Togus report

If the six-month investigation of Togus Veterans Affairs hospital proves nothing else, it is that the vets who raised serious issues about service at the hospital weren’t crazy. In fact, they had it just right: Physicians and staff at Togus generally provide excellent care, but there aren’t enough of them.

In some cases, according to the VA’s inspector general, this shortage of human and financial resources results in staffing that is not sufficient to treat all patients who need medical care. The patients at Togus aren’t alone in worrying about this. “Clinicians consistently expressed concerns regarding staffing shortages, lack of adequate funding, and proper equipment to get the job done,” according to the IG.

Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of veterans who need medical services want to get them at Togus — the vets who have complained loud and long during the last few years about deteriorating conditions there aren’t just trying to services elsewhere — they want better care at Togus.

And in Bangor. The report’s harshest assessment were directed toward the Bangor clinic, where an unmanagable and growing workload puts the quality of care in jeopardy. Again, the report has almost nothing negative to say about the dedication of the hospital staff, but repeatedly finds inadequate levels and distribution of resources. Worse for the patients waiting for appointments at the Bangor clinic, the number of new applications for care each week means that “the prospect for clearing up this backlog is remote.”

The recommendations in the IG’s report are not encouraging. They contain words like “evaluate” and “measure.” One proposal wants a “closer collaboration between the medical center director and the senior clinical managers.” If the problems pointed out by veterans were new, this would make sense. But Togus patients have been identifying these problems for years. Nothing was new; the report simply documented the shortcomings.

The second half of this extensive study of Togus, a financial audit, is due in April. When it is completed, it should contain recommendations for more significant action. More money; more doctors; a management that uses these resources more effectively. There’s no mystery here — just ask the veterans who use these facilities.