SE North Carolina News

Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) have called for an investigation into the quality of care at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center and its Prosthetics Services department. In a letter addressed to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, the members expressed their concerns about the treatment of veterans at the facility.

“There has been an apparent lack of attention to timely and empathetic care delivery for amputee veterans, overburdensome bureaucratic processes, and poor communication among staff and leadership that have created an environment where veterans' quality of life has been diminished, taking a toll on their personal relationships and mental health,” wrote Rouzer and Tillis in their letter.

The members highlighted the issue of care coordination and vendor relations, stating, “In addition to reports of a poor standard of quality care overall, there have also been reports that care coordination across clinical lines of operation is lacking to the point where prosthetic vendors who are trying to provide the best care they can are hamstrung by the VA because of poor communication and responsiveness, especially when it comes to timely payments for services rendered.”

Rouzer and Tillis emphasized the importance of prioritizing care coordination and vendor relations within the VA. They stated, “Veterans should not have to put their lives on hold for multiple months or years waiting for the VA to deliver them a well-functioning prosthetic. We hope to work with you to ensure that the Fayetteville VAMC is a facility where all veterans in the North Carolina coastal region can proudly seek healthcare.”

The full text of the letter can be accessed for further details.