BUFFALO, N.Y. — The nurses union at the Buffalo VA Medical Center is responding to reports of delays in patient care.
This comes after two top officials in the Western New York Veterans Healthcare System were "transferred form veterans facing positions," as the VA put it, with the start of an investigation.
While this may be a local situation, the veterans health care system is facing a major funding shortfall.
The exact reasons behind the so-called transfers of Healthcare System Director Michael Schwartz and Chief of Staff Philippe Jaoude are still not clear, with allegations from other clinicians of misconduct, administrative failures, and delayed patient care.
The National Nurses United union, which represents 14,000 nurses at the VA Center in Buffalo and other centers across the country, says it has no direct knowledge of any investigation. But with the reports, union leaders are pleased to hear action was taken.
Union Vice President Irma Westmoreland who is an RN and works at the VA Center in Augusta, Ga., is very aware of what she says are major nurse staffing issues which could delay patient care.
"Here in Buffalo, making matters even worse, the recently removed medical center director decided once again not to give outpatient nurses behind end raises offering them nothing," Westmoreland said. "The message this sends to outpatient nurses is we don't care if you stay or go. And this also tells veterans that they are not a priority and that their care can be delayed because we don't have enough nurses in the outpatient clinic."
She added: "We're not surprised about delays in patient care that can have catastrophic results when you don't have enough nurses and staff to care for that patient."
As it turns out, VA Secretary Dennis McDonough told Congress in July his agency had a $15 billion budget shortfall.
There are some claims it is tied to expanded veteran medical care services and eligibility tied to the Biden Administration's PACT Act. That was intended to guarantee treatment for ailing veterans exposed to military toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere in the past.
Westmoreland points out, "In my opinion, we knew it was coming. We should have been planning a little better for it. But I can tell you that the VA cannot fund with money we don't have, so that only comes from Congress."
So from our local delegation, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy sent a letter Tuesday to the VA, raising some of the patient care delay concerns at the Buffalo Center.
U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy, who now sits on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, put out a statement Wednesday promising oversight and that he will monitor the outcome of the investigation with action taken if needed.
New York State Assemblyman Pat Burke has also been listening to vets' concerns with a survey.
The National Nurses United union is planning a noon demonstration Friday at the Buffalo VA Center.