Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992 TAG: 9203270346
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LESLIE TAYLOR and MARK MORRISON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A spokesman for the department in Washington, D.C., said the discovery of two decomposed bodies on the hospital grounds Wednesday played a part in Secretary Edward Derwinski's decision.
So did a review team's investigation this week into claims of low employee morale, stressful working conditions and deteriorating patient care.
Local VA officials did not cite the discovery of the bodies as a reason for Derwinski's surprise postponing of the much anticipated event. But the VA's deputy public affairs director, reached at home Thursday night, confirmed that was indeed part of the reason.
"You can't discount that," Donald Smith said. "That, in combination with other things, appears to be too much to be dealing with at the moment.
"You want to have your mind occupied with what you're doing. This is a significant addition to the hospital."
The ceremony for the new building, named after the Salem center's former director, Hugh Davis, had been scheduled for next Friday.
Derwinski's decision was announced in a news release issued shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.
"Given the turmoil and events that have surfaced at the facility recently, I believe it would be inappropriate and unfair to the Davis family and to employees to have the ceremony at this time," Derwinski said.
Derwinski gave no further reason in the news release for postponing the dedication and could not be reached for comment Thursday night. His review team was scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., today.
The dedication has been planned for nearly a year, Pat Clark, public information officer for the Salem center, said Thursday. More than 500 invitations - including one to Derwinski - had been mailed.
"I respect the decision of the Washington office," Clark said. The eastern regional director for Veterans Affairs notified her of the postponement late Thursday.
Alma Lee, president of the American Federation of Government Employees union local in Salem, said the union had asked Rep. Jim Olin, D-Roanoke, on Wednesday to consider postponing the dedication.
"We had mounting pressure to request that it be postponed, but he said he didn't think it could be," Lee said.
Lee said she was "very pleased" with Derwinski's decision. The union had been asked to picket during the dedication but dismissed that request early on "out of respect to Mr. Davis," Lee said.
"During his reign at the VA medical center, he built a great organization," Lee said. "He was a compassionate leader, a dedicated servant to the families and the service organizations."
This week's review was ordered by Derwinski's office following meetings this month between VA officials and representatives of the employees' association local in Salem. Director Clark Graninger also had asked for the review.
The employees' association charged that the mismanaged move into the new building - designed to consolidate acute medical and surgical beds into one facility - has created stress among employees. The stress, the union claimed, has affected patient care.
"When you've got employee problems, eventually it's going to affect patient care," Lee said. "It's going to filter down."
Betty Davis, the wife of Hugh Davis, the late VA director that the new building will be named for, said Thursday she received a telephone call from Graninger about 4:30 p.m. telling her that the dedication ceremony would be postponed.
"Naturally, I'm disappointed, but I can understand under the circumstances," she said.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB