Sen. Kirk Wants Probe Of New VA Hospital Claims

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk wants an investigation into an Illinois veterans hospital to examine new allegations of delays in treatment and efforts by staff to cover them up.

Kirk has been pressing the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand a nationwide investigation to include the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in suburban Chicago and all veterans hospitals in Illinois.  The five include VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville.

The claims of manipulation in appointment scheduling at Hines have come from a VA social worker and union representative, Germaine Clarno.
 
Among her new allegations is a claim that in a rush to meet a required 14-day deadline for appointments, veterans were brought in for group consultations or informational sessions in which they did not actually receiving medical care.

A hospital spokeswoman had no immediate comment.