>>> THIS WAS IN THE "WALL STREET
>>> THIS WAS IN THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
JOURNAL" JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. QUOTE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
QUOTE, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS EXPERIENCING
VETERANS AFFAIRS IS EXPERIENCING SERIOUS SHORTAGES OF PROTECTIVE
SERIOUS SHORTAGES OF PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR ITS MEDICAL WORKERS
GEAR FOR ITS MEDICAL WORKERS TREATING PATIENTS INFECTED WITH
TREATING PATIENTS INFECTED WITH CORONAVIRUS ACCORDING TO
CORONAVIRUS ACCORDING TO EXCERPTS OF INTERNAL MEMOS
EXCERPTS OF INTERNAL MEMOS SHARED WITH "THE WALL STREET
SHARED WITH "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."
JOURNAL." A FEW DAYS AGO IN THE JOURNAL,
A FEW DAYS AGO IN THE JOURNAL, ONE OF THOSE MEMOS CIRCULATED
ONE OF THOSE MEMOS CIRCULATED AMONG A GROUP OF TOP-RANKING VA
AMONG A GROUP OF TOP-RANKING VA OFFICIALS, SAID QUOTE,
OFFICIALS, SAID QUOTE, EXPERIENCING SERIOUS PPE
EXPERIENCING SERIOUS PPE SHORTAGES.
SHORTAGES. SEVERAL SITES DOING 3D PRINTING
SEVERAL SITES DOING 3D PRINTING BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH. SOON PPE WILL BE RATIONED.
SOON PPE WILL BE RATIONED. THESE WERE THE KINDS OF ALARM
THESE WERE THE KINDS OF ALARM BELLS GOING OFF THIS MONTH
BELLS GOING OFF THIS MONTH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. TO THE PUBLIC THOUGH, THE VA WAS
TO THE PUBLIC THOUGH, THE VA WAS TAKING A STANCE VERY DIFFERENT
TAKING A STANCE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
THAN THAT. ON THE SAME DAY THAT INTERNAL
ON THE SAME DAY THAT INTERNAL MEMO CIRCULATED AT THE HIGHEST
MEMO CIRCULATED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF VA WARNING OF SERIOUS
LEVELS OF VA WARNING OF SERIOUS SHORTAGES AND RATIONING, A SPOKS
SHORTAGES AND RATIONING, A SPOKS WOMAN SAID THERE WAS NO CONCERN
WOMAN SAID THERE WAS NO CONCERN ABOUT SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT,
ABOUT SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT, QUOTE, ALL VA FACILITIES ARE
QUOTE, ALL VA FACILITIES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SUPPLIES AND WE’RE
EQUIPPED WITH SUPPLIES AND WE’RE MONITORING THE SUPPLY OF THE
MONITORING THE SUPPLY OF THE ITEMS TO ENSURE A ROBUST SUPPLY
ITEMS TO ENSURE A ROBUST SUPPLY CHAIN WHICH SOUNDS GREAT.
CHAIN WHICH SOUNDS GREAT. GOOD TALK.
GOOD TALK. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS INTERNAL
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS INTERNAL MEMOS SHOWING EXACTLY THE
MEMOS SHOWING EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE GROUND TRUTH THAT
OPPOSITE GROUND TRUTH THAT FACILITIES KEPT LEAKING OUT.
FACILITIES KEPT LEAKING OUT. THE JOURNAL SOON GOT THEIR HANDS
THE JOURNAL SOON GOT THEIR HANDS ON ANOTHER INTERNAL MEMO THAT
ON ANOTHER INTERNAL MEMO THAT WAS SENT TO TOP LEVEL VA
WAS SENT TO TOP LEVEL VA OFFICIALS SAYING THAT THE
OFFICIALS SAYING THAT THE RATIONING OF PPE HAD OFFICIALLY
RATIONING OF PPE HAD OFFICIALLY BEGUN BY WHICH POINT VA WORKERS
BEGUN BY WHICH POINT VA WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES WERE DEALING
ON THE FRONT LINES WERE DEALING WITH THAT REALITY.
WITH THAT REALITY. AT ONE KANSAS CITY FACILITY,
AT ONE KANSAS CITY FACILITY, PERSONNEL WERE GIVEN ONE MASK
PERSONNEL WERE GIVEN ONE MASK PER DAY.
