Does the Government have what it takes to fix the VA?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:05:32 -0500

Interested to hear what others think, but as a federal employee, I do not believe the VA can ever fix itself.

One of the major reasons is the archaic hiring system that the government has in place. So long as it exists, the VA will continue to hire sub-standard employees.

In order to right the ship, several things must happen.

1) First and foremost, the VA must be exempted from the current government hiring process. This would likely take an act of congress. Sadly, many of the employees in place are there for a paycheck. That's it. That is why the service is as horrendous as it is. The employees lack empathy.

2) Hire the right employees and pay them at private sector levels. Hire people that care once the hiring restrictions are out of the way. Some will make less (after all, the government pay scale is inflated) but the individuals that need to make more, should. This means Doctors. Doctors need higher pay to attract better Doctors to the system.

3) Make the VA expected service. Allow employees to be fired when they need to be, and don't allow them to hide behind government tenure. This is why the VA is in the mess it is. Government employees, sitting there for a paycheck, not caring about those that should be cared for. And they can't be fired.

So these three things are a start to fixing the VA. Until this happens, the VA will remain the hell-hole it is.

Anyone else have suggestions on how to fix this debacle?

My second options would be to privatize it completely, but that's not likely to happen either.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2015 10:06 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:06:28 -0500

Yes, I think so. With the proper leadership, of course!

Response by SFC Jerry Shaw made Nov 6 at 2015 10:27 AM

SFC Jerry Shaw — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:27:53 -0500

Wow what a topic, I think its a joke. I saw a t-shirt that said " VA another opportunity for a solider to give his life again for his country". Not a place I would want to wind up if I have control of where I go.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Nov 6 at 2015 10:41 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:41:57 -0500

The answer is No! The problems with the VA are the same as you face at the DMV and public schools. First is institutional resistance to long term change and improvement. Unlike the Military where people PCS every three years or so, individual VA clinic staff may only change every 10+ years. So when someone comes in with good ideas they are beat down by the "but this is the way we always did it" crowd or worse the improvements are either ignored or outright fought against. Next, while most, of the VA's employees are conscientious and hardworking, as a bureaucracy it is way to difficult to get rid of those who are not. This leads to burnout and stove piping "I'm doing my job and not watching what others are or are not doing" from the good workers. The only real fix is to bring in a business model that rewards improvement (with outside oversight), strictly punishes bad behavior and poor performance and is centered around good patient outcomes.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 6 at 2015 11:10 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 11:10:16 -0500

No they don't. They are to big and everything they try to correct anything they end up tripping over themselves.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Nov 6 at 2015 12:33 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 12:33:22 -0500

I could not have said it better than myself. I have worked at a VA Medical Center before, and I consulted to my supervisor of having PTSD. As an employee, I even gave my supervisor, a psychologist some documents and tips on how to work best with Veterans with PTSD. The clinician said, "What is this for"? I said to her, To work with me and be understanding of what condition I have. I had several supervisors to answer too. It blew me away how some of the top VA administration officials were not educated about PTSD and even did not show any empathy at all. Non supportive, and did not give a damn. Not all of the VA is bad. There are great employees at the VA and those are the employees who make a difference. VA employees would be evaluated twice a year on their work performance. The good employees are the ones the VA need to keep. The employees with the bad evaluations, those are the ones the VA needs to get rid off. What I also observed and witnessed, is the "good ole boy system". Other VA employees would look out for their own and sweep it under the rug. The job is based on merit, not on the culture. Also, my supervisor,
the psychologist, she had never served in the Armed Forces, but was well not for her research projects, and had made a name for herself some what. I told her, Mam, let me break it down for you, all of those books you have read about Veterans with mental health issues. What you know is just what you have read and learn. What you read in that book is about me. I am in that book. A typically description of a Veteran with PTSD.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Nov 6 at 2015 1:49 PM

SPC Nathan Freeman — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:49:44 -0500

In a word: no. Managing the VA requires common sense and the logic of a free enterprise system which the government is depleted of

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 6 at 2015 3:25 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:25:14 -0500

