Veterans For Veteran Connection Inc.
A Non-profit network for Veterans
SERVING OUR VETERANS
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Veterans For Veteran Connection Inc. A Non-profit network for Veterans |
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Headquarters :
1700 Waterford
Road
Walworth, New York 14568
P. O. Box 77303
Rochester, New York 14622
Office:315 986-7322
Cell:585 329-4711
Fax:315 986-7334
E-mail: gdsusa@rochester.rr.com
February 19, ,2004
Secretary of the
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Mr. Anthony Principi
810 Vermont Avenue Northwest .
Suite #1000
Washington D. C.
20420
Phone:202 273-4809
Fax 202 273-4877
Robert H. Roswell, M.D.,
810 Vermont Avenue Northwest .
Suite #800
Washington D. C.
20420
Phone:202 273-5781
Fax: 202 273-5787
Robert Babcock - Executive Physician Canandaigua VAMC,
400 Fort Hill Avenue
Canandaigua , New York 14424
Phone:585 393-7211
Fax:585 393-8372
W. David Smith - Director Canandaigua VAMC
400 Fort Hill Avenue
Canandaigua , New York 14424
Phone:585 393-7208
Fax:585 393-8372
William F. Feeley
Network Director
P. O. 8980
Albany, New York 12208
Phone:518 626-5000
F
ax:518 626-7333
Dear Secretary Principi,
As president of Veterans for Veterans Connection Inc., I am writing to you on behalf of the members of our volunteer Network and the brotherhood of American Veterans. Our members and I are extremely outraged by the conduct of the VISN 2 Director. It appears that Mr. Feeley’s conduct has resulted in the continued sabotage of the Canandaigua VAMC. His direct efforts to close this facility has resulted in an increased stress level and poor health of the veterans, as well as the employees that are responsible to serve these individuals. The veterans of NY State, the NY State Veteran
clubs, organizations, and the local and regional elected officials have venomously protested to keep the Canandaigua VAMC open. Through our efforts, those of our elected state, as well as federal officials, it appeared we had won the battle to keep our facility open However, the recent announcements from the above individual announcing the removal of 50 psychiatric inpatient beds from our facility has shown to us that we have not been heard. We have stated from the beginning that we will not settle for any reduction in beds, personnel, buildings, financial moneys or patients from this facility. We have made it clear that we have drawn the line in the sand and we will not tolerate any reductions at this facility. Apparently, our voices have not been heard by this individual and the others who continue in their work to weaken the integrity of this campus.
We ask this question to the CARES Commission, the Veterans Administration, and the Federal government, "Are you waiting for us to recede back into the woodwork?" If so, then I am here to inform you that we will not retreat from this beachhead and we will hold this ground to the last man. We will not falter in our dedication to this endeavor. We will not cease to apply whatever legal pressure is required to stop the present injustice nor will we stop to retrieve the services and benefits that were removed in 1998. We sincerely believe that the actions of Mr. Feeley and those that are responsible for changes, have led to the results that face us today. Re-accommodation's have failed every veteran whose life depends on the care and benefits he receives from this wonderful medical institution that is the Canandaigua VAMC. We believe that this person has failed to give the proper information by this hospital, in which is needed to make the hard decisions required of you. The information and numbers refuting his allegations and recommendations has been presented. We have shown and we have countered his misrepresentations of the facts at every turn. But yet, the appearance of back room deals and the consistent push to remove anything from this facility directly shows the poor lack of conscience and responsibility to duty that is expected.
In closing, our message is clear and simple. If those 50 beds go, then this person must follow with his resignation. Our New York State veterans can no longer tolerate the mismanagement and dereliction that this person have forced upon us. We thank you for taking the time to review our request and we trust that we have been heard.
Sincerely,
Gene Simes
President VFVC Inc.
Our second letter to Veterans affairs for the resignation of Network Director William F. Feeley Is attached below and I ask that these letters be placed in his files with the Department of Veterans Affairs personnel files, under the freedom of information act of 1972.
