According to reports, six Florida Veterans Affairs facilities are confirmed to have falsified records related to scheduling. The actions are part of a larger scandal sweeping the nation, leading to claims of medical malpractice and fraud. VA hospitals and facilities are being accused of altering schedules to hide the fact that patients are waiting too long for treatment; some individuals even allege that patients have died due to waiting too long.
Recent news reports in Florida seem to confirm that six locations did falsify records and use improper scheduling procedures. Specifically, one Air Force base facility was told to change documents regarding medical appointments to fit a rule about 14-day appointment goals. Another facility in Sarasota, Florida, was also told to falsify records to reduce the appearance of wait times.
Employees at another facility were told to change documents to align dates more favorably, two Florida facilities used an inappropriate log for tracking outstanding appointments and wait-listed patients, and another facility kept a shadow list of waiting patients that were not on the regular books.
The increasing number of reports of false information and inappropriate scheduling led lawmakers to propose that veterans could seek medical treatment from non-VA hospitals. Meanwhile, many patients are waiting for much-needed treatment and are suffering in the meantime.
Medical malpractice doesn’t just mean that a physician or other health care provider made an error during treatment. Withholding necessary treatment, for any reason, could also be deemed medical malpractice. For patients who are in the midst of such a situation, it can be a confusing and worrisome time. Seeking assistance in filing legal claims may be one way to seek compensation or solutions to such issues.
Source: Disabled Veterans, “CONFIRMED: Florida VA Facilities Falsified Records And More” Benjamin Krause, Jul. 30, 2014
