HAMPTON, Va. — After months of scandal and upheaval involving questions of substandard medical care and employee retaliation, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) came to the Hampton VA Medical Center (HVAMC) on Thursday.
The center in July replaced its Director, Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery after a scathing report from the VA Office of Inspector General (IG) revealed "widespread failures and deficiencies" related to clinical care concerns.
In April, members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee alleged there was "substandard care" in the facility's Surgical Services Department, and that there were "credible allegations" of retaliation being "commonplace" against VA employees who report patient safety concerns.
"We obviously take the IG report very seriously. We've taken questions from Congress very seriously," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Thursday.
After meeting with HVAMC employees on Thursday, McDonough said the center is on "a good track."
"I think we're making concrete improvements. We have a great leadership team," he told reporters. "The great strength here at Hampton VA is the personnel who care for our veterans. So, we want to make sure we have a climate that values that kind of feedback and values excellence. That's what Hampton veterans have a right to expect. We're going to make sure we live up to that."
Sen. Mark Warner (D) Virginia told 13News Now on Thursday that he is pleased Secretary McDonough visited the Hampton center.
"Yeah, I mean, I think we've got to keep the pressure on," he said. "I think the vast majority of the workforce at Hampton does a very good job. They care about our veterans."
McDonough was in town to support VA suicide prevention efforts, which he said is the department's "number one clinical priority."
He urged any vet in crisis to call the Veterans Crisis Line: 9-8-8, press one.