Rottpupp

A few weeks ago I attended a Women's Veterans Conference. And at this Con. every VA Rep was there except one..... The reason I am writing this is to show that writing a letting directly to the Hosp Director can get results. If written tactfully. Now be advised I work for the VA and in the letter I'm about to share states that I am an employee but I know for a fact it held no bearing on what happened here this week. Sorry for the xxxxx's I would like to keep where I am and work Pvt.

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,
My Name is XXXXX XXXXXX, I am a Veteran that has a Primary Care Provider here at the XXXXXXXX V.A. Hospital, I also work in this facility. This past weekend I attended the XXXXXX Women Veterans conference at XXXXXXXX XXXXX this was the second year I have attended.
This year I was extremely disappointed that the XXXX V.A. Hospital was not represented at this conference. It is my understanding that there was a Stand Down for Homeless Veterans this same weekend. Although I am grateful in the fact that the V.A Hospital system is active in the community, there is more then one type of community and Women Veterans should be just as important as the Veterans in the Hospital system, the Homeless Veterans, and those Veterans returning home.
After each lecture there was questions fielded and _________, ___________ and __________V.A. Regional office and Hospital were able to answer all questions placed to them. It was unfortunate that a representative from XXXXXXX was not there to help those Women Veterans who had questions for this Hospital. Mr. XXXXXX, as much as I would love for all VA hospitals to be run the same, we Veterans know they are not. Just like no 2 Veterans are treated the same, no 2 V.A. Hospitals are run the same, therefore the representatives from those V.A. Hospitals could not answer for you.
At this Conference there were Active duty women, National Guard, Reservists, Retired and soon to be discharged from service. Women from WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm/Shield, to this present battle on Terrorism. We had Generals to Privates, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard alike. We are all unique and have unique issues that need and needed to be addressed; myself and most of these women come to the conference to find a path, a path to resources, to answers, to connections and when those resources are not present we to others for help we turn to friends and those we meet like us. This is where most of the misinformation I deal with as Patient Services Assistant comes from-it comes from lack of communication on the VA’s part and misinformation from others because we have turned to the V.A. for help and you were silent. I must say I was unhappy and uneasy because I was there on my time, but because there was no XXXXXXX Hospital representation I was approached by several Veterans and Active Duty Women because they knew or found out I worked here and all I heard was “where are the Milwaukee V.A. Hospital people? Do you know where your co-workers are?” Mr. XXXXX, I am proud of the work I do here at the Hospital, I am also proud to be a Veteran however I was not proud to be a V.A. Employee on this weekend. There is a population of Women Veterans who live in this Hospital's jurisdiction who do not know where to start or how to begin the process for care. Some are scared, some are too proud for help. Some need answers on the care that they are getting and some for after they get out of the Military. No one was there to answer the call.
Mr. XXXX, what I am trying to say is ALL VETERANS ARE IMPORTANT. I hope that next year and in the years to come this V.A. Hospital answers the call to assist those Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters and Grand Daughters who served so bravely and so honorably protecting this great country.

Sincerely

U.S. ARMY and V.A. Employee
I ONLY sent this letter to the Director I did not CC anyone of power over him. Now if I would not gotten a proper response in a proper time period I then would of added my Congress people, Senators and local representatives. Tack and good wording gets responses. Angry letters can be angry but tactful. I see angry letters all day and I'm like Screw you sometimes esp. those who bash my integrity when I have NO SAY in How the law was written I still work the case but I'm not happy about it. SO if you need help ask questions, look for the answers. There are people who work at VAs who are not Civilians the WE are the ones who will most likely help you.

And the letter.. Well our director made it a mandate to attend Veteran Conferences and I got a personal visit from our Women’s Veterans Coordinator.

Feel free to use any part of the letter.

Grullogal

Could someone please tell me how in the world a small VA gets a psychiatrist who lost his license for inappropiate contact with a female patient in another state, so he jumps state and gets promoted!! The union fought and got him off the ward, what did they do?? Promoted him to Chief of Staff!!!! I want to know why the VA, being so MST orientated would do this??? Any one have the answer to this question or know how this can be when all the employee's know about his past??? I doubt he is even a veteran.

