Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

VA New England Healthcare System

 

Bedford/Boston Administrative Integration Proposal - Older Comments

 

Please note that all questions submitted through the comments section are answered on the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. Please refer to our FAQ page for the answers to your questions. The FAQ page is updated regularly.

June 22 - September 29                                              (Return to Main comments page)

IT'S ABOUT TIME, MAYBE PEOPLE CAN GET BETTER JOB NOW.
I think the proposal makes good busines sense.
My comments are geared more for the human aspect. When I started, it was just after the merge between Brockton and West Roxbury. I worked at both campuses, and I heard a lot of "Us vs. them" comments and sentiment.
When the integration with Boston was undertaken in 1999, it was even worse, and, I still experience it to this day. "Oh, you're one of THOSE people..", and "WE don't do things that way..." etc.
Unfortunately, it may be too early in the process for me to offer constructive feedback on ways to mitigate the same effect on this proposal, so if it could be kept open for a future topic of discussion among involved managment, as well as employees, I guess that's all I can ask.
Thank you for your consideration.
Who will review Nursing proficiencies?  Will Bedford keep the same nursing board to do this?
I welcome the opportunity to work more closely w/Boston VAHCS urology staff.
I am curious if the GRECC inpatient program would remain and if it would continue as a research facility? Would there be changes to staff and programs for the unit?
I have been here at Bedford since 1983 and this is the 3rd or 4th time I have heard this proposed. While it sort of makes sense it would make more sense to include Manchester. I also have concerns about transitioning Research from one facility to the next. It is already messy.
Great idea, I have been struggling with the two seperate centers for over 20 years and I'm so ready for this change.  
would the staff have to work at different facilities as needed when needed? or would they stay at their current sites?
I'm the primary caretaker and advocate of a veteran who receives services in both Bedford and Boston.  I beleive this merger would be nothing but positive.  The disconnects between the two VA Systems at this time is aggravating to say the least.  The Boston VA seems to be so much more involved in all aspects of care for both inpatient and outpatient veterans.  This would allow for a more integrated level of care that veterans, but disabled and able bodied both need and deserve.  It also means less time focused on filling in the gaps to the two separate systems and more time focused directly on the patient. 
As both a Veteran and an employee, I'd like to encourage all to support this long overdue merger. Please proceed with this as quickly as possible. This will result in better care for the Veterans we serve. Thank you!
Bad idea. Put the Vets first, not VISN leadership.
I have a number of concerns regarding the proposed merger. First, I worry that our veterans will lose a local voice in addressing their concerns and complaints. They will become much more anonymous. Secondly, I worry that our facility will lose its culture of pt. centeredness and become part of a larger beaurocracy. Thirdly, mergers often result in one party holding more power than the other resulting in struggles for resources and input on decision making. I recall the merger between other hospitals such as B.I. and N.E. Deaconess was not without initial difficulties. There is the potential for staff losses including staff with much institutional experience and wisdom. Please consider all of this and the impact on our veteran population. I know from the feedback that I get from veterans that they do not like to go to Jamaica Plain; issues with driving and finding their way to the inner city poses a real challenge. Shuttles do not accommodate everyone's time schedule and constraints. Thank you for your consideration.
 As long as the changes will improve efficiency, then I support this proposal. If this is intended to eliminate the Bedford facility, then this proposal needs to be dropped.

 Added June 21:

An excellent proposal - this would provide more opportunities for Medical Centers like ours to refer care to a single case management team.
VA is about compassion, professionalism, protecting government access (fund, competence, and excellent healthcare delivering to Vetrans as they deserve the best of all due their enormous sacrifices to keep this Greatest Nation on earth (USA) safe and prosperous. However, emerging facilities sound a good idee but that does not to focuse on one area if it aims only to save money, by taking staff from one area to bring to another area,it must be purposely for improvement patient waiting time on regular Physician appointment, increasing patient, by reducing disparity, making VA more accesible to patient that live far from Boston, keep VA quality service delivered to its patients all time high, and maintaining also customer satisfaction in both aspects, employees and patients. Cutting staffs or mangers from one Facility to provide for another facility when "Short-staffs are already an issue to solve. I want to encourage this strategy but we need to focus at all time about quality and best care system.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THIS IS  SOMETHING THAT HAS FRUSTRATED VETERANS FOR AWHILE NOW.. BEING A VETERAN AND A EMPLOYEE I SAY WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR GUYS COME TO BOSTON FROM BEDFORD AND THINK IT'S ALL THE SAME VA... ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S NOT 
I wish Bedford would be integrated with the Boston VA system, I use the Lowell clinic, but if I need to see a specialist I have to go to Boston, an all day affair for me, plus pay for trains and subways, I could drive to Bedford in 20 minutes.  
This is an EXCELLENT idea!!  Long overdue!! Wrox provides many services for Bedford pts, and the reality of a single, integrated, computerized system for all four campuses (WR, JP, BR, BED)will be welcomed with open arms by all staff, I can assure you!