Gonna go against the grain and say YES. IF there are people who are dedicated to changing the processes and the mindsets that have made the VA into what it is, YES. If you are willing to take that hard right and stick it to those who are unwilling to assist in the change, YES. If you are willing to stand alone in a sea of sharks who are only protecting their paychecks and make yourself known, MAYBE. You better have a strong pool of sharks yourself on that one. Are you willing to go against a congress who have deep rooted connections and protections in VA? YES. Some of the very problems we have are from congressional input/lack of input when regarding protection of hospitals and programs in their districts. I'm very biased towards NCO's and the ability to get sh*t done. Grab hold of some hard charging don't give a damn about your feelings, focused on the mission and troops, soon to be retiring NCO's and turn them loose. Sit back sip some tea or beverage of choice and watch those doors at various VA hospitals crash open with the lackluster performers running to their cars with no jobs. It will look like a scene out of Resident Evil or Walking Dead when they get done. Dazed former government workers, lots of hurt feelings, and gore everywhere. Watch those same NCO's fill and maintain those positions with those who are of the same mindset as they are, and we will see change, and a lot of lawsuits from butthurt individuals who think they are what's important, not the troops they're supposed to take care of. Bring out the knifehands and let's cut the fat that's the bureaucratic part of the VA.

Response by Cpl Tina Earl made Nov 6 at 2015 3:54 PM

Cpl Tina Earl — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:54:31 -0500

(For the record my tour of duty ended 20 minutes ago but a coworker sent me this discussion and I needed to respond so I'm not here on the taxpayer dime)

As a current VA employee, I hate that this is how we are viewed. There are those of us that want to do good things that are held back by the archaic leadership at the middle management level; I'm not a sub-standard employee. I've brought up ideas that would reduce costs, and help the various offices I have worked for function more effectively and reach target goals but they are always squashed by "leaders".
To address your first point, yes, like in many places there are people here for a paycheck, and as long as it keeps coming every two weeks they are happy. Then you have the 32.89% of the VA workforce that are Vets. We're here to help our fellow vets. Some, if not many of whom could be making double what they are working for the VA, but choose to continue to serve. Here's a personal example of that: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/myva-christina-earl?trk=pulse_spock-articles
The VA does have a difficult time hiring and retaining good people, but it is not only due to the lengthy hiring process (that affects many government agencies), but because who wants to come work for an agency that has been on a steady decline on the list ranking which federal agencies are the best to work at?
I work in an office that is comprised of better than 50% veteran staff; we work daily to try and help vets get jobs within the VA, as well as with our federal partners. A lot of people don't realize that while applying for a non-competitive position is great, it does not mean that you are going to get the job; you're competing against your fellow vets who are also eligible for a non-competitive appointment. So people complain "I'm a vet I can't get a VA job!"...well you might not have but another veteran may have gotten that job instead. If that's the case touch base with someone in my office (http://www.vaforvets.va.gov) and we can try and help you work on your resume.

To address your second point about inflated salaries; I'm a "staff assistant" according to my position description, but in reality, I do so many things that are outside the scope of that position. I've been offered positions doing similar things that would pay me about 10-15K more than I am making now, but I turned them down, because working here at the VA is not just a job, its a calling and I'm just not ready to give up the ghost yet.

And finally your third point....There is still good for me to do here...but if you want to make it easier for the supervisors that don't want change to fire those of us here with boots on the ground trying to make that change happen, the VA is going to implode into a flaming heap of stupidity and red tape.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Nov 6 at 2015 6:59 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 18:59:41 -0500

CPT Sean Mathews , a couple of issues with hiring process. Some of the archaic hiring preferences you reference are mandates that were hard fought by veterans who have served before us. Unfortunately, enforcement of hiring preferences is very slim. The courts have made it so very easy for a selecting official to pass over a more qualified veteran candidate. As for the hiring and firing at will. Hiring at will is budget restricted. Ideally, for example in the hospital environment, a department manager, or "Service Chief" has developed an organizational chart which was approved, thereby it should be funded. However, when the hospital leadership sees budget shortfalls throughout the facility, they began to slow down the hiring process for other service chiefs. Many of these service chiefs are working well below adequate staffing levels. But yet, the demand doesn't change. Imagine the reality I faced as a Service Chief, with cost of goods increasing, patient demand increasing and the facility leadership indicating that I must operate with a 4 or 5% reduction from previous year's budget, how do I reconcile the three. As I told my leadership several times, not a problem, once all the bandages are gone because you reduced my budget, just shut the door and don't let any more patients in. It's ridiculous to expect a social program to operate on such restricted budget limitations. However, let's look at the friggin' trinkets they use to recruit staff, or the lunches/picnics they put together in hopes of improving employee morale (don't get me wrong, I too believe a happy employee is a productive employee), training conferences where the staff stay in 4 or 5 star hotels, all meals provided, social programs in the evening sometimes provided, travel pay and time off for those hours of travel when it should have been your day off (i.e. traveling on a Sunday). Or the off station "retreats" sometimes at posh resorts. How about reducing the amount of money we spend on fuel for the hundreds of vehicles we have in the motor fleet? The list can go on, but I'm tired.