Phoenix VA director's firing leaves critics wanting more

AirForce Times — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:41:32 -0500

From: Air Force Times

When former Veterans Affairs Department executive Sharon Helman was fired Monday, VA critics reacted swiftly and similarly to the news: Finally — but it's not enough.

Helman, who had been the Phoenix VA health system director until May, was formally dismissed after more than 200 days of investigation into the Arizona system's wait time scandals and administrative cover-up.

The VA inspector general found workers there had falsified waiting lists to meet internal performance goals, protecting personal bonuses over veterans' health concerns. In a statement, VA Secretary Bob McDonald criticized Helman for failing to hold employees accountable.

"Lack of oversight and misconduct by VA leaders runs counter to our mission of serving veterans, and VA will not tolerate it," he said. "We depend on VA employees and leaders to put the needs of veterans first."

McDonald interview: 'VA can't do this job by itself'

For many critics, Helman became the prominent example of the department's woes, both before and after her suspension. Concerns about wait time gaming spread to dozens of VA facilities nationwide and forced the resignation of former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in May.

But since then, McDonald and other top VA officials have come under attack for a lack of firings and administrative punishment, even after Congress passed legislation in July designed to make the dismissal of senior VA executives happen more swiftly.

But fewer than 10 senior executives have faced formal dismissal proceedings by the department in recent months.

House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., has called for Helman's firing for months and called Monday's news "a positive step." But he stopped short of full praise for VA.

"VA will never regain the trust of America's veterans and American taxpayers until all of the corrupt senior executives who created the biggest scandal in the department's history are held accountable to the maximum extent under the law," Miller said in a prepared statement. "There are still many more VA scandal figures who also must be purged from the department's payroll."

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, who had hammered McDonald and VA leadership in recent weeks for continuing to keep Helman on the payroll, called the action long overdue and said the department still must do more to win back the trust of veterans.

Concerned Veterans for America CEO Pete Hegseth started his statement on Helman's firing this way: "Good riddance."

American Legion National Commander Michael Helm praised Helman's firing but added: "The termination of one director does not end this scandal."

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Paul Rieckhoff said "it's good to finally see accountability in Phoenix" and added that IAVA members expect to see more firings in weeks to come.

McDonald has promised the same, blaming the lag in Helman's firing and lengthy limbo for other executive employment decisions on ongoing administrative and criminal investigations. Once those are complete, officials will move swiftly to punish or remove the individuals concerned.

Helman collected around $90,000 while on administrative leave, despite facing imminent threat of dismissal. VA officials have said that federal due process rules prohibit withholding pay or benefits from employees under investigation. The only exception is if evidence of treason is found.

VA officials have emphasized that while Helman's firing was finalized only on Monday, she has been sidelined for more than half a year, allowing other officials to implement reform efforts in Phoenix.

Helman could not be reached for comment. VA officials hope to name a new director in Phoenix "as quickly as possible" but also have praised the work of several interim directors in rebuilding local veterans' trust in the system since May.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/veterans/2014/11/25/veterans-affairs-sharon-helman-firing-reaction/70085716/

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 25 at 2014 1:59 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:59:46 -0500

This is the hospital I am forced to use. For years we have been complaining and it always fell on deaf ears. Good riddance! The only thing she was successful at was covering up our complaints and snowjobing the bureaucrats in AZ. I would also like Sen McCain to at least once admit that my messages were getting through and that he was just to busy helping other veterans that his office never had the time to get around to my complaints. How does the AZ VA justify not having a neurosurgeon in the entire state, yet not allow you to seek surgery outside of their system? For years they transferred your care to another state's VA system. Once the other states (mostly CA) got so disgusted with them and cut them off from doing it anymore we were actually asked if we could move to another state. Who does this?! In the military, we lock up service members for a FRACTION of what these overpaid bureaucrats get away with.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 25 at 2014 2:14 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:14:41 -0500

The only thing interesting in the story to me was about veterans losing trust in the V.A....ummmm, who has ever trusted the V.A.? It has always been riddled with problems. I have held out hope and expectation for the V.A., but never trust. IF any of us trusted the V.A., we would happily go about our daily business knowing the V.A. was out there taking care of us…that thought has never, NEVER, crossed my mind. When you talk to someone there, you take their name because you fear they will not do what they say. If someone told me they gave them originals, I would look at them like they are out of their mind because you will never see those again. There are some really good people at the V.A. Some people I would and do trust, but I don’t know of anyone who trusts the V.A.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 25 at 2014 2:21 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:21:17 -0500

What happened in Phoenix is an abomination, and I fear that similar actions have been carried out across other VA systems nationwide. While I agree with this firing, my concern is that from the uppermost levels the VA fully weeds out all perpetrators of these behaviors...to the extent that that's realistic to achieve.

Response by SSG Peter Ludlum made Nov 25 at 2014 2:46 PM

SSG Peter Ludlum — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:46:19 -0500

It is a step in the right direction but we need to not just take care of the superficial problem and go to the root of the problem. Look at the reason why they falsified data, could it be that the administration has run unchecked for years. i think it is time to take our care away from the politicians and the military needs to run the VA. Gen. (R) Shinseki was just another cog in along line of bumbling wanna be politicians. I give respect to the rank but certainly not the man. He lied and vets died. I can only hope he has enough of a conscience to actually feel bad but I think not. His comments sure don't reflect any remorse. Since this position answers directly to the President I am curious to how much president Obama knows? Bring in the Military!!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 4:01 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:01:52 -0500

Finally, some accountability! Lets get them CER (Civilian Evaluation Reports) much like what we get on AD. This can't be that difficult. I understand that there are many veterans that miss their appointments due to whatever the reason...if your scheduled to be there, dang it you better make a very strong concerted effort to get to your appointment. Don't take the appointment lightly.

Response by LTC Richard Wasserman made Nov 25 at 2014 6:27 PM

LTC Richard Wasserman — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:27:28 -0500

I wonder if there will be criminal charges of falsifying government records?

Response by SSG Everett Wilson made Nov 26 at 2014 6:16 PM

SSG Everett Wilson — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:16:01 -0500

To bad they didn't look into how badly she ran the VA Hospital in Spokane, WA before they moved her around from hospital to hospital and the bottom fell out in Phoenix

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 16 at 2015 2:23 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:23:52 -0400

So who gets her job? The person under her that was just as culpable? What I find troubling is that the VA's Office of Inspector General report didn't support her termination. The judge ruling in her appeal said that materials submitted by VA officials did not prove Helman's guilt in the scandal tied to delayed care, despite an Office of Inspector General report that found her culpable. And while he found that Helman was responsible for retaliation against VA employees who blew the whistle on fraudulent scheduling practices and other misconduct, he ruled that her misbehavior did not merit termination.

However, Judge Mish concluded, Helman's acceptance of multiple gifts from a lobbyist (her former boss) — and her failure to report those gifts as required — was wrongdoing for which she could be fired. The VA can't even manage the reporting and record keeping to get a person fired. Ridiculous.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 16 at 2015 3:03 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 15:03:03 -0400

All I know is that if you travel from Phoenix to Tucson, the experience is night and day. The Director in Tucson either inherited a great position or made it a great place to go. Their system is SO much better than Phoenix.