A recent USA Today story outlining issues of the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Oklahoma has Senator James Lankford reacting.
The story reported the Oklahoma City VA has had several directors over the past three years and currently is waiting for a new one to be appointed. VA statistics show the facility is among the lowest performing in the country and has a high turnover rate for registered nurses. Those issues are translating into poor care for Oklahoma veterans.
Lankford said more has to be done to implement federal laws recently passed to enhance and improve VA services.
“Our veterans have sacrificed to keep us safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. I remain continually frustrated by the issues happening at both the Department of Veterans Affairs and in our Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, the front line where we need to honor the promises to treat service-related medical needs of our veterans. In the last 2 weeks, I’ve visited VA Centers in Muskogee and Oklahoma City and it is clear that the progress being made is too slow. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation to give veterans more choice so they can conveniently receive the care they need. Whether it’s care within the VA system or the ability to receive care in the private sector, change needs to happen faster,” said Lankford.
Oklahoma’s junior U.S. Senator is working to get a new director in place.
“I am working with the regional Veterans Integrated Service Network-19 leadership to get a Director in place at the Oklahoma City and Muskogee Veterans facilities, and I will closely monitor the VA’s progress of these problems. Our veterans deserve better, and I will fight to ensure they receive the care they have earned.”