PER DAY. THEY WERE TOLD TO MAKE IT LAST
THEY WERE TOLD TO MAKE IT LAST UNLESS IT IS, QUOTE, IR
UNLESS IT IS, QUOTE, IR REDEEMABLY SOILED.
REDEEMABLY SOILED. IN THE DAYS SINCE THE JOURNAL
IN THE DAYS SINCE THE JOURNAL HAS REPORTED THAT THE SITUATION
HAS REPORTED THAT THE SITUATION DETERIORATED FURTHER, QUOTE, A
DETERIORATED FURTHER, QUOTE, A SHORTAGE OF FACE MASKS AND N95
SHORTAGE OF FACE MASKS AND N95 RESPIRATORS HAS LED THE
RESPIRATORS HAS LED THE DEPARTMENT TO TELL WHICH
DEPARTMENT TO TELL WHICH EMPLOYEES GET MASKS AND WHICH
EMPLOYEES GET MASKS AND WHICH DON’T ACCORDING TO INTERNAL
DON’T ACCORDING TO INTERNAL MEMOS REVIEWED BY "THE WALL
MEMOS REVIEWED BY "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."
STREET JOURNAL." MASK SUPPLY LEVELS IN THE VA
MASK SUPPLY LEVELS IN THE VA HEALTH ADMINISTRATION DO NOT
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION DO NOT SUPPORT PROVIDING MASKS TO ALL
SUPPORT PROVIDING MASKS TO ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES.
OTHER EMPLOYEES. THEY ALSO TOLD HOSPITAL
THEY ALSO TOLD HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATORS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW STAFF TO
DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW STAFF TO BRING THEIR OWN MASKS OR
BRING THEIR OWN MASKS OR RESPIRATORS WHEN HOSPITALS DON’T
RESPIRATORS WHEN HOSPITALS DON’T HAVE THEM AVAILABLE.
HAVE THEM AVAILABLE. BRING YOUR OWN.
BRING YOUR OWN. SEE WHAT YOU CAN COBBLE TOGETHER
SEE WHAT YOU CAN COBBLE TOGETHER FROM STUFF YOU FIND AROUND THE
FROM STUFF YOU FIND AROUND THE HOUSE WHILE YOU TREAT AMERICA’S
HOUSE WHILE YOU TREAT AMERICA’S VETERANS AT VA MEDICAL
VETERANS AT VA MEDICAL FACILITIES.
FACILITIES. I WILL SAY THAT BRING IT FROM
I WILL SAY THAT BRING IT FROM HOME ANECDOTE TRACKS WITH
HOME ANECDOTE TRACKS WITH INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM ONE
INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM ONE VA MEDICAL FACILITY IN GEORGIA
VA MEDICAL FACILITY IN GEORGIA WHERE STAFF WERE TOLD THE
WHERE STAFF WERE TOLD THE MEDICAL CENTER WAS SEEKING
MEDICAL CENTER WAS SEEKING DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR
DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR BASIC THINGS LIKE DISINFECTING
BASIC THINGS LIKE DISINFECTING WIPES, PAPER TOWELS, AND BLEACH
WIPES, PAPER TOWELS, AND BLEACH LET ALONE GLOVES AND FACE
LET ALONE GLOVES AND FACE SHIELDS AND MASKS.
SHIELDS AND MASKS. THEY’RE SOLICITING BLEACH FROM
THEY’RE SOLICITING BLEACH FROM THE PUBLIC FOR A VA MEDICAL
THE PUBLIC FOR A VA MEDICAL CENTER?
CENTER? DESPITE THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT’S
DESPITE THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE THE FACILITIES,
HAPPENING INSIDE THE FACILITIES, THE THE PUBLIC LINE FROM THE VA
THE THE PUBLIC LINE FROM THE VA HAS CONTINUED TO BE EVERYTHING
HAS CONTINUED TO BE EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE, THERE’S NOTHING
IS JUST FINE, THERE’S NOTHING WRONG AT ALL.
WRONG AT ALL. WHEN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL"
WHEN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" WENT TO THE VA FOR COMMENT, HAVA
WENT TO THE VA FOR COMMENT, HAVA SPOEKSWOMAN CHRISTINA NOEL TOLD
SPOEKSWOMAN CHRISTINA NOEL TOLD THE PAPER QUOTE, YOUR PREMISE IS
THE PAPER QUOTE, YOUR PREMISE IS FALSE.
