Photo: Curtis Paul ~ WJR
DETROIT, February 2, 2023 ~ A report recently unearthed by The Detroit News has revealed evidence of mismanagement at Detroit’s John D. Dingell VA Medical Center.
The report, which was generated by the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of the Medical Inspector (OMI), alleged that a lack of oversite by hospital administrators spurred substandard care practices that caused patient harm and death.
“I, as you know, care deeply about this hospital,” Congresswoman Debbie Dingell told Paul W. Smith about the care institute that bears her late husband’s name. “John Dingell was a veteran – loved his veterans – and I take that as a moral responsibility to make sure that they are taken care of and have access to good healthcare.”
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March 2, 2023 ~ Congresswoman Debbie Dingell tells Paul W. that the alleged mismanagement at Detroit’s John D. Dingell VA Hospital is “deeply disturbing,” and that she is committed to making sure that all our veterans consistently receive a high quality of care.
(CONTINUED) Dingell, after hearing about the mismanagement issues, joined senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters in voicing concern to VA Inspector General Michael Missal, who subsequently launched an investigation. Results from that investigation are pending.
As for the existing report from the OMI, the document suggests that one clinician in particular was responsible for many “poor veteran outcomes,” generating multiple investigations and tort claims over a four-year span.
Additionally, the report indicated collusion by senior hospital administrators aimed at keeping concerning provider performance records out of databases designed to protect the public and reduce healthcare fraud.
Although leadership at the hospital has changed as a result of the OMI’s report, the heavily redacted document has led many to wonder what other aspects of concern still remain to be addressed.
“We also need to remember that while there was mismanagement, there are a lot of good people at the John Dingell VA,” Congresswoman Dingell continued. “Nurses, doctors, [and] other staff that love those veterans and are doing everything they can to keep them safe.”
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