for all (4) campuses (Wr, Jp, Br, and Bed) will be welcomed with open arms by all staff members, I can assure you!!
I am supportive of the administrative intregration proposal as stated.  As a patient of each of the listed facilities ( for various health issues/treaments), the integration plan would make my treatment referrals and records access much simpler and more efficient.
Q.  All four campuses (Bedford, Brockton, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury) would continue to operate. No facilities would close as a result of this administrative integration. Following earlier integrations, all three campuses within Boston VA Healthcare System continue to operate as vibrant healthcare facilities with broad clinical programs, high levels of staff, fully occupied buildings and clear, complementary missions. In this proposal Bedford would become a fourth campus of a VA Healthcare System serving the Greater Boston area.    
A.  I feel that all four campuses should have been integrated a long time ago technical uses only get updated with the new technology.,  So that when our patients go to Boston for whatever reason the doctors would be able to take care of these patients in a professional manner. 
Q.  There would be a single electronic medical record. 
A.  Again how archaic are we now this should have been done years ago you should be able to view all patients records when they visit your facilities.
Q.  There would be one medical staff. 
A.  How would that be possible if this facility is still here and the patients have their own doctors here at Bedford, they don’t need to be shifted to other facilities what we need is a better functioning system here, as we have the room the only thing that we are lacking is that the services have been taken away.  I as a Veteran do not want to be bounced all over the world to see a physician or any other kind of professional person.  I feel that you have not quite grasped the concept that we are not here for ourselves, it’s not about you, we are here for the Veterans Q.  There would be one leadership team.
A.  One leadership team, that would be hard for anyone person to oversee, we are not talking about people coming in and out each day; this is the Veterans home.  Which in my view takes a little more effort?  We have a fine facility here in Bedford, with a fantastic staff; we are just a little short of services to treat the patients.  You have already cut patient care so much that it looks like these Veterans are in some kind of war camp.  It would be really nice to have someone take the patients outside weather permitting, I think that would be better than a tonic.  I am sick of hearing there is no staff, that is not a Veterans  problem; these people are dying and just would like to see the outside one more time.  That should not be a big deal that should be necessity, is this how we are going to treat the Veterans for all that they have done for us.
Q.  Current staff would not lose their employment nor have a decrease in pay.
A.  If there is only one leadership team, then someone will have to go somewhere down the line maybe not now, but I will bet on it that it will happen.  Otherwise you will be paying these people to do nothing.  We all know that when that person in that position leaves then we don’t fill it, the only thing that this tells me is how much work are you putting on the other fellow that is below the one that left.  You have just let the service to the Veterans out the door, you are decreasing their service
Q.  No current inpatients would be moved to a different facility. 
A.  I would hope not, people come here for a reason,  I know this is not a concern of yours but these families have already taken a hit, some of them cannot drive or get transportation to see their loved ones but just once a week.  I would think this would be devastating to the family members that are left to try and keep what little dignity that is left.
Q.  All existing CBOCs would continue to operate.
A.  Is that what would be left after you fill Boston, with all the services and good staff from Bedford and the other facilities. Maybe we would operate a little better, if the facility did not have to send out our patient for simple things, just think how much money that would be saved on a daily basis if the facility was fully functional.  I know that you have to turn people away on a weekend, what nobody wants to work, again how much money would you save if you actually treated these people instead of letting them go to Lahey or the surrounding hospitals.
I think this is a terrific idea! Many researchers do research at the Boston VA as well and this will prevent having to go through two IRBs. The only concern is that the staffing levels for the IRBs would have to be increased (or at least not decreased) as both Bedford and Boston IRBs are already overwhelmed, making it hard to get approvals in a timely manner.  
"Bigger" is never better than "smaller" in healthcare, for Veterans or staff.  Bedford needs its own leadership team who intimately knows and supports it's staff and veterans.  No Bedford director? New chiefs, who are in Boston?  Associate Directors and Associate chiefs?  Doesn't sound appealing to me.....
The improvements in ease of care for veterans can be accomplished without Bedford being "under" Boston.  I applaud the effort to do so.
I accept change as mandated tho and will do my best to adapt.  I hope it really will be evaluated carefully.  Looks like a "done deal" to me.
One of the points made during the presentation was that a number of large metropolitan areas had already undergone some form of intergration.  Is there information available on what they experienced, both on the process and the gains and losses as a result of the integration?  It would be helpful in thinking about what to expect and how to be useful if such information were available.  It would also be reassuring to know in what ways we have learned from the experience of others and how we are working to avoid the problems they may have encountered.
You say that no one will lose their job but you will not be needing TWO service chiefs for every service.  How will that be resolved?  Will you plan to have an Associate Director here at Bedford?
One of the points made at the presentation was that a number of large metropolitan areas had already undergone the process of intergrating into one system, and, of course, there has already been an integration of most of the facilities in the Boston area.  It would be useful to have information on the process of those integrations, the difficulties encountered and addressed and the gains and losses that resulted.  Any information on what has been learned from these intergrations and how we will strive to address any anticipated problems would be helpful.  More information might also assist us in providing useful feedback. 
If the proposal of the merger is to be like planned I see no reason for not having the Merger of the 4 Campuses.
You will need many more shuttles.
Still curious as to how this will make anything easier for the veterans.  They still have to travel back and forth.  Why not just upgrade the network applications to make accessing records easier.
Other than eliminate a lot of chief positions in this facility, what exactly will change?  Politics, poltics, politics.
Not going to affect our pay...will we be getting some of those FTE that Boston seems to have no trouble hiring?  Will this eliminate the rampant nepotism at this facility?  Will this mean hiring more veterans, like we are supposed to?
I would like to provide feedback regarding your Bedford/ Boston administrative proposal. 

