Improvements Needed to Reduce Aging Infrastructure Risks at Northport VA Medical Center in New York.

Report Description:

The OIG assessed the merits of a hotline complaint received in March 2019 regarding building conditions and patient safety at the Northport VA Medical Center in Northport, New York. The complainant alleged that medical center managers did not take adequate action to maintain the center’s buildings. [This is true] According to the complaint, the delivery system for steam heat failed and caused damage that contaminated employee and patient areas with asbestos, lead paint, and other debris. [This is true] The review team determined that damage occurred in building 65 of the medical center and that four rooms were closed for repairs from February through mid-October 2019. The room closures did not, however, affect patient care because other space was available. [This is a bold face lie]The team also found that prior medical center leaders did not plan effectively to address building 65’s deficiencies. The OIG made three recommendations to the Veterans Integrated Service Network 2 director. These included developing an oversight process to make certain that medical center leaders effectively develop and execute the master plan to reduce the medical center’s footprint in order to better manage aging infrastructure. The OIG also recommended that the medical center’s director define a timeline for implementing the master plan and communicate plan objectives to stakeholders.

[ There are no leaders or master plan here. ] The recommendations call for (1) the medical center’s master plan and the strategic capital investment plan to be consistent and (2) the master plan to be executed following agreed upon milestones and available resources.

[ “available resources” is the way Northport gets around implementing any OIG “suggestion”. ] Finally, the OIG recommended that the medical center director develop processes and procedures for submitting work orders—including for notifications when work orders are assigned and reviewed for accuracy and consistency—to help the center’s engineering service prioritize work and manage resources.

These specific complaints and VA/OIG responses have been filed for decades. The powers that be don’t even try to put a bandaid on it anymore.]

Date Issued:

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

19-07482-91 / VAOIG-19-07482-91.pdf /

https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-19-07482-91.pdf

Component, if applicable:

Veterans Health Administration

Location(s):

Northport, NY, United StatesView Document:

A helpful hint for VA after decades of constipation!

What foods to eat to make your poop?

Eat fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables. In addition, it’s important to eat foods with plenty of fiber. This adds bulk to your stool, which stimulates the bowels to move and propel your stool forward. Foods that contain fiber include: fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and apples.