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Congressmen call for more action at VA hospital

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressmen call for more action at VA hospital

Posted: 6:20 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2013

By Misty Williams - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta VA Medical Center officials are taking action to correct mismanagement in the facility’s mental health unit, but more needs to be done, members of a congressional delegation said Monday after visiting the Decatur hospital.

“If I think somebody needs to be fired, I will not rest until they’re gone,” U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and chairman of the House Committee of Veterans’ Affairs, said after meeting with hospital officials.

He was joined by four Georgia congressmen, including Atlanta Democrat David Scott, who called for continued investigation into problems at the 405-bed center — including reevaluating top management.

“We are determined to get to the bottom of it,” Scott said. “There is no escaping the situation that this has been a colossal failure of the management of this hospital.”

The congressional visit followed two recent audits by the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that linked the deaths of three veterans to the hospital’s failure to keep track of them.

More than 4,000 veterans the hospital referred to outside mental health facilities “fell through the cracks,” the reports showed.

One died of an apparent drug overdose after providers failed to connect him with a psychiatrist. Hospital staff told another man who tried to see a VA psychiatrist, who was unavailable, to take public transportation to the emergency department, but he never went and committed suicide the next day.

Miller said the hospital has changed how it contracts work to outside providers, but that more fixes are needed. He also said his committee will continue to investigate and that robust oversight from both House and Senate lawmakers is needed.

The other Georgia congressmen on Monday’s visit were Republicans Phil Gingrey and Paul Broun, along with Democrat John Barrow.

Other instances cited in the mental health unit audits included the case of a suicidal patient who died of an overdose of drugs given to him by another patient.

In another case, a patient with a history of substance abuse wandered the building unsupervised and injected himself with testosterone. A patient with schizophrenia who was missing for eight hours told nurses he “got lost” on the way to his room.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said in a statement that it agrees with recommendations made by the audits and is taking aggressive action to address each finding. It also stated the Atlanta veterans hospital will continue to closely monitor mental health care and manage contracts with outside mental health providers.

The 26-acre medical center works in conjunction with eight outpatient centers in the Atlanta region and serves 86,000 patients.

The VA has deferred bonuses for some senior executives in its Southeast and Pennsylvania medical networks pending further review. The Atlanta veterans hospital is one of those under review.

Separately, a confidential inspection report obtained last week by Channel 2 Action News revealed numerous problems in other areas of the hospital — including missing medications, fire safety concerns, improperly cleaned medical equipment and a doctor performing a procedure he wasn’t authorized to do.

The hospital has 45 to 60 days to fix the problems or risks losing its accreditation through The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that sets safety and quality standards for more than 20,000 health care facilities and programs across the nation.

“(The) VA recognizes the importance of instituting a national policy at all VA medical centers addressing hazardous items, visitation, urine drug screens and escort services for inpatient mental health programs,” according to a statement from the VA.

Miller said he was surprised that a health care network as large as the VA doesn’t have standard procedures, especially in mental health care. He added that a tremendous number of veterans are coming home and many of them have mental health issues.

“This is not just here in Atlanta,” Miller said. “This is all across this country.”

Troubles at VA Medical Center

Three recent reports have cited problems at the 405-bed facility in Decatur

— Two audits by the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs linked the deaths of three veterans over two years to mismanagement in the mental health unit. Among its findings: the wait list for mental health treatment skyrocketed from 53 to 397 patients from 2011 to 2012; and many of the 4,000 patients referred to outside mental health facilities were not properly tracked and “fell through the cracks.”

— In the third report, inspectors from The Joint Commission, which accredits health care facilities, found instances of missing medications, improperly stored or cleared equipment, imcomplete patient treatment plans, and lack of process for determining if doctors are competent to do certain procedures. The report also cited numerous physical facility issues.

Have VA Problems?

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Recent news reports in the AJC and WSB-TV have reported on major problems at the Atlanta VA center in Decatur. In response to the inspector general's report, Congressman Scott joined with his colleagues in demanding a review of the facility. On a related note, his office has been working with an increasing number of local veterans who are having problems with backlogs at the VA.

What are your experiences with the VA? Are you experiencing delays or backlogs? Are the local facilities meeting your needs? Is your medical care being handled well and with respect? Congressman Scott would like to hear from you. Please comment below or call the office if you need assistance.

Rep. Scott Demands Review of VA Medical Center

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In response to an investigation into recent deaths at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center, Congressman David Scott joined a bipartisan effort from Georgia to ask for a top-level inquiry from the VA. Georgia Congressmen David Scott, Phil Gingrey and Tom Price sent a letter demanding answers from the VA Under Secretary of Health.