I would like to know specifically how this merge would improve regional planning?  I am assuming that you currently have a planner and public works department to manage the facilities of all three units and sites.  With the integration of the Bedford branch, would the current facilities planner need to manage the Bedford branch as well or would the facilities management department in Bedford still have control of managing the facilities?

If the integration proposal you are proposing were to succeed, how would you go about integrating both facilities and funds to properly manage the buildings, structures, and resources?  Also, how would you develop a plan to continue to supply the same amount of resource of funds to the Bedford branch when you will have comingled the funds with the other branches? 

With the regard to different properties that you are currently managing, aren't the funds provided for each facility paid to the category they support?  If all four facilities have the same category, then the funds may be used more in one unit than another, thus limiting the amount of needed services to all units. 

I am very interested in hearing more about your proposal and commenting further.  Please let me know if you will be presenting anything more in the future.
GREAT idea!! Go for it!!
Do it.
This is a great idea.  Patients should be excited about this.  I imagine that different services would eventually be offered, e.g. optometry, lab, radiology at all the sites.  Good work improving what we do!
Integrating the medical records is a great idea, IF it's real integration.  If the provider's view of past treatment is limited in the new system, integration could do more harm than good.
I very much welcome this news. There have been pervasive elements of old boy/old girl behavior, nontransparency, and selective involvement in problem solving. Nursing has been decimated since the retirement of the CNE. We need a change in culture but that will only occur with a change in leadership at the chief and quadrad level. 
It's a great idea.  I'm also hoping this will improve transportation from Lowell to Bedford for the patients living in Lowell.  We have many, and there is no direct shuttle from Lowell CBOC to Bedford.
Excellent idea, I am all for this.
How fast can we complete this merger.
It would be a good idea only if duplication of services and staff are looked at w/the goal of decreasing numbers. At this time the "administration" is "top heavy" and services seem to overlap ( ex Brockton and Bedford).
One of the principles of transformative organizations is leadership that is close to the action - including executive leadership. I am worried about distant leadership that is not engaged in the culture at Bedford. And what if the merger costs money instead of saving money - at least in the near term? Leaving leadership positions vacant or "acting" is discouraging at best and demoralizing to be in a "hold" situation.
Thank you several thoughts come to mind: 1) we have many women who travel here (VA BHS) because they perceive the services (both primary care and mental health) for women to be far superior and more extensive, planners have likely looked at the number of veterans living in the Bedford catchment area who get services in Boston, 2) many Bedford patients receive tertiary and specialty care in Boston -- the fact that we have separate medical record systems hampers continuity of care and transitions, 3) we have had primary care patients who need services but they fall in the Bedford catchment area and we find ourselves unable to help them or offer the full "PACT" model of care.  Thank you.
Bedford/Boston Integration is critical for continuity of patient care.
I think having the hospital @ Bedford integrate with Boston will enhance the services presently available @ the different sites. One leadership team will be instrumental in streamlining several of the operational processes.  This is a great idea.
An obvious necessity, but the last time there was much deal-making over which medical school and which chief would survive.  Unfortunately, running two branches of a service is taxing enough for some chiefs, now they may be running four.  I believe a big part of this decision is to reduce management salary dollars, but it will also dilute the attention of service chiefs/managers paid toward each division as time becomes more scarce.  Delegation of management effort is not a strength of government; instead, I predict poorer, not improved oversight on the day-to-day activity within our services.  Coordination will be an issue.  Things are still done differently within the same services at WR, JP and BR many years after these mergers.
Bigger is not always better. I've talked to veterans who have tried calling into the Bedford VA for hours or days with no luck. How will integration address this?

