ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 14, 1997 TAG: 9703140050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY THE ROANOKE TIMES
The acting director said the allegations do not relate to patient care.
John Presley, director of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, has been placed on forced leave while a review panel continues to look into allegations described as severe but not related to the quality of patient care.
A four-member panel was at the Salem facility this week conducting interviews relating to Presley's having recently placed associate director William Delameter on administrative leave.
Presley was on voluntary annual leave during the panel's visit; Thursday, he was placed on forced or administrative leave by Dr. Leroy Gross, director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network based in Durham, N.C. The Salem VA, which has about 1,500 employees, is part of that network.
Presley continues to receive his annual salary, which is in the $90,000 to $110,000 range, officials said.
Dr. Rajiv Jain, chief of the center's medical staff, has been acting director during the panel's visit and will continue in that position, said the statement from Gross.
According to the statement, Presley contacted Gross in early February about "issues of concern."
"Subsequently, I received concerns from the associate director," Gross said. "Based on the severity of issues raised, I assembled a team consisting of four members outside of the network to ascertain the facts."
Gross said the panel's briefing Thursday afternoon persuaded him that the preliminary findings "were significant enough for me to take interim measures." As a result, he said, he was placing Presley on leave and continuing Delameter's forced absence from the center.
Having both top managers on leave would eliminate the potential of reprisal against any staff members, Gross said.
Jain, who re-emphasized that the investigation does not relate to patient care, said he was unable to comment further except to say that there were "multiple" issues involved. He said many employees have been interviewed.
The action Thursday neither confirms nor refutes the allegations, Jain said.
The panel's investigation is ongoing, and a final report likely won't be ready for at least two weeks, Jain said.
Presley, who is past age 65, became director in 1992 when the previous director was removed because of management problems. He has worked for the VA since 1970 and has on more than one occasion been assigned to medical centers with management problems.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Presley. color.by CNB