"Veterans sacrificed a lot in service to our country. We must live up to the promise of providing them with the highest quality of care," Scott said. "The conditions uncovered at the Atlanta VA are insulting to Georgia’s veterans and their families. They should be treated with dignity. I join with my colleagues in asking that the VA fully remedy these problems. Also, I ask that the VA commit resources to reducing backlogs of veteran’s claims.”

A report released by the Inspector General found “that there was inadequate coordination, monitoring, and staffing for oversight” for patients with mental health concerns. The Georgia Congressmen sent a letter to the Undersecretary for Health asking for a fully inquiry into problems at the Decatur facility.

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Looking for work? What challenges are you facing?

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

On April, 19, Congressman Scott hosts his annual Job Fair. This event is open to the public at-large and a diverse group of employers have signed up to attend.

If you have been looking for work or have been unemployed for a while, what challenges are you facing in finding a new job? Share your experiences with others so that we can better understand how to match job seekers with employers.

Earlier, we asked employers what challenges they are facing in hiring new employees. You may want to read their responses to that question.

Congressman David Scott to Host Tenth Annual Jobs Fair

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today Congressman David Scott announced that he will host his 10^th Annual Jobs Fair on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park. The event will run from 10am to 3pm.

Job seekers who attend may obtain information and be considered for more than 1,992 positions with this year’s participating employers. The employers at Congressman Scott’s Jobs Fair represent a diverse group of Georgia’s top corporations, small businesses, and local and federal government agencies, offering a rich variety of job opportunities.

Congressman David Scott is also pleased to partner this year with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ HomeSafe program. Funded by the U.S. Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund, HomeSafe Georgia is a statewide unemployment mortgage payment assistance program to prevent foreclosures. The program may help homeowners by providing "bridge" mortgage assistance for up to 18 months to many Georgians who are unemployed or have seen a dramatic decrease in their income through no fault of their own.

Attendees are encouraged to take MARTA to Airport station and board the free ATL SkyTrain to the Convention Center or take MARTA to College Park station and board a special MARTA bus shuttle to the event.

For more information, including how an employer may participate, please call 770-432-5405.

What:             Congressman David Scott’s 10^th Annual 13^th Congressional District Jobs Fair

When:             Friday, April 19, 2013, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where:          Georgia International Convention Center
                       2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337

This year's participants include:

A-Supreme Healthcare Services

Aflac Atlanta

AirServ Corporation

Albany Police Department

Alorica

American General Life and Accident Ins. Co.

Amerigroup Community Care

Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) Resources

Atlanta Job Corps

Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce

Atlanta Police Department

Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta Workforce Development Agency

Avon - Melton

Bank of America

Bobby Dodd Institute

Brickman Group - Commercial Landscape
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Check 90
CHRIS Kids
City of Atlanta

City of Douglasville Police

Clayton County Water Authority
Cobb County Government

Cobb Works, Inc.

Colonial Life

Columbus Police Department

Comcast Corporation

CredAbility, Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agency

CSX Transportation

D&E, The Power Group

DeVry University

Douglas County Fire/EMS Dept.

Drake Staffing

Employment Seeker

Federal Air Marshals

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Floor and Décor Outlets of America

Fulton County Housing and Human Services - Office of Workforce Development

Fulton County Schools Police

Gate Gourmet

GEL Financial Services, LLC
Georgia Tech

Gentiva Health Services

Georgia Power Company

Global Media Empire

Grady Health System

Gwinnett County Police Department

Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program

International Marketing Associates (Stinson Associates)

James Brown Youth Empowerment Organization

Katlaw Truck Driving School
Kroger

Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Co.

Lowe's

MARTA

MSC Industrial Supply Company

Porsche Cars North America

Primerica Financial Services

Project Real Life Y.O.T.C., Inc.

Regions Financial Corporation

Rollins, Inc./Orkin Pest Control

Schneider National

The Home Depot

The Homeowners Employment Corporation

Thomas and Williams, LLC

Troops to Teachers

United Parcel Service (UPS)

United States Air Force Reserve

United States Customs and Border Protection

United States Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

United States Foods

United States General Services Administration (GSA)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations

United States Peace Corps

United States Small Business Administration (SBA)

United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Urban League of Greater Atlanta

Veterans Upward Bound and Education Opportunity Center

WAGA-TV

Waffle House, Inc.
Wells Fargo

West Georgia Technical College

WVFJ-FMRadio Training Network

WSB-AM, WSBB-FM, WSRVFM, WALR-FM

WSB-TV

What challenges are you facing in trying to find a job? Comment on the Congressman's blog. If you are an employer, what challenges are you facing in trying to hire qualified employees? We would like to hear your thoughts as well.