SERVING OUR VETERANS
|
Veterans For Veteran Connection Inc. A Non-profit network for Veterans |
|
Headquarters :
1700 Waterford
Road
Walworth, New York 14568
P. O. Box 77303
Rochester, New York 14622
Office:315 986-7322
Cell:585 329-4711
Fax:315 986-7334
E-mail: gdsusa@rochester.rr.com
February 20, 2004
Dear Mr. Principi,
Is our VISN 2-network director Mr. William F. Feeley, truly a person that our Secretary of Veterans Affairs can trust? Does this man have the best interests of the New York State Veterans at heart?
Our Veterans suffer from PTSD, and now our surrounding communities are suffering from post traumatic stress as well and do you wonder why? Sir, in all seriousness, our VA hospital in Canandaigua does not need to have these 50 beds or any other beds transferred or removed! I am calling for nationwide support, for the resignation of VISN 2 network director Mr. William F. Feeley. We strongly feel that his actions offer no other recourse than the complete resignation from his post.
I ask you sir, to also keep in mind, those that work under the network director to be in question and be held accountable for their conduct as well. To all those that know the sacrifice that our Veterans have given and the sacrifice of those now serving, for this country. I, Gene D. Simes, President, VFVC Inc., ask that all those believing in the freedom that we as a nation, and as a free society enjoy, send a letter to the Sectary of Veterans Affairs stating that the network director submit his resignation now.
Mail to:
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Anthony Principi
810 Vermont Avenue Northwest .
Suite #1000
Washington D. C. 20420
Phone:202 273-4809
Fax 202 273-4877
Or mail to:
Veterans For Veteran Connection Inc.
P. O. Box 77303
Rochester, New York 14622
Or your E-mail
to:gdsusa@rochester.rr.com
Fax: 315 986-7334
Gene D. Simes President VFVC Inc.
“Remember the Vet and those now serving”
Read the below news article and you will see why the network director must hand in his resignation now.
From the Daily Messenger Canandaigua , New York
Reporter:
February 12, 2004
Meeting shakes morale of veterans. The VA's regional director puts out mixed messages Thursday on his stand regarding the future of the Canandaigua VA.
By JULIE SHERWOOD jsherwood@mpnewspapers.com
CANANDAIGUA -
Even if the Canandaigua VA Medical Center remains open, Veterans and others who attended a meeting Thursday with the VA's regional director say they can't count on support from their higher-ups. William F. Feeley, director of the VA Healthcare Network/Upstate New York - who recommended closing the hospital before a federal commission in October indicated to veterans behind closed doors Thursday that he wanted to see the hospital stay open, several veterans who attended the meeting said. "I think he changed his mind," reported David Weale of Canandaigua, a Vietnam-era veteran who was all smiles after slipping out at the end of a meeting between the Veterans Advisory Committee and Feeley. Feeley required the meeting be closed to the public. About 25 veterans and Assemblyman Brian Kolb, (R) Canandaigua, attended. Calling Feeley "gutsy," Weale said he was encouraged by the VA director's apparent change of heart in wanting to keep the facility open. Ted Fafinski, Farmington town supervisor and an Air Force veteran, also attended the closed meeting. He said afterwards that Feeley even "talked about growing the facility. "Ralph Calabrese, chairman of the Veterans Advisory Committee, said he too found the meeting "upbeat. "But in a brief interview after talking with veterans, Feeley told a different story. A Daily Messenger reporter, Canandaigua VA spokesman Dan Ryan, Department of Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Kathleen Hider, and veterans Calabrese and Jim Lewis attended the meeting in which Feeley said he hadn't wavered from his early recommendation. Under that plan, Feeley proposed shutting down
Canandaigua's 275-bed facility and moving long-term care and psychiatric patients to other centers in the state, though creating an outpatient center in the Canandaigua area. "The draft plan that we submitted is what we are recommending," said Feeley.
