Dublin, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is demanding answers and accountability after shocking failures at Dublin’s VA hospital led to HIV and Hepatitis infections for Georgia veterans.
This week, Sen. Ossoff is urging VA leadership to implement safety measures at Dublin’s VA Medical Center outlined in a report last year by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) following widespread use of unclean medical equipment at the facility that reportedly put veterans’ health at risk.
Sen. Ossoff serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees VA.
According to a follow-up OIG report earlier this year, only some of OIG’s recommendations to protect patients had been implemented and more safety issues were discovered, further placing veterans and their families at risk.
“The severity of these egregious patient safety concerns are self evident: no Georgia veteran should have to worry about contracting a bloodborne pathogen, such as HIV, when they undergo a surgical procedure at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Director Dr. David Walker, who oversees the VA’s Southeast Network.
“VISN and facility leadership has now had over a year to remedy these issues, but have failed to adequately address OIG recommendations and find solutions,” Sen. Ossoff continued. “It is unacceptable to allow veterans to remain at risk and immediate action needs to be undertaken.”
Sen. Ossoff continues fighting for Georgia veterans to ensure they get the care they have earned.
Earlier this month, Sen. Ossoff requested information from the Atlanta VA Medical Centerabout whether the Trump Administration’s mass firing of VA personnel has impacted Georgia veterans’ ability to access timely care at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (VAMC).
This February, Sens. Ossoff and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act to help more veterans in rural areas get transportation to VAhealth facilities and access the health care benefits they’ve earned.
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry.
# # #