Congressman David Scott Hosts 2013 Congressional Art Competition

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today Congressman David Scott joined nearly 200 students, parents, and teachers to celebrate the 2013 Thirteenth Congressional District Art Competition held at the Arts Clayton Gallery. An expert panel of professional artists evaluated pieces submitted by 76 high school students from across the District and selected the top five winners. Shrooq Afifi, a student at Fayette County High School, earned “First Place” in the competition. Her winning piece, “The Painted Sky,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Renee Holdo of the Savannah College of Art and Design and Rob Albertson from the Art Institute of Atlanta were on hand to present Shrooq with $12,000 and $10, 000 scholarships respectively.

“I am so proud of the talent displayed by the students here today,” said Congressman Scott. “I value the contributions the arts have made to communities across our country and have been inspired by today’s extraordinary exhibit to continue to support federal funding for the arts and humanities. And I am especially proud to host the Thirteenth Congressional District Art Competition each year that I have been in Congress to promote creativity, social development, and a strong sense of self-worth in our youth.”

This year’s top winners include:

First Place – “The Painted Sky” by Shrooq Afifi, Fayette County High School
Second Place – “The Things” by Tam Huynh, Charles Drew High School
Third Place – “Moment of Clarity” by Daira Lopez, Pebblebrook High School
Fourth Place – “Do Tell” by Andrew Ferris, Mt. Zion Magnet High School
Fifth Place – “Stepping Out” by Montavious Whiters, Mundy’s Mill High School

To date, Congressman Scott has awarded over $350,000 and 40 scholarships to local student artists. This year’s top five winners will receive the following awards:

First Place - $10,000 or $3,000/ year scholarship, artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for 1 year and roundtrip airfare to attend a June opening ceremony honoring 1^st place winners from across the country;
Second Place - $5,000 scholarship and artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Washington Office for 1 year;
Third Place - $2,500 scholarship and artwork will hang in prominent public gallery;
Fourth Place - $500 scholarship and artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Jonesboro Office for 1 year; and
Fifth Place – artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Smyrna Office for 1 year.

Participating high schools this year include: Chapel Hill High School, Charles Drew High School, Clayton County Magnet High School, Creekside High School, Douglas County High School, Fayette County High School, Jonesboro High School, Landmark Christian Academy, Langston Hughes High School, Lithia Springs High School, Lovejoy High School, Mt. Zion High School, Mundy's Mill High School, North Clayton High School, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School, Pebblebrook High School, Riverdale High School, Stockbridge High School, and Trinity Chapel Academy.

Special Thanks: Congressman Scott thanked the Management, Board of Directors and Staff of the Arts Clayton Gallery for exhibiting the 2013 Thirteenth Congressional District Art Competition. The Arts Clayton Gallery, a program of Arts Clayton, Inc., is a non-profit community arts gallery dedicated to enriching lives through art. The gallery, with its prominent 4-panel street mural, exhibits both professional and emerging artists. The 12 month schedule includes 30 themed and featured exhibits, including two juried competitions and the Thirteenth Congressional District Art Competition.

Neugebauer and Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Streamline Insurance Licensing

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) joined Congressman David Scott (D-GA) to introduce the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers Act of 2013 (NARAB II), which would streamline the insurance agent licensing process.

“The NARAB Reform Act will create a more efficient, modern, and workable system of insurance agent licensing,” Congressman Neugebauer said. “That allows for more competition between insurance agents and brokers, which ultimately means more choices and better prices for consumers purchasing insurance policies.”

“Many of my colleagues in the House already know the significance of this legislation and how it will expand consumer choice and industry competition,” Congressman Scott said. “Similar legislation previously passed the House under suspension in the 111th Congress. The NARAB Reform Act will protect consumers, while also allowing for greater relief for those in the insurance industry who have struggled under burdensome regulations. I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation in order to modernize the system currently in place.”

The current state regulatory system has worked effectively to maintain insurer solvency and protect consumers. However, the state-based system needs agent licensing reform. Neugebauer and Scott drafted H.R. 1064 to maintain the successful state-based system of insurance regulation while improving consistency and streamlining procedures from state to state.

The NARAB Reform Act provides for non-resident insurance agent and broker licensing while preserving the rights of states to supervise and discipline agents and brokers. Reforming the current policy provides much-needed reciprocity in producer licensing through a board of state commissioners and industry representatives.

The NARAB Reform Act only relates to marketplace entry and would not impact the day-to-day state regulation of insurance. Additionally, NARAB would not be part of, or report to, any federal agency and would not have any federal regulatory power. The legislation also would provide higher and more consistent national consumer protections for those agents utilizing NARAB. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has formally endorsed the legislation and it is a top priority for the insurance industry, including the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.

