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Didn’t think the VA’s problems could get any worse? Well, it just did. Wisconsin veterans who use the Tomah VA Hospital are being notified that they may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV – all because a VA dentist was reusing his own tools.
The Tomah VA says it’s in the process of notifying 592 veterans that they may be infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV after they received care from one particular dental provider.
Acting Medical Center Director Victoria Brahm said the dentist was using his own equipment, then cleaning it and reusing it, which violates the VA’s regulations.
The Tomah VA says it uses sterile and disposable equipment.
The VA says he did this for one year, from October 2015 through October 2016.
It came to light when someone filling in for his assistant noticed what was going on and reported it.
And the dentist KNEW this was not allowed.
“It was purposeful that he was violating VA regulations,” Brahm said. “During all of the orientation, he used all of our equipment. He used it appropriately, so it was very purposeful from what we found in our investigation that he knew exactly what he was doing, and preferred to use his own equipment against procedure.”
But it’s all good now – the VA moved him!
"That dentist has been removed from patient care and is now working in an administrative role." Absolutely insane.
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) December 1, 2016
Criminal charges may be possible, but considering this is the VA we are talking about, it seems unlikely.
THIS is President Obama’s legacy. The health care system for veterans is so completely broken, that even when bad actors or bad actions come to light, nothing changes. A band-aid is slapped on the problem. Someone resigns without consequence, and the new boss is essentially the same as the old.
This also illustrates why the role of VA Secretary is such a crucial one. But should it go to Sarah Palin?
Sarah Palin is under consideration for secretary of veterans affairs, a close Palin aide and a top Donald Trump transition official told ABC News.
The Palin aide said that Palin recently told Trump transition officials, “I feel as though the megaphone I have been provided can be used in a productive and positive way to help those desperately in need.”
Her son-in-law, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, thinks she should get the job.
Just because the GOP won, doesn't mean the battle is over. More than ever we have to push our leaders to remember the…
Posted by Dakota Meyer on Sunday, November 27, 2016
Count me among those who is skeptical that Palin is the right candidate for the job. She certainly is passionate about it, but I’m not sure that translates into an effective manager for this role that so desperately needs good leadership and a firm hand.
No matter who gets the job as head of the VA, these stories MUST STOP. Our veterans deserve SO much better than playing Russian roulette with their health just because they had their teeth cleaned.
I can hardly wait for government-run, “single payer” healthcare.
Exactly. And no to Palin. She’s not qualified. But Pete Hegseth is! 😉
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