In order to consolidate the various programs into a single
agency, the veterans administration, the forerunner of the
department of veteran affairs was established in 1930 to provide
benefits and medical care to honorably discharged persons. In 1946,
the aftermath of WWII created support for expanding medical care
benefits and the Veterans Administration was formed.
Slide 4
By the 1990s, the VHA had a reputation for delivering limited,
poor quality care, which lead to health care reforms. By the 2000s,
the VHA had substantially improved in terms of indicators of
processes improved in terms of numbers. Some evidence shows that
its overall performance now exceeds that of the rest of U.S health
care. The apparent turn around in the VHAs performance offers
encouragement in their health care system.
Slide 5
Todays VA Hospitals, especially, in the office of public and
intergovernmental affairs (OPIA) have shifted focus on creative
innovative ways to connect with vets, the media and other
stakeholders. (OPA) Started Facebook and Twitter profiles. They
want Vets to be part of their dialog about some of their issues and
concerns. OPIAs mission is to make sure the right message get to
the right veteran at the right time VA on Twitter
Slide 6
VA REFORM BILL H.R.3230 According to Rep. Jeff Miller, (R- Fl)
there are currently over 470 executives in the VA health system.
The corruption, mismanagement and lack of accountability across the
board will now be addressed due to the passing of the VA reform
Bill H.R.3230 To focus on making government more accountable It
starts larger conversation on how they will reform the department
so that it will better serve the veterans. Get the Veteran off the
waiting list, and provide more power to VA secretary of health to
hold the failing executive accountable.
Slide 7
Secretary Robert McDonald, announces town hall events at
Veterans facilities nationwide. McDonald has directed all Veteran
affairs ( VA ) health care and benefits to hold town hall events.
To improve communication with and hear directly from veterans
nationwide (8/5/14 ) Robert A McDonald was nominated by president
Obama to serve as the eighth secretary of Veteran Affairs and was
confirmed by the United States senate on July 29, 2014.
Slide 8
Communication is done daily by the government oracle orders,
which are from the president of the United States to the secretary
of veteran affairs. McDonald, who is the VA secretary, sends out
Daily emails to all VA hospitals and health facilities Each manager
and supervisor receives the messages and instructs the. other
employees.
Slide 9
Sets the strategic direction and articulates the vision that
places the VA Human Resources community at the cornerstone of the
VA mission of care and services to the Nations veterans and their
families (HR&A) Mission of HR&A Lead human capital
management strategies, policies, and practices that cultivate and
engaged, proficient and diverse workforce to transform and
continually improve service to veterans and their families
(HR&A)
Slide 10
Promotes a healthy working environment through prevention,
resolution, and processing of workplace disputes (ORM). ORM to
foster prevention by ensuring that managers and staff are educated
on the elements of a healthy working environment (ORM). ORM has
resolution experts who promote and deliver alternative dispute
resolution techniques, which includes alleged equal employment
opportunity (EEO) discrimination in a timely manner (ORM).
Slide 11
WHAT IS THE COMMUNICATION AT VA HOSPITALS LIKE FOR NURSES? VA
Hospitals have own internal communication system Communication can
be basic, from a floor meeting to specific department meetings to
general whole clinic meetings (E.Bondar, 2014) Each shift of nurses
in hospital has own half-hour meeting to receive updates as to what
happened last shift (E.Bondar, 2014) Patient updates at each shift
change during the half hour shift/floor meeting and the charge
nurse is responsible for a verbal and printed report of the
meeting(E.Bondar, 2014)
Slide 12
Chain of command, for work related issues. Regular nurse Charge
nurse Assistant manager of unit Unit manager On call floor manager
Day Time: Charge nurse Assistant unit manager Unit manager
Physicians Nurse practitioners Night Hours: Charge nurse On call
hospitalist (M.D.) On call nurse practitioner (has right to write
prescriptions in scope of field of practice) WHAT IS THE CHAIN OF
COMMAND FOR NURSES AT VA HOSPITALS?
Slide 13
HOW DO EMPLOYEES COMMUNICATE AT VA HOSPITAL? Human Resources to
nurse communication only about administrative issues, not patient
related issues VISTA VA Hospital employee database communication
system Employees from one hospital can theoretically check records
of a patient in any VA hospital, but this is against certain HIPA
rules and internal VA rules. and there is a special technology
department that monitors this (E.Bondar, 2014). There were
instances of VA employees accessing the records of famous people
out of curiosity, they were fired (E.Bondar, 2014). Employees
stealing medication VA has own police unit that has its own station
inside the VA hospital will be involved Employee health department
will check employees for substance abuse
Slide 14
ARE THERE ANY MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES USED FOR EMPLOYEES? No
motivational tools from the charge nurse (E.Bondar, 2014). The unit
manager can award for doing good, but you have to do something that
really stands out (E.Bondar, 2014). Teamwork used as motivation
(E.Bondar, 2014) Publish success stories in the Milbank Quarterly
journal
Slide 15
WHAT IS THE HIRING PROCESS AT VA HOSPITALS? According to Eugene
Bondar priority is given to: Current VA Employees changing
Departments/Positions Veterans applying Outside people Many of the
employees are veterans
Slide 16
WHAT MAKES VA HOSPITAL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HOSPITALS? At VA
Hospital each patient is in his or her own private locked room and
employees have to knock and greet the patient and, also we say
thank you for your service
Slide 17
About VA (History) http://www.va.gov/about_va/vahistory.asp
Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (Office of Public
and Intergovernmental Affairs) http://www.va.gov/opa/ Office of
Human Resources and Administration (Home)
http://www.va.gov/employee/ Office of Resolution Management (ORM)
(Home) http://www.va.gov/orm/ Bondar, Eugene. Registered Nurse,
Cleveland VA Hospital. Personal interview..