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Employers - what are your hiring challenges?

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Today, a strong jobs report was announced. The positive trend shows continued economic growth for America. However, there are still a lot of uncertainties that may be holding employers back from expanding their payrolls. There may still be a mismatch between the number of unemployed and companies that cannot find qualified candidates.

Whether you represent a small business, or a large company, you may have difficulties filling positions with qualified applicants. There are many resources available to you which may help you fill your employment needs.

Small businesses may be interested in programs offered by the Georgia Small Business Development Center to help them plan for growth.
If you are having trouble finding skilled employees, you may want to contact use the QuickStart Program developed by the Georgia Technical Colleges.
If you want to know more about expanding your your workforce, you may want to check out resources available from the Georgia Department of Economic Development or the University System.

On April 19, Congressman Scott hosts his annual 13th Congressional District Jobs Fair at the GICC in College Park. This event usually attracts between 8,000 - 10,000 job seekers. We are currently seeking additional employers to attend and meet with potential hires. There is no charge to have a representative at the event.

As an employer or supervisor, what challenges are you having with filling slots on your team? What advice would you give to people who are currently unemployed? Please comment below to share your experiences and share your thoughts.

Congressman David Scott to Honor Student Artists

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman David Scott will host an awards ceremony to honor all participating students of his 11^th Annual Congressional High School Art Competition. The reception will be held Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Arts Clayton Gallery, located at 136 South Main Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236.

Residents from throughout the Thirteenth District are invited to come out to support area students and view the extraordinary exhibit of 80 student entries. To date, Congressman Scott has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to local student artists.

This year’s top five winners will receive the following awards:

First Place - $10,000 or $3,000/ year scholarship and artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for 1 year;
Second Place - $5,000 scholarship and artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Washington Office for 1 year;
Third Place - $2,500 scholarship and artwork will hang in prominent public gallery;
Fourth Place - $500 scholarship and artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Jonesboro Office for 1 year; and
Fifth Place – artwork will hang in Congressman David Scott’s Smyrna Office for 1 year.

CBO Releases New Cost Estimates for Goodlatte/Scott Dairy Proposal

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Congressman David Scott (D-GA) released a statement regarding the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) updated estimates of the costs of the Goodlatte/Scott Amendment to the Dairy Security Act. Congressmen Goodlatte and Scott offered this amendment during markup of the House Farm Bill.

“Last year, we offered an alternative dairy policy that would provide dairy producers with voluntary margin insurance protection that did not include administrative fees and was not tied to a new supply management program that manipulates dairy prices and penalizes consumers,” said Goodlatte and Scott. “This amendment provided for a viable safety net for producers without putting the government in the middle of market decisions.”

Goodlatte and Scott continued, “CBO’s updated score of the Farm Bill finds that our amendment would save $100 million over the Dairy Security Act as included in the dairy title of last year’s proposed House Farm Bill. We believe that the CBO score further proves that supply management does not work and our amendment will provide producers with a viable safety net without supply management and added producer fees. We look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson on common sense reforms for our nation’s dairy farmers.”

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Congressman Scott to Address St. Philip Benizi Seniors Group

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:56:29 GMT

Congressman Scott to Address St. Philips Benizi Seniors Group

CBC Spouses Education Scholarship Deadline!

Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:24:04 GMT

Congressman David Scott (D-GA) announced today that applications for the 2005 Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses Education Scholarship are available

Congressman David Scott to Host Reception for Military Academy Nomimees

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 20:09:18 GMT

Congressman David Scott hosts military academy reception

Congressman David Scott Hosts First Annual Jobs Fair!

Wed, 02 Mar 2005 20:03:59 GMT

Congressman David Scott hosts Job Fair

Congressional Art Competition Deadline!

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 14:35:18 GMT

Congressional Art Competition

Third Annual Congressional Art Competition

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 14:47:08 GMT

Third Annual Congressional Art Competition

Congressman Scott to join BRAC Commissioner on Tour of Ft. Gillem

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 17:01:41 GMT

Congressman Scott to join BRAC Commissioner on Tour of Ft. Gillem

Keynote Speaker at White's Chapel United Methodist Church

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:55:40 GMT

Congressman David Scott will participate as the keynote speaker for a special worship service at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Conyers.

Congressman Scott Gives Keynote Address at DeVry Keller Graduate School of Management

Thu, 12 May 2005 16:32:11 GMT

Congressman Scott Gives Keynote Address at DeVry Keller Graduate School of Management

Congressman Scott Attends Regional Base Closing (BRAC) Hearing

Fri, 10 Jun 2005 21:57:50 GMT

Congressman Scott Attends Regional Base Closing (BRAC) Hearing