ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
Elective surgery that requires artificial joints has been put on hold at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem because it costs money to buy the implants. Travel expenses for some needy patients who come for treatment are being reimbursed from the administrator's own pocket - the facility's money for that has run out.
Meanwhile, the 1,450 workers there, who got half-pay in their last checks, expect zero in the next one if Congress and President Clinton stay locked in disagreement on the nation's budget.
A two-week payroll amounts to about $2.3 million at the 537-bed center.
"It's a heroic story, that people will come to work without pay," said John Presley, Salem VA director.
Presley sent a message to employees Thursday asking to be told of hardship situations. He got dozens of replies.
"I'd read 10 and cry," he said.
Presley was so moved by the story of a single mother of three who didn't have money to buy gas to come to work that he announced her situation over the loudspeaker. A co-worker immediately offered to help.
"We've got little money banks out, and a food bank going," he said.
The employee association also stepped forward this week to say it will pay the interest on the emergency loans the VA credit union has offered at 6 percent. Some bills, such as home mortgages, have to be paid even though the workers are not getting paid.
So far, though, the center is well-stocked with medical supplies, Presley said. He began stockpiling medication and food during the first furlough of federal employees.
A major concern now, he said, is whether or not the center's ability to care for patients will be affected if the government's partial shutdown causes employees to leave.
"The dietary people don't get paid much, and Hardee's and everybody else is looking for people," he said. "They can't watch their children starve."
If services such as food preparation are affected, then the center will have to decide if it can operate as usual, Presley said.
"We're in good shape now. We're not turning down any cases that come for service," he said.
One thing Presley is doing, however, is gauging the attitude of the facility's vendors. A couple of the drug suppliers "are taking the attitude that they won't give drugs on credit.
"You might say, we're taking names and kicking butt. The first rule of marketing is to hang on to good customers, and the VA is a good customer."
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB