Letter: VA needs to deliver on transparency policies

Roseburg VA Director Patrick Hull has promised transparency. Just one of the problems I addressed in one of my emails to Mr. Hull last week was not posting or providing the Roseburg VA's "Patients Rights and Responsibilities" to Veterans to address grievances with their health care.

I addressed this with Information Officer Richard Weber and Veterans Experience Officer Sarah Cranston a few years ago and was promised it would be posted. It was not.

All of the medical facilities I've been to will provide you a copy of their Patient's Rights and Responsibilities for resolving grievances. Not the Roseburg VA. I've asked.

VHA Directive 1003.04 states the VA Medical Facility Director is responsible for: "(4) Ensuring that Patient Rights are posted in every VA medical facility and CBOC near entrances and in high-traffic areas where appropriate.”

VHA Directive 1041 (clinical appeals) States: The VA medical facility Director is responsible for: (1) Ensuring the clinical appeals process established by this directive is implemented

at the VA medical facility level.

(2) Ensuring that patients are informed of their right to dispute a medical determination and the process involved in appealing that decision.

What is posted in Roseburg and in the Brookings Clinic is: "Rights and Responsibilities of Family Members of VA Patients and Residents of Community Living Centers."

There is no mention of the Clinical Appeals Process or other avenues to address quality of care issues many Veterans have, especially in Brookings.

So about that transparency Director Hull, please provide me a copy of the Roseburg VA's Patient Rights and Responsibilities I requested in my email.

Many of the same problems for Veterans that existed with the last three director still exist today. I will continue with these letters and emails and am well versed on VHA Directives.

Mike Berns

Brookings