
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 14, 1992                   TAG: 9203140333
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VA TEAM TO PROBE CLAIMS

A review team from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., will investigate claims of low employee morale, stressful working conditions and deteriorating patient care at the VA medical center in Salem, a department official said Friday.

Ozzie Garza, regional director for the department's Office of Public Affairs, said a team from the Eastern region "will be coming in just to evaluate the situation - just to sort of look at some of the activities."

The investigation tentatively has been scheduled for the week of March 23.

The investigation follows meetings in Washington this week between department officials and representatives of the American Federation of Government Employees union at the Salem medical center.

Pat Clark, spokeswoman for the center, said officials "hope the team will be able to clear up any doubt on the part of veterans, their families and employees in regards to quality of health care."

Clark said that several weeks ago, center Director Clark Graninger had asked the Veterans Affairs regional director's office in Fort Howard, Md., for a review.

To ensure the credibility of the probe, Alma Lee, president of the federation local in Salem, has asked that union representatives be part of the review team.

Lee also has asked that some top Salem VA officials, including Graninger and Chief of Staff Larry Edwards, be placed on administrative leave "until the investigation process runs its course," she said.

"I asked because I feel if an investigative team comes in and they aren't on station, employees will feel free to talk," Lee said.

by CNB