Hines VA hospital shuts down inpatient mental health unit on day of VA secretary’s visit

Hines VA Medical Middle’s inpatient psychological well being unit was closed after workers members, together with a senior nurse, raised numerous considerations, hospital director James Doelling stated.

“She did not consider the coaching of her new friends is what it must be, so we stated, you recognize what, are you able to give us some examples,” Doelling stated. “She gave us some examples, like one-on-one coaching versus group coaching, as a result of everyone learns otherwise, and you recognize what, she’s proper.”

Doelling stated workers coaching is underway. With the unit closed, Hines moved psychological well being sufferers to Jesse Brown VA Medical Middle.

It unfolded because the VA’s highest-ranking official, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, visited Hines Wednesday. He stated there’s a deep assessment of the unit, which is predicted to re-open subsequent week.

“We hear from our specialists. We insist on transparency,” McDonough stated. “And when one thing just isn’t proper, we resolve it.”

SEE ALSO | Incarcerated veterans in Lake County, Illinois nearly hook up with VA specialists

“There was completely no affected person hurt,” Doelling added. “We now have a workforce of people that adoing a file assessment, simply to verify that now we have discovered nothing. There isn’t a enhance in suicides, now we have not had any inpatient suicides.”

Senator Tammy Duckworth is following the unit closure. Her workplace stated, partially, she “appreciates that the ability is taking these issues critically and taking dramatic motion to switch present sufferers to Jesse Brown.”

Whereas the secretary praised workers for coming ahead, he was additionally at Hines to pay attention and meet with veterans.

As for the way forward for the VA, the secretary does have a plan, however these are solely suggestions at this level. It is a very lengthy, concerned course of that can take years.

The secretary recommends modernizing Hines, which serves greater than 44,000 veterans a yr and is likely one of the busiest VA services within the nation. He additionally stated Jesse Brown VA, which is positioned within the Medical District, could be modernized as nicely.

“Not solely are services going to be modernized, however our outpatient clinics all through the Chicagoland space, as we speak, are being dramatically expanded, and that enlargement will proceed,” he stated.

However once more, these are suggestions. Subsequent, an unbiased fee, which nonetheless must be shaped, will assessment the plan after which the president and Congress will get their say as nicely.

“VA is right here to remain as a result of vets in VA care do higher,” McDonough stated.