Tomah VA Hospital Has 30-Day Plan To Improve Operations, Administrators Say

The Tomah Veterans Affairs Hospital has a 30-day plan that leaders say will improve the medical center’s operation in light of recent criticism.

The plan includes employee and veteran listening sessions with the acting director, an ethics fair, and improving the relationship between the staff’s union leaders and medical center management.

Multiple investigations are looking into whether certain Tomah VA leaders retaliated against whistleblowers at the facility. Veteran deaths and high levels of opiate prescriptions are also being looked into by state and federal authorities.

Spokesman Matthew Gowan said they want to increase communication and transparency, which he says will lead to improved care for veterans.

“We need to address cultural change,” said Gowan. “We need to address how leadership and employees are interacting with each other. We need to address the tools that providers have in order to see veterans.”

Gowan said the Tomah VA will grade itself on the plan in 30 days and expand on it afterward.