Scott to take VA health care post

Central Arkansas system to get its first permanent chief since ’14

A physician who temporarily headed the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System for more than a year was named Friday as its first permanent director since 2014 in a move one congressman called "a first step" toward the health system regaining the public's trust.


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Dr. Margie Scott, 60, will take over the position Monday, system spokesman Debby Meece said.

Scott was named interim director when the previous permanent director, Michael Winn, retired Oct. 3, 2014. She served in that job until Aug. 29, 2015. Two other interim directors followed Scott -- a situation criticized by Rep. French Hill, a Republican whose congressional district includes central Arkansas.

"In the [15] months I have been in Congress, our local [Department of Veteran Affairs] healthcare system has seen temporary director after temporary director, all the while, problem after problem after problem has persisted," Hill said in a statement Friday.

"The first step towards VA regaining the trust of the veteran and the taxpayer is through permanent leadership that puts in place a long-term plan to provide the very best care for our veterans," Hill added. "While the decision took entirely too long, I am glad we now have a director to hold accountable and our local veterans have a little more certainty with respect to the care they have earned and deserve."

Hill had urged the VA in June to find a permanent director for the central Arkansas system. When such networks "are operating without permanent leadership, veterans begin to lose trust in the system and recent bipartisan reforms are in vain," he said at the time.

Scott's selection, announced by the Veteran Affairs Department, comes as the federal VA has been under scrutiny for various problems, including the manipulation of records at some health care facilities to conceal how long veterans had to wait for care. Those problems led to the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shineski in May 2014.

In March of this year, the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs questioned the central Arkansas system's current interim director, Mark Morgan, about why VA employees in Little Rock had not been fired for manipulating patient data and lying to federal investigators.

VA hospital leadership in Little Rock recommended removal of Anthony Hatchett and a 30-day suspension for Jacquelyn Riggins, according to a Dec. 10 letter from Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner to President Barack Obama.

On March 17, though, a central Arkansas system spokesman said there had been no firings for roles in wait-time manipulation. When asked how the two workers were disciplined, the spokesman declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., praised Scott's selection.

"Dr. Scott's reputation indicates that she has the expertise, experience and commitment for delivering the best health care to Arkansas's veterans, which are important qualities for this position," Boozman said in an emailed statement.

"Filling this important leadership role provides stability at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System and enables VA to return its focus where it needs to be, providing the best possible medical care to our veterans," Boozman added.

In a statement released through Meece, Scott said, "It is an honor and privilege to serve our nation's heroes and ensure high standards of quality and access to care."

Scott said she looks "forward to building a team that continues to place the needs of our veterans first."

Scott, already based in Little Rock, has most recently been working as acting chief medical officer for a VA network that includes hospitals or medical centers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Houston.

Scott "has held progressively responsible leadership positions over the course of her [30-year] career in the private sector and with the veterans Health Administration," said a statement in which the South Central VA Health Care Network announced her selection.

Meece said she did not know what Scott's salary would be.

The central Arkansas system consists of two inpatient facilities in Little Rock and North Little Rock. It has eight community-based outpatient clinics in Conway, Hot Springs, El Dorado, Mountain Home, Mena, Pine Bluff, Russellville and Searcy.

The VA Accountability Act, which has passed the House and is pending in the U.S. Senate, would give the secretary of veterans affairs the ability to quickly fire or demote VA employees because of poor performance or misconduct. The legislation, co-sponsored by Hill, also would limit the VA's ability to place employees on paid leave.

State Desk on 04/30/2016

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