington. the secretary of veterans affairs resigns over the scandal at va hospitals across the country. secretary shinseki met with president at the white house earlier this morning. the president later explained shinsekis decision to step down, praised him for the work he has done. >> i am grateful for his service, as are many veterans across the country. he has worked hard to investigate and identify the problems with access to care, but as ...

Hearings. they have a backlog more than a year long of information requests out of the va for simple facts. things that the va can turn over to them in a matter of hours up. but they just would not respond to requests for information. >> the war veterans from iraq and afghanistan, whats the single biggest problem they face now? they come home, they do two, three, four tours. they come home. whats the single biggest problem many of them are facing right now? >> i think one of the biggest problems...

Rapists behind bars. >> and the example you just cited shows you can do it. these backlogs can be cleared. i know this legislation will help a great deal and all of the law enforcement officials reporting on the story and victims said it would make a big difference. we appreciate your keeping in on this and championing this. we had to ask, whats your reaction to eric shinsekis resignation. >> ive been sitting through hearings for months. its clear to me this is about the veterans. this is about ...