Major Problems at the VAMC Fayetteville, NC

[sspagnolo]

WashingtonDC

Breaking News From Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center

The director of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center announced his retirement Wednesday, only three days after The Fayetteville Observer reported dissatisfaction among employees and patients at the hospital. In a recent government survey the Fayetteville VA hospital was rated the worst in job satisfaction.

Workers and patients at the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center rate the hospital lower than their counterparts at seven other VA hospitals in North Carolina and Virginia, according to two recent government surveys. Veteran advocates, employees and patients frustrated with the VA say the surveys reflect a larger issue.

In the two-state region, the Fayetteville VA employees reported the lowest marks in 12 out of 13 categories in a survey measuring job satisfaction. Scores in eight of those categories were deemed statistically meaningful and significantly lower than scores at the other VA hospitals. The hospital has overwhelming morale problems that require major reforms.

Bruce Triplett, director [now the former Director] of the Fayetteville VA hospital on Ramsey Street, is reported to have stated that his staff has tried to develop ways to improve morale, including a new employee satisfaction committee. But part of the reason Fayetteville may have a low job satisfaction score, Triplett said, could be the 63 percent minority population of the staff. Triplett is reported to have said "that minorities tend to score lower on satisfaction surveys than others," Triplett said.

Fayetteville VA Director Bruce Triplett's last day in charge of the hospital will be Nov. 20, but his retirement won't be official until March 1, 2010. During that time, Triplett will apparently be assigned to eliminate homelessness among veterans in the mid-Atlantic region. Ralph Gigliotti, director of the Durham VA Medical Center, will serve as interim director of the Fayetteville hospital starting Nov. 23, 2009.

These developments followed the Fayetteville Observer recent reports of low patient satisfaction and poor morale among hospital employees. For more reading and information on the serious problems at the VA in Fayetteville link to:
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/200 ... 43114.aspx
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/11/04/949327
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/11/06/949643

[sandy118]

I'm certain this isn't the only medical center with pitiful employee morale.