Also, communication is severly lacking within and between departments, how will integration address this?

Bottom line ALL veterans deserve the best, most efficient care we can give them. Once this is started, periodically let the veterans speak by offering them a "how are we doing...how can we improve your services " survey online via va website, through Myhealthlyvet, or at clinic visits.

MANAGEMENT must stress COMMUNICATION
Are you only posting the positive comments?  Please be honest with the staff at Bedford.  You are not going to need TWO service chiefs for every service?  How can you say jobs will not be effected by this merger?  How can you ensure that the unique needs of Bedford veterans and staff are met?  Why aren't you posting comments that question your plan?

June 6 - 20:

Great proposal. It is long overdue.  I agree that this would promote better continuity of care and seamless access to more comprehensive services and treatments available for veterans.  
I think it is a good idea and better system. Will we be getting more money in our pay because we will be operating as one unit.
I strongly support the integration of CPRS records.
This is a wonderful idea and as a provider I hope that is happens.  What a fantastic way to improve care for the vets!
I believe the integration of VA Boston and Bedford VAMC  is a very good proposal and its successful implementation would greatly improve VA health care in the region. I would like to comment on how this merger may impact GI subspecialty care.
The Section of Gastroenterology at VA Boston has a faculty with 61/8 physician FTE and 40/8 physician assistant FTE. We have approx. 3,800 specialty outpatient clinic visits/year in Jamaica Plain and Brockton (re-established in 2010) and we perform approx. 4,000 GI procedures/year in our 2 endoscopy suites at Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. Procedural services are supported by a dedicated endoscopy RN and technician workforce rotating to both locations. Essentially no endoscopy is outsourced from VA Boston (with rare exceptions of weekend emergency advanced procedures). We provide a large variety of highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic interventions (video capsule endoscopy, double balloon enteroscopy, cryospray and radiofrequency ablation, GI motility assays, etc.) that are available through IFC across VISN1. 
As you certainly know, we have an approved plan for a new outpatient endoscopy center at the Jamaica Plain campus, which will provide an approx. 50% increased procedural capacity by using cutting-edge technology and a highly ergonomic layout. Construction of this new facility is predicted to begin later this year. We have a well-established relationship with the GI fellowship training programs of Boston University and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, providing us with a cadre of 25 outstanding trainees rotating to our outpatient and inpatient services each year. In the past few years, we have made important strides to meet strict mandates in colorectal cancer prevention and we are getting ready to implement promising new protocols for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. We pay increasing attention to diagnose the highly prevalent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and established improved protocols to screen at-risk veterans for liver cancer, which is the fastest rising malignancy in the US.  
Full integration of VA Boston and Bedford VAMC would allow us to restructure subspecialty care and would provide mutual and significant benefits to both parties. An integrated system is estimated to increase our current GI procedural demand by 40%, which would be matched by the new endoscopy center’s capacity. This could eliminate the need for outsourcing GI procedures from Bedford VAMC, a current and costly necessity. In exchange, concomitant staff and faculty expansion within the new GI section proportionate to this new demand could provide greater flexibility in scheduling GI subspecialty care across 4 hospital facilities and would further improve our ability to provide state-of-the-art tertiary care in gastroenterology and hepatology.
We are excited and eager to participate in forthcoming discussions about your proposal and share your expectations on the positive changes it may bring about.     
This is an excellent idea. As an OEF/OIF/OND Case Manager in Bedford, this will make my job coordinating care for Veterans much easier and the process much more seamless for Veterans. I only wish it could be implemented sooner.
I was not a VA employee during the last merger. I still hear "horror" stories from staff who went through this. To this day some staff have never gotten over this. Change is difficult but it is often for the better.

