WSIU: Federal Report Critical of Death Reports at Marion VA (2009-11-02)

A federal report shows inconsistencies with reporting deaths at the Marion VA hospital.

The report, which covers the fiscal year ending in 2009, was released Monday by the Veterans Affairs Department's Inspector General. It says three sets of documents showed three different death totals for April 2009. The report also reveals outdated staff training and patient data analysis.

The report comes more than two years after the facility had at least nine deaths attributed to substandard care.

But the VA's Regional Network Director James Floyd says overall the report does not question the quality of care now delivered by the medical staff at Marion.

Floyd says the eight of the ten recommended improvements have already been made and the other two will be addressed within two weeks.

He says the Inspector General's report is conducted every three years at all VA Medical Centers across the U.S.

Restoring a full line of surgical procedures at the Marion VA Medical Center may be closer to reality.

Floyd says they're presently doing outpatient surgeries. He they'll soon apply for the go-ahead to start doing inpatient procedures.

A national search will soon get underway to find a new director of the Marion VA Medical Center.

Warren Hill is leaving the facility to take over a VA hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

Floyd says James Roseboro is the new temporary director and will be on site Tuesday to work with Hill on the transition.