Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/801765
8 UCW MARCH 22-28, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The director of Fayetteville's Veterans Affairs Medical Center says a critical performance audit on veteran wait times by the VA inspector general's office was outdated and inaccurate. "The team reviewed a small sample of appointments from 2014," said FVAMC Director Elizabeth Goolsby. "Discrepancies identified by the inspector general on patient wait times resulted from the IG's use of a methodology that was inconsistent with VHA policies at the time of the audit," she added. Goolsby responded to criticisms raised by U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the Department of Veterans Affairs that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, Community Based Outpatient Clinics and VA Community Living Centers. Burr and Tillis sent a joint letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin last week in response to what they called "a troubling inspector general report (released earlier this month) on veteran wait times." The letter said, in part, the senators were concerned that "across the VA's Mid- Atlantic Healthcare Network actual wait times were drastically different than what had been reported" by VA medical facilities in Asheville, Durham, Fayetteville, Salisbury and in Virginia. In their letter the senators said. "The IG found that facilities did not consistently conduct scheduler audits, and so we ask you to require that an individual … is responsible for ensuring that the required scheduling audits are completed as prescribed." Goolsby replied "All scheduling audits and follow-up training at the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center were compliant with VHA requirements." She stated this in response to an inquiry from Up & Coming Weekly. The actual IG report was dated January of this year but contained outdated findings. Goolsby noted that Burr and Tillis relied on the IG audit of a small sample taken three years ago which concluded "Veterans…deserve to be seen more quickly…and Congress, veterans, and the American public must be able to trust that the wait time information being provided by VA is accurate. That we, once again, cannot trust VA data is more than disappointing," the Senators wrote. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R- Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Goolsby released current wait times: "We are pleased to say that VA's most recent wait time data reveals as of Feb. 15, 2017, the average wait time for veterans to receive an appointment at the Fayetteville VAMC is 3.63 days for primary care; 14.88 for specialty care; and 5.45 for mental health; this is down from Dec. 15, 2014 figures of 29.02 days for primary care; 19.07 for specialty care; and 7.35 for mental health," the director outlined. "Additionally, we offer same day service for primary care and mental health for veterans with urgent needs," she concluded. "Fayetteville VA remains committed to providing our Veterans high quality, safe patient care, in a timely manner. This is care these veterans have justly earned," Goolsby emphasized. NEWS Fayetteville VA Medical Center Disputes Critical Findings by JEFF THOMPSON JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. The City of Fayetteville is one of the few large cities in North Carolina to restore red-light cameras on city streets to prevent intersection traffic accidents. State law says net proceeds from the fines must go directly to the Cumberland County Board of Education. "Since it was executed in March 2015, the red-light camera program has provided approximately $1.1 million net to Cumberland County," said Mayor Nat Robertson. "While the purpose of the red-light camera program is traffic safety, the money generated at these city intersections could go a long way to demonstrably improving both pedestrian safety and recreational facilities," the mayor said in a letter to Board of Education Chairman Greg West. Currently, the school board puts the money in its general fund. It's not the first time a member of City Council proposed asking the school system to earmark red- light camera funds for a special project. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin spoke of dedicating the money for the special needs of young children. City Council never acted on the idea. For that matter, it has never seriously discussed asking the school board to spend the fine funds in ways preferred by city government. Robertson disagrees: "The purpose of the letter to Chairman West was consistent with the thought of some councilmembers as we have previously discussed," he said. Councilman Kirk deViere, who ran against Robertson in the 2013 mayoral race, said Robertson's letter to West was inappropriate because it did not represent a consensus of City Council. "This letter makes it sound like you have consensus from council when you stated 'we request' in the third paragraph of the letter," said deViere. Robertson specifically asked that the school board "adopt a policy designating all future red-light camera proceeds to further the City's efforts in the extension of sidewalks and enhancements to shared recreation facilities at schools located inside the city limits of Fayetteville." His letter concludes, "I make this request on behalf of the entire City Council and look forward to your positive response." West has not responded as far as we know. Robertson was surprised at deViere's response to his request. "Honestly, I can't speak on Kirk's political motivations, but to me, there is no reason to compromise on doing the right thing for the people I represent," Robertson said. Modern red-light camera systems are sophisticated and expensive. American Traffic Solutions contracts with Fayetteville to operate the growing number of covered intersections. Officials said it costs about $100,000 to construct a single video/still camera operation. Violators are fined $100, 30 percent of which goes to the company. The balance is paid directly to the school system. Violators receive letters which say in part. "Based upon images captured by the automated system, your vehicle was determined to have committed a red-light violation. As the vehicle owner, the Notice of Violation is mailed to you." There is an appeal process during which violators are shown still photos and persuasive videotape of the violations. Red-Light Camera Controversy by JEFF THOMPSON State law says net proceeds from the fines must go directly to the Cumberland County Board of Education.