"That doesn't mean the secretary will necessarily go along with that. It's his decision." Calabrese then questioned Feeley's apparent change of tune. "I am hearing something different in here than I did" in the veterans' meeting, said Calabrese. Snapped Feeley, "No, you are not hearing something different. I think I can't have an interview with you and the Daily Messenger. "Feeley wouldn't comment on the CARES Commission announcement last month that it was leaning toward keeping the Canandaigua VA open, though moving 50 psychiatric beds. "I think I have to wait for the secretary's decision," he said. Calling his meeting with veterans Thursday "very upbeat," Feeley added that he also met with about 20 VA employees and that the stop was one of his regular "quarterly visits" to all the VA hospitals in the upstate network "to make sure I stay in touch and also to compliment them for their accomplishments. "Calabrese was not impressed. "I guess he told us what we wanted to hear," Calabrese said after the press meeting. "He has no change of heart. If he stands by the original plan, it's bye, bye Canandaigua." Lewis agreed. "Politics was involved," said Lewis, who lives in Waterloo. Kolb later said he was also put off by Feeley's approach. During the meeting with veterans, Kolb said Feeley's "silence was deafening" regarding the possibility that the hospital remain open but that 50 psychiatric beds be moved. "This goes a long way to why people don't trust the process or him," said Kolb. Feeley oversees the VA medical facilities in Albany, Syracuse, Bath, Buffalo,
Batavia and Canandaigua, and 28 outpatient clinics. Even so, Kolb said that, in the end, it's Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi who holds the cards. Kolb said he was confident that the CARES Commission would recommend keeping the hospital open, though it may call for some change in the facility. "There is still an opportunity to work for more change to the plan if it doesn't make sense," said Kolb, since Principi's decision is not expected for another month. Fafinski said later that no matter which way the secretary's decision goes, he too doubts that the Canandaigua VA can expect much support as long as Feeley is director of the network. "It makes me question the longevity of this VA as we know it today, as long as (Feeley) is in office," said Fafinski.
cc: Fellow Americans of this great Nation, I ask for your full support and sign our petition requesting that no beds be transferred or removed from the VA Canandaigua, or any other VA hospitals through out our nation and a letter to Veterans Affairs, for the resignation of Network Director William F. Feeley.
I ask that these letters be place in his files also to be entered in the Veterans Affairs files , under the freedom of information act.
Do not shift or transfer or remove any beds from our VA Canandaigua, NY or any other VA Hospitals in our Nation this is wrong!
Visit our web site and pass it on WWW.VFVC.NET
We need one million petitions today!
Let’s do it
PRESIDENT BUSH, OUR CAMPAIGN STARTS HERE
To: Elected officials, State
Senators, Federal Representatives, The !
News Media: TV10,TV13,TV 9,TV8,
and Fox TV, any and all other News stations that support our Veterans, and those
now serving through out our Nation for the freedom we have each day. God Bless
Residential Care Homes @ Canandaigua
January 9, 2004
February 5, 2004
Canandaigua VAMC CARES Commission and It’s Effect on Veteran Care
In December the media released what is anticipated as a compromise regarding the recommendations it will report to the Secretary of the VA, Mr. Principi.
In those reports they reported that Canandaigua would remain open, but it would recommend that 50 of the current psychiatric beds at Canandaigua should be moved to the Buffalo VA.
In contemplating how this could be accomplished there are three scenarios that I would like to suggest could fulfill those recommendations that the CARES
Commission will make:
1. The simplest way that the administration can move the required beds is this: When any unit reduces the bed count on it’s floor, those beds are reclassified,
depending on the reasons they are taken out of use. This facility has many beds that are currently vacant but have not been removed from the bed count.
For example when Acute Psychiatry move from Bldg 3 2nd Floor to Bldg 36 2nd floor the bed count was reduced from 38 beds to 20 beds. They were presumably reduced pending the completion of the remodeling which will soon be completed. Likewise when Bldg 3 1st Floor moved to Bldg 36 1st floor their bed count was reduced as well. Currently there are 30 beds available for use for the Long Term Psychiatric Care but only 18 beds are being used. Between the two floors there are already 38 beds which although vacant could be sent to Buffalo. There are many other beds in the facility, which are vacant and could
make up the 12 additional beds.