FALSE. ALL EMPLOYEES THAT NEED PPE HAVE
ALL EMPLOYEES THAT NEED PPE HAVE IT.
IT. DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THAT’S TRUE.
DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THAT’S TRUE. WHY WON’T THE VA ADMIT IT?
WHY WON’T THE VA ADMIT IT? THERE IS A REAL CRISIS TAKING
THERE IS A REAL CRISIS TAKING PLACE.
PLACE. WE LEARNED AS OF TODAY MORE THAN
WE LEARNED AS OF TODAY MORE THAN 1,500 VA STAFF HAVE TESTED
1,500 VA STAFF HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, 13
POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, 13 STAFF MEMBERS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE
STAFF MEMBERS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED.
DIED. THERE ARE MORE THAN 4,200
THERE ARE MORE THAN 4,200 CORONAVIRUS CASES AMONG VETERANS
CORONAVIRUS CASES AMONG VETERANS IN THE SYSTEM, 257 VETS ARE
IN THE SYSTEM, 257 VETS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED.
KNOWN TO HAVE DIED. THAT’S SEPARATE AND APART FROM
THAT’S SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE SITUATION IN STATE-RUN
THE SITUATION IN STATE-RUN VETERANS HOMES, ONES RUN BY
VETERANS HOMES, ONES RUN BY VARIOUS STATES.
VARIOUS STATES. IN THOSE FACILITIES WE HAVE SEEN
IN THOSE FACILITIES WE HAVE SEEN DEE TIER
DEE TIER DETERIORATION IN HOMES IN
DETERIORATION IN HOMES IN ALABAMA, NEW JERSEY, MAINE,
ALABAMA, NEW JERSEY, MAINE, WASHINGTON STATE, NORTH
WASHINGTON STATE, NORTH CAROLINA.
CAROLINA. IN THE WORST CASE WHICH YOU HAVE
IN THE WORST CASE WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT OVER THE LAST
BEEN HEARING ABOUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, 44 RESIDENTS, 44
SEVERAL DAYS, 44 RESIDENTS, 44 VETERAN RESIDENTS HAVE NOW DIED
VETERAN RESIDENTS HAVE NOW DIED AT ONE VETERAN’S HOME IN HOLY
AT ONE VETERAN’S HOME IN HOLY OAK, MASSACHUSETTS.
OAK, MASSACHUSETTS. 44.
44. ONE FACILITY.
ONE FACILITY. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ROBERT WILKIE HAVE BEEN LARGELY
ROBERT WILKIE HAVE BEEN LARGELY ABSENT, LITTLE TO NO PRESS.
ABSENT, LITTLE TO NO PRESS. WE KNOW FROM THE "WALL STREET
WE KNOW FROM THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTING HE IS BEING
JOURNAL" REPORTING HE IS BEING BRIEFED ABOUT EQUIPMENT
BRIEFED ABOUT EQUIPMENT SHORTAGES BUT HASN’T SAID
SHORTAGES BUT HASN’T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IN RECENT
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IN RECENT WEEKS.
WEEKS. PROBLEMS AT THE VA ARE NOT A
PROBLEMS AT THE VA ARE NOT A SURPRISE.
SURPRISE. LOTS OF DIFFERENT HEALTH SYSTEMS
LOTS OF DIFFERENT HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT THEY’RE
ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER
NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER SIMPLY BY AVOIDING ANSWERING
SIMPLY BY AVOIDING ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM AND
QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM AND PRETENDING EVERYTHING’S FINE.
PRETENDING EVERYTHING’S FINE. THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GET BETTER
THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GET BETTER BY HAPPY TALKING THE PUBLIC
BY HAPPY TALKING THE PUBLIC SAYING THERE ARE PLENTY OF
SAYING THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUPPLIES WHEN THERE ARE NOT.
SUPPLIES WHEN THERE ARE NOT. THE VA IS THE LARGEST HEALTH
THE VA IS THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE
CARE SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY RUN DIRECTLY BY THE
COUNTRY RUN DIRECTLY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SERVING MORE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SERVING MORE THAN 9 MILLION OF OUR NATION’S
