Relieving the Secretary and Under Secretary for Health of their posts is not the way to go. They are the two who could best change the course quickly, if at all. Congress passing new laws will do little to right the course. The system needs to be managed on truth, not the political management style of making the system and higher ups look good.

Please understand that the overwhelming majority of VA employees are good persons dedicated to serving their veterans. The system has put them in a position where data fudging is almost a must. The scheduling issue is the poster child. The metrics model has to go and go now. How?

This is a very emotional issue. Cool heads need to prevail. This should be done in a dispassionate, rational, business-like adult problem-solving manner. Get rid of the political management style and replace it with a management responsible for detecting local problems and solving them, focusing on the veteran receiving quality care in a reasonably timely basis, to the extent that is possible without forcing speed.

The doctor who blew the whistle at Phoenix suggests an amnesty period where each facility can get it‘s house in order without fear of reprisal. Each facility needs to put out a true picture of where they are at with care, waiting lists, and other factors.

Management now knows where they’re at and their job should be to find, identify, and correct problems. The absolute truth must stand out and be addressed. Making one’s facility look great when it isn’t is a political management con. Leadership is in order and the VA needs only one instruction from the Administration and Congress.

Fix it! – Then stay completely out of the way.  Bob