Some VA Docs Hit Staffing Decisions

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Some VA Docs Hit Staffing Decisions
Knight Ridder | December 31, 2007

A group of physicians at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane fears that new staffing decisions may mean too few doctors in the hospital and lower patient care standards.

Beginning in early January, the doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners at more than a dozen VA outpatient clinics throughout the region will no longer work hospital shifts that had helped augment the central staff. As a result, doctors at the medical center will stagger their hours to cover the extra shifts.

The changes upset some doctors, who had recommended that VA administrators hire more clinic doctors and keep the hospital rotations intact.

"These moves may leave the medical center short," said Dr. Maria Yurasek, an internist and infectious disease specialist. She said she was speaking on behalf of other VA physicians.

VA administrators disagree with her assessment.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,159153,00.html?wh=wh