Rottpupp

Write your congress people your senate people write the news get a petition started. Last thing the VA wants right now is Pad press. Let these people know whats going on. cuz I bet they don't

Grullogal

Heard the Union took it all the way to the IG, don't kinow if that is true or not but I don't think he should be an employee. I plan to contact my senator, esp. when he spoke so highly of the place not to long ago, I wanted throw up!

Rottpupp

Well you know what they say in the goverment... F--K Up Move up!!!!
It happens at this VA to. ALL the time to. Sorry but I'm all for a ALL for a Mostly All Military VA System.. Veterans helping Veterans. 99% of us know how to treat each other and 99% of the Civilian pop don't know or don't care to. For most Civies working in the VA system it's just a pay check and they think they are doing us a favor by working. Hate to say it but we have men and women coming home from service who can't find a job or come home to find out they no longer have a job. EMPLOY A VET!

Insight

As a former navy nurse corps officer I can not get a job at the VA. I would have to pay them thousands of dollars to "buy my time back". I, and all former military medical people have a vested interest in our own. For military medical personnel the progression from military to VA should be more natural, not a hardship.

Grullogal

I think the VA has changed their rule on that, not for sure though. I know that a couple of OIF vet doc's worked there shortly.......if they are too good, they can make better money else where without the hassle of micromanaged care, and quit. Also, how can a doctor have inappropriate contact and not be charged with rape?? Just lose their license in that state and move to another.....seems if they do a crime, they should spend the time just like any other pervert out their that gets into trouble. The medical boards need to oust these kinds of doctor's rather than allowing them to do a couple classes and continue working. Doesnt seem right does it??? He should be listed on a preditor list like all other offenders.

Insight

I agree he should have his feet held to the fire. Did he rape a woman, or was this issue inappropriate touching? Why did the woman in question not press charges? I hate to sound like a jerk, but as long as women let this behavior go, nothing will change. Let's have some self respect here.

When a woman, any woman, vet or not allows this behavior go unpunished she is hurting all women. When a woman holds herself to the high standers she should and goes after the jerk via the law, she does it for all women.

When children or girls are sexually assaulted. Some do not want the child to testify in court, stating it's too traumatic. I disagree. If said child goes without justice this is traumatic, and often leaves the offender to reoffend. If child walks through the trauma, justice is served. Despite the pain of the trial, it has been proven to be psychology healing for that child.

Guess what? Same thing goes for an adult woman.

I suggest the victim call an investigative reporter at the local news stations, and write a letter to the state Medical Board in the state this doctor is now practicing in, send the letter certified.

My take on former military working at the VA, they are purposefully run off. The VA knows former military will stir the pot and expose the truth.

Grullogal

Not sure about criminal charges, this dates back to 2002. He was charged by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners with inappropriately hiring 2 pts to perform work for him, engaging in an inappropriate social relationship with a pt and inappropriate possession of pt medications at his home. Had to dig to find that much out. He had to do some classes. I'll have to do some more digging to find if criminal charges were filed. Sometimes they are not. I think some sort of settlement was agreed to. The VA likes "no" people in charge, what is best for the VA, not necessarily for the veteran. Can't give you medications you need but can build and refurbish the buildings constantly.

Insight

If you can find documented proof of this VA doctors dealing, submit them with the certified letter as well. Even if a settlement was agreed to, this is dirt to the medical board in his new state.

I get what your saying, new buildings, and crap for the patients.

I took a job at a civilian once. The place was very nice, smelled good too. Then I got to the patient care side, postpartum. I found walls in the shower stalls that were rusted. I pulled one away and found roaches and rat droppings. I opened a sterile pack of instruments and a dead roach was in there. I resuscitated a newborn baby on its mother’s abdomen as there were not enough warmers for the newborns. The doctors were all middle-eastern or Indian and hated the nurses [women]. This place was Calcutta hell. I worked there only 12 hours, but felt like it was a life time. I wrote letters from the hospital CEO up to the governor’s office. I copied all of them of each letter. Sent it registered mail. The hospital started sending patients to other area hospitals while they cleaned it up. It took about 1 1/2 years to get action.

All too many people think they are powerless to make a difference. Trust me we are not powerless. We just have to educate ourselves and move to action with our emotions in control.