Looking forward I am excited about the potential merger. As a Telehealth nurse I frequently have Pts that have their primary at Bedford but the specialist is at WX. As you noted it is very time consuming getting the information, especially when the vistaweb is down.

I have found the Staff at Beford wonderful to work with and very interested in the information I need to share with them. It would be so much easier to attach their name to one of my notes instead of having to leave them a phone message or send a second note, with PKI, via outlook. 

From my perspective it would be a win/win situation.
This is an absolutely wonderful idea.  Veterans often ask me to check what date/time their appt is at JP etc. and it is time consuming to always be opening up VistaWeb to find out new labwork, appt times, discharge notes, etc.  Having one connected unit would be more efficient and allow us to better serve our Veterans. 
The 3 campuses of VA Boston HCS nicely complement each other.  What will be Bedford's role in the strategic vision of the Greater Boston VA system?  Currently it is a very similar campus to Brockton.
This integration effort makes good theoretical sense. The problem is in the details. The current integration is a mess w/ only 3 facilities and CBOCs--in Mental Health there is vast duplication of services, too many layers of middle management, morale is poor. Adding yet another site without some major structural changes is a recipe for disaster.
Sounds good. What we really need is a single medical record for the entire VISN. Veterans from all over new England come to the Boston System. 
I think it sounds like a great idea. Clinically one medical record would streamline the process and, in theory, should make referrals between Bedford and Boston much easier. I vote YES!
I feel that as a medical center, having 3 sites all serving different and/or overlapping functions is a serious inefficiency. Adding Bedford to VA Boston Healthcare System is only logical given it's geographic location. This however would be adding one more site with overlapping services within a close geographic locaion.  I understand the crucial role that CBOCS and CLC's in different locations serve, however to have patients transported tens of miles daily via ambulance between facilities to see various providers is not in any way cost effective long term. Let alone the work time taken up by staff driving between facilities. Intergreting our healthcare system further (Bedford included) is what we should be focusing on. Just my thoughts. Thank you for listening.  
I think this is a great idea. It would be much more convenient to be able to view Bedford information without having to access remote data. Also Bedford has some services that could benefit Boston patients, such as their gym and recreation programs.
Given that the email to all Bedford users didn't go out until 3:51pm yesterday, there is a high probability that most staff were not able to make any of the meeting times currently listed.  I personally have no objection to the integration of the facilities but would like fair process so that all can have their concerns heard.
As a psychology practicum student, I would like to express my hopes that the practicum and internship psychology training programs remain specific to their separate locations, for a few reasons. First, there are too few internships available to psychology students already - please do not reduce the number further! Second, and more importantly, having had the opportunity to train at the Bedford VA, and listening to descriptions of my peers who have trained at Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury, it is very clear that each training program provides a very different experience, each of which is important and useful based on the specific interests of the trainees, and which would suffer by being squashed together.
Would certainly simplify searching CPRS by having one system.
A single database will make laboratory operations in Bedford and BHS more efficient and safer for patients by reducing cumbersome shipping manifests, double log in of samples and relabeling of patient samples.
I think this is wonderful, and a long time coming.  Good job!  A suggestion:  Working with Active Duty and transitioning veterans who have tricare, Bedford currently is not a tricare facility except for mental health.  Could this change?  Also, an idea where Bedford is so close to Hanscom and the local Community Based Warrior Transition Unit, it may be beneficial to set up a returning veteran clinic at Bedford, using the RI model, and the Steve Hunt model.  It would centralize care and could boost revenue and performance outcomes possibly.  
This is an excellent idea that will improve patient care and expand research opportunities.
Will the Bedford Service Lines continue? I find it very useful & helpful to have monthly contact with other VA employees within my discipline. This support is essential to employee health & satisfaction.
Bringing the staff from Boston appears to be a clear statement that this will be the management team once the integration is complete. If this is correct, it might be useful to say so, as I believe the process would be facilitated by reducing as much ambiguity as possible.
I think the integration of Bedford into the VABHS is an excellent idea. There are several services that are already merged, such as Biomed/Clinical Engineering, Pathology & Lab. Medicine Service, etc. It is my suggestion, that first merge the most technical services using their technology base as the prime factor - it is easier with these services. Examples, are Dental, Engineering, follow that with SPD with product changes for sterilizing with non- ethylene oxide use procedures. EMS with cost savings with standardized purhcases of toilet tissue, paper hand towels, and disinfectants for all facilities. Prosthetics is another serivce excellent for merger cost savings with additional purchases of wheelchairs and combining services for veterans for prosthesis. The most difficult services for merger will be mental health. All campuses have good programs, so here are personalities involved to determine which mental health programs need modifications and which ones need further investments. By starting with the most technical based services - the technology features will ease the merger with least resistance with personalities and staffing. The driving force is technology for better serivces for the veterans. If I can be of assistance, please let me know. 
Would appreciate being provided information on both veteran and employee satisfaction before and after the mergers of the other facilities in the Boston area and how they comnpare to the ratings at Bedford.  I believe that this information might prove encouraging to both veterans and staff faced with this upcoming changes.  If the numbers are not encouraging, I believe it is important to look at ways that the transition might address this issue.
Excellent Idea that is overdue!!!

