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SIGN OF THE TIMES: MARTINSBURG VA DOES
AWAY WITH
SECURITY CONTRACTOR -- Officials say 22-member VA
Police
force can properly handle security at the
facility.
VA facility -- Martinsburg, West Virginia
All "Sign of the Times" articles are here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/signofthetimes.htm
Story here...
http://your4state.
com/content/fulltext/?cid=46781
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-------------------------
Martinsburg VA Hospital Doing
Away With Security Company
Reported by: Erin Wolfe
MARTINSBURG, WV - NBC25 has confirmed the VA Hospital in Martinsburg has
dropped its security company.
The security workers man the front gate of the hospital, but they’ll be
 gone
next week. Hospital officials say safety won't be an issue because workers
more a part of customer service.
The workers are contracted through a company called Special Operations
Groups, Inc. The company's web page says they specialize in security
services and security training.
The VA Center released a statement, saying they’re cutting the contract to
save money, but the change won't affect patient care or safety. They told
NBC25 that the money saved will instead go to improve patient programs.
Officials say the VA Center's police force will still be active. They have
22 officers and someone is patrolling the campus around the clock.
They say the only difference will be that no one will be at the main gate
to check IDs or greet and direct visitors.
The workers will be employed until January 5th, when the contract is up.
NBC25 spoke with a representative in Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito's
office. They say she has been in touch with a VA liaison in Washington,
D.C. and wants to know how employees and veterans will be affected.
Here is a copy of the full statement from the VA Center:
“Our mission at the Medical Center is to Honor America's veterans as
heroes by providing the highest quality health care. In the past year we
have added programs and expanded existing programs in an effort to better
serve our veterans. Some of these programs include an OEF/OIF Primary Care
Clinic; enhanced treatment services at our
 community
based outpatient clinics; expanded Women Veterans Clinic programs; and a
new program which provides nutrition and weight control counseling for our
veterans. Additionally, in the past year we hired 180 new employees to
better serve our veterans. As we increase services to veterans we are
looking at our operational budget to ensure the efficient and effective
use of allocated funds. Contracted services are being reduced or
eliminated wherever possible in areas which will not compromise patient
care or safety.
Security on the campus of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center is now and has
always been provided by a VA police force of 22 officers. These officers
provide security around the clock, seven days a week. The contract for the
manning of the front gate of the Martinsburg Medical Center was to provide
a customer service function.
The customer service contract was established through a GSA contract with
Special Operations Group, Inc. in March 2007. In an effort to redirect
resources to direct patient care the decision to discontinue the customer
service contract was made. The contractor was notified in writing on
December 23 and it goes into effect on January 5, 2009.
As always, our No. 1 priority is patient care, and we feel the
re-allocation of resources will ultimately provide the best patient care.”
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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