Accusations need proof to be fair

Jim,

Thank you for your service to our country and your informative web site. I am a VA employee. Please keep my name confidential. I love my job!.

Wanted to alert you to a new "practice" at the (Local) VAMC. Our pharmacy has been running out of medications and giving affected veterans empty paper bags with an IOU note stapled to it! It has happened to at least two vets I work with and a VA nurse who is a veteran. I verified this "practice ' with our triage nurse as I was shocked when the vet showed me the bag, and yes it is a new "practice". As I  think this is poor practice, and could compromise pt. care, I raised the issue at our staff meeting today. Tacky! Unprofessional! A slap in the face to our veterans.Our clinic director said he would look into it., and hopefully he will. The Pharmacy has not notified us to explain anything about this new practice.The affected veterans do not wish to complain as they are beginning to expect such treatment. Just thought you might want to know and I wonder if this is happening at any other VA's


Reply:

Do you have any way to prove this to me? It isn't that I don't believe you...I do. However, before I could publish or use such info I'd have to be able to prove it.

I receive many emails similar to this one. I have to meet a standard of proof if I'm to be fair to the VA. I can't publish things I don't know are factual and verifiable or I'll quickly lose credibility all around.

You've replied that you'll do all you can to supply me with some evidence and once you do, then I can report on this questionable practice.