The nationwide concern about the quality of medical care overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was neither misplaced nor overblown. Problems have proven deep and shocking. The revelations have led to the resignation of the department’s director and even moved our do-almost-nothing Congress to pass a bill to increase resources and provide alternatives for veterans in need of care.
But if you’re tempted to think the challenges are beyond solution, consider the progress the hospital here has made since late 2012.
For years, veterans had expressed concerns about the future of Fort Wayne’s VA Medical Center. Administrators had come and gone without doing much to connect with the community. In October 2012, after some serious lapses in care, inpatient services at the hospital were suspended after an internal review found ongoing problems. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly and U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman demanded answers, and an extensive report in August 2013 reiterated some of the department’s concerns about inadequate staffing, training and communication.
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