Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992 TAG: 9203300199
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I see nothing wrong with the administrator following accreditation procedures and requiring testing of those in the medical field who are caring for the veterans. All professionals are being tested in some ways to determine competency.
It is the nature of a union to protect its members. Unfortunately, the union protects both innocent and guilty. And it is equally the nature of administration to deny, confuse and try to destroy any allegations that they are doing something wrong.
VA hospitals are the most scrutinized in the world. The American Legion, Disabled Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AmVets and other service organization are keeping an eye on them. As is normal, the good is overshadowed by the bad. Isolated incidents are headlined. There is a lot "good" about these hospitals.
The attempt to admit non-veterans to the hospitals and special rural clinics, here and in Alabama, was wrong. It was good in thought but would never work.
Budget restrictions have hurt treatment and morale. The union, probably rightly so, knows of this problem and is trying hard to protect its members. If you are incapable of doing your job, it is cause for dismissal. One way to cut your budget.
In these bad times, it would seem that both the administration and the union would be working to give the veteran the best possible treatment. Sadly, this is not the case. TOM HAWLEY Service Officer American Legion Post 7 PULASKI
by CNB