Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 15, 1993 TAG: 9304150275
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CAROLYN CLICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OFFICIALS AT VA LIKE SURPRISE
It was, by all accounts, a serendipitous moment for officials leading U.S. Sen. Charles Robb on a tour of the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Wednesday.As Robb settled into an elevator jammed with doctors, reporters and camera crews, an unfamiliar voice boomed out and broke the momentary hush.
"Senator Robb," the 30-something man said. Robb looked startled, but then relaxed as the man detailed his appreciation for the wonderful care his father, a World War II veteran, had received at the VA hospital.
"You do as much as you can for the hospital," the man said before making a quick exit.
Hospital officials grinned. "Sometimes it falls from heaven," chuckled Dr. Charles Schleupner, the hospital's chief of medical services.
The hospital has been plagued by a spate of bad publicity since the discovery of the bodies of three patients, one missing since 1977, on the hospital's sprawling grounds last year. In December, a fourth patient, who had a history of wandering away from the facility, was found frozen to death.
Employees also blew the whistle on hospital management last year; and in the aftermath of that period of turmoil, a new director and chief of staff were installed, more doctors and nurses added and new ideas tried.
Robb, who last May asked the General Accounting Office to examine the hospital's activities and search procedures, suggested Wednesday the changes are evident.
"Progress is clearly being made," the Democratic senator told reporters after his one-hour tour, which included a look at a new fence erected along a ridge on the western side of the property. Officials hope the fence will impede patients from wandering into remote areas of the property.
"There is still work to be done, but it is clearly moving in the right direction," said Robb.
Robb acknowledged that more funds need to be spent to overhaul the psychiatric unit. The aged buildings where psychiatric patients are housed stand in sharp contrast to the hospital's newest structure, the Hugh E. Davis clinical building, with its inviting atrium and outpatient services department.
"The psychiatric area is a matter of particular concern," Robb acknowledged.
Nevertheless, there was an upbeat air to the visit as staff members showed off new equipment and elaborated on new procedures designed to make the VA more "user-friendly."
Director John Presley, who has earned a reputation as a skilled troubleshooter, said he believed the facility was "80 percent there," then added with a cautious grin, "Of course, a land mine could blow up on the other 20 percent."
Robb has been touring the state this week to listen to public concerns on health care issues. His agenda included a forum Wednesday night at Western Virginia Community College.