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/998318
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JUNE 27-JULY 3, 2018 UCW 11 With an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent, U.S. officials say there are more jobs available than workers. Historically, a 4 percent rate is con- sidered full employment. ousands of jobs at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country remain vacant because VA leaders contend they can't find qualified candidates who want them, according to an internal report out this month. Directors for 140 VA hospitals, including the Fayetteville VA, reported a total of 3,068 staff va- cancies, indicated an annual VA Office of Inspec- tor General report. For the first time, the report included a break- down of shortages for each hospital. e numbers don't include all vacancies, but rather the ones the hospitals can't fill. e report indicated the Fayetteville VA Medical Center had 43 clinical and non-clinical vacancies. e Durham VA had 51 shortages. A lack of qualified candidates is not the only rea- son that VA directors can't fill some of their open po- sitions. Noncompetitive salaries, undesirable hours and inflexible work schedules result in high turnover for about half of the hospitals. "(One) facility stated that when a position had high turnover, it resulted in significant overtime, which resulted in even more turnover," the report reads. Mental health providers topped the list for the most-needed occupation. Of the 140 hospitals, 98 reported a shortage of psychiatrists, and 58 hospi- tals needed more psychologists. Congress passed legislation in August last year requiring the inspec- tor general to report the shortages for each hospital. Each facility director provided the number of short- ages as of the beginning of 2018. e VA has hired 467 new mental health providers so far this year, and it's aiming for a net increase of 1,000 providers by 2019, officials said. "ere's no question VA needs to look at its hiring and retention programs nationwide, which is exactly why the committee required this OIG report," said Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "Clinician(s) and other medical facility staff shortages are not unique to VA, but the committee is continuing to look for opportunities to improve the department's hiring and retention programs." "Appropriate staffing allows a medical facility to function at its full potential," IG official Nathan Mc- Clafferty said in a statement. "It is critically important that VA medical facilities are properly staffed to ensure veterans are provided the best possible health care." A House subcommittee met June 21 to discuss the IG report and VA job vacancies in general. "is report should prompt meaningful discus- sions at both the local and national level about how to implement, support and oversee staffing in VA medical centers that will result in the highest pos- sible quality of veteran care," VA Inspector General Michael Missal said in a prepared statement. President Trump has named Fayetteville native Robert Wilkie to be the nation's next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He has been acting VA secretary since late March. His appointment is subject to Sen- ate confirmation. e VA is the second-largest federal agency, with more than 360,000 employees. More jobs than workers by JEFF THOMPSON Directors for 140 VA hospitals, including the Fayetteville VA, reported a total of 3,068 staff vacancies, indicated an annual VA Office of Inspector General report. NEWS JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200.