This option while I am sure it is being considered will probably not be the chosen option as there are no savings in the proposal. The direct care staff
and support services staff would still be needed to operate the acute psychiatry and long term psychiatry, thus no savings would be seen from carrying
out the CARES Commission plan. This option would not be received well in Albany.
2. The second option would be to do the obvious, close the two-inpatient psychiatry unit outright and send the 50 beds to Buffalo. While this would fulfill
the intent of the CARES Commission recommendations it would leave the Canandaigua area with a major problem for our current veterans that depend on us for their ongoing psychiatric care. Currently there are 132 veterans assigned to the Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program (MHICM) and another 180 veterans enrolled in the Canandaigua Day Treatment Centers who are dependent on the Canandaigua Acute Psychiatry Unit for their periodic psychiatric needs. These veterans have a long-standing relationship with the doctors and staff at our facility and depend on them to be there when they are needed.
Historically they do not adapt to change very readily. Buffalo should not be considered an alternative care site for them. Doing so would place them at
risk and compromise their health care.
3. The third option and the option that the administration has opted for is to downsize the Canandaigua VA once again. While it gives the pretense of keeping the Canandaigua VA open, it actually only prolongs it death march.
There are two steps involved in this plan.
A. The Acute Psychiatry Unit will be reduced from the current 20 beds on 36B to an 8- 10 bed unit. That unit would be considered a short stay – tune-up
program. This means that any admission to the unit will need to be ready for discharge within 5 days from admission. Any veteran who could not be stabilized within that time period would be transferred to the Buffalo VA for continued care and treatment. Since all admissions to our facility would be restricted to the veterans in our own catchment area this would encompass referrals from the Greater Rochester/Canandaigua Region. Excess staff would be re-distributed to other work areas in the facility as needed. At least for the time being.
B. The Long Term Psychiatric Unit is already planned to downsize, and will do so in late February or early March to an eight-bed unit. Currently there
are 18 veterans on the unit with an additional 12 vacancies. The 10 veterans who would be eliminated from the unit would need to be placed in an alternative
care setting, including in some cases transfers as far away as Massachusetts. When the unit is downsized to the 8 beds level, the Geriatrics and Extended
Care Line (GEC) will assume the care for these veterans. It will then be classified as a psycho-geriatric unit. By removing these veterans from the Behavioral Health Care Line and reclassifying it as a “Special Care Program, these patients will be provide the facility with a higher rate of reimbursement, making the program a moneymaker rather than a cost liability. The last time these monies were discussed it was a difference of $3,000/yr as opposed to $42,000/yr.
While this gives the appearance of keeping the Canandaigua VAMC open, alive and well it actually just slows the process of signing our death warrant. As
you might recall when Mr. Feeley first came to Canandaigua to relate his plans for the future of Canandaigua he spoke of a “Super-Sized Outpatient Clinic”
his plans then included a clinic which might have a 5 bed short stay acute psychiatric unit attached to it. This option would size the unit in line with
his plans. Also by restricting our admissions to just the Rochester/Canandaigua Area you will limit the number of veterans who are introduced to the Rochester/Canandaigua Region, thus over the years the number of veterans requiring our services will also be reduced until we again self-fulfill our own prophesy of a declining need for the Canandaigua VAMC.
All of this setting us up for Canandaigua’s eventual closure.
Gene D. Simes President VFVC Inc. with your support from your organization and members we need numbers this is needed my fellow Veterans and families and friend today thankyou.
THIS IS A NATION WIDE CAMPAINGE , For Veterans and those now serving.
We need you to go on line to: WWW.VFVC.Net and sign our nation wide petition today thank you.
Contact: 315 986-7322 or 585 329-4711 Fax:315 986-7334
E-mail:gdsusa@rochester.rr.com