STATE
Staffing shortages strain Albuquerque VA care
A federal watchdog found hiring freezes, staff departures left beds closed, delayed care and increased wait times at the medical center
The Trump administration鈥檚 federal hiring freeze and deferred resignation program caused staffing vacancies and increased patient wait times at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System last year, according to an independent oversight agency.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs鈥� Office of the Inspector General inspected the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque from Feb. 3-5 and on Aug. 26.
The medical center serves as the hub of the New Mexico VA Healthcare System that provides primary and specialty care for New Mexico and Colorado veterans and their families. The facility treated 84,000 patients last year, according to the report.
Executive leaders at the Albuquerque facility told inspectors that federal policy changes, such as the government-wide hiring freeze and last year, caused vacancies at the facility and 鈥渟tressed the effects of fewer nurses, anesthesiologists, and interventional cardiologists (who perform invasive cardiac procedures),鈥� the report said.
The report found that 75 of the facility鈥檚 300 patient beds were not operational in the past year, largely due to staff losses and a slow hiring process. As a result, the VA medical center was unable to perform certain specialty care and surgeries, such as surgery for heart attacks.
Last year, the VA its plan to reduce staff by 30,000 federal workers through hiring freezes, deferred resignations and voluntary early retirement. The hiring freeze was lifted in January, but at least one member of New Mexico鈥檚 federal delegation has expressed concern over the current state of the VA.
鈥淓xisting VA staffing shortages are already causing delays for surgeries, making it hard to access mental health care, and devastating morale for providers, employees, and veterans,鈥� U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., to VA Secretary Doug Collins on Wednesday. According to Vasquez鈥檚 letter, 172 VA staff in New Mexico were cut.
Workers at the Albuquerque VA medical facility told the Inspector General that they stayed 鈥渂ecause they believe in the VA鈥檚 purpose and the importance of serving veterans.鈥� When asked what would make them leave, 43% responded with stress due to burnout, the report said.
Patient advocates told the Office of the Inspector General that care coordination and 鈥渄ifficulty reaching community care employees by phone鈥� were the top complaints from veterans receiving healthcare services. These complaints, New Mexico VA executive leaders told the OIG, were also 鈥渞elated to overall staffing issues.鈥�
Despite federal cuts, the report notes that veterans largely remain supportive of VA healthcare. According to a survey conducted by the VA, 94% of New Mexico veterans receiving care at the facility said that they trust the VA to care for them.
鈥淭he score still indicates that veterans trust the facility and have confidence in the care provided,鈥� the OIG wrote.
Source New Mexico is an independent, nonprofit news organization focused on in depth reporting on state government, policies and public officials.
