Acting VA Secretary to Visit Troubled Columbia Dorn VA Hospital

Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson will meet with representatives and employees of the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, to discuss long wait-times and veterans benefits and treatment failures.

A nationwide controversy involving secret waiting lists, long wait times, delayed treatment, and untreated veterans swept the country beginning in April of this year, and culminated with the resignation of former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

The Phoenix VA faced particularly heavy criticism after the discovery of secret waiting lists of veterans who waited for treatment for as much as 140 days; however, the Phoenix Veterans Hospital was not the only VA medical center that had such problems. Columbia’s Dorn VA has reported consisted problems with treating veterans and fulfilling veterans benefits, particularly in its gastrointestinal division. The VA Inspector General released a report Friday, September 6, 2013, that found almost 4,000 patients were waiting for examination at one point in 2011. The Strom Law Firm has been investigating claims against the Dorn VA since that time, particularly focusing on delayed treatment leading to deadly cancer.

In early April, Barry Coates, a veteran in South Carolina, testified about the delayed gastrointestinal treatment at the Dorn VA. Reportedly, in November 2010, Coates sought treatment at a VA hospital for severe rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. A doctor recommended a colonoscopy to find the source of the problem, but Coates faced delay after delay for more than a year. Finally, in December 2011, Coates received a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

If his cancer had been detected the year before, however, he may have been able to survive it. But by the time he finally received a diagnosis, the cancer was too advanced.

“It is likely too late for me,” Coates told the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Wednesday during a hearing on delays in care at veterans’ medical centers.

A more recent national audit found that the Dorn VA still had some of the longest wait times in the country – the average wait time for a new patient to see a physician was 77 days. The Veterans Administration aims for a wait time of no more than 14 days.

The audit also exposed 6 preventable deaths due to mismanagement, wait times, and delayed treatment at Dorn VA. Congressman Joe Wilson said that, while there is no “fake waiting list” and Dorn and that is a relief, there are still many problems the VA hospital must address while Acting Secretary Gibson is in Columbia.

“We also know that there have been delays,” Wilson said. “We know that the colonoscopy delay was catastrophic to patients. We know that the closing of the operating rooms was because of infection and contamination, which is inexcusable. So, over and over again, this has got to be addressed.”

Senator Tim Scott has also worked to uncover the problems at Dorn VA, sending a list of questions to Dorn several weeks ago, and announcing at the end of June that the veterans hospital has still failed to answer his inquiries.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with VA Wrongful Death and Delayed Treatment Cases

The Veterans Benefit Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. work with veterans to file claims for a variety of disabilities and can assist you in filing your claims with the Veterans Administration. Veterans Disability can be complex.  Not understanding the basics and not having counsel may leave you in a bind.  We understand that you and your family need your benefits.  We will put our years of experience to work for you to ensure that you have the representation necessary to actively pursue your claim. Call the Veterans Benefits Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today to discuss your case. We will be glad to discuss any questions you may have during our free, confidential discussion. Call the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm at (803) 252-4800.