This should reduce waste and unnecessary duplication of administration and mgmt staff. Hopefully, Available resources can be better directed for more staff providing direct care to veterans.  It should reduce Barriers to care for our Veterans.  There shold be a greater capacity to share information and order necessary consults that at sites that are geographically close to the vets home.

Let's not talk about it too much, LET's DO IT!
This is a great idea. I think the union stregthens the care for the Veterans and our VA system in this area. Plus I feel there will be greated efficiencies which will save money.
The only thing that makes transfers to Bedford tolerable is Sandy Turkott -- when she is off the proceedure falls apart. Consolidating them with the Boston healthcare system would be a much smoother process.
What is the plan for services that are merging that currently have different pay scales. For example a service in Bedford at GS-6 making 40k a year and in Boston at GS-7 making 55k a year?
I think it is a wonderful idea.
Why bother with feedback? This has apparently been in the works for some years. It is not really news and your protestations that no decision has been made are ridiculous. 
I think this is a great start in providing seamless care for you veterans. I would like to see a fully integrated VISN that operates from one electronic medical record. I believe the benefits are worth the effort! 
I thought the presentation was good. I support the merger with Boston, but hope that Bedford can keep its own identity. 
Due to the space and parking issues at Bedford, do you feel the tele-work will be utilized more frequently for administrative positions?
Great concept and idea to facilitate services to our veterans and ensure continuum of care throughout the VSIN. They deserve this and much more from Veterans Affairs nationwide.
Great idea. I support it.
I think it is an awesome idea.  As a vet and an employee I think an integration will help us.  
I have concerns: I truly hope we will be funded so that we can continue to grow professionally and remain a presentable facility. I do not want to take two steps backward again. We have come along way in 3 years with positive direction. The department heads/chiefs at present will not be able to take over a position due to the fact that the decks have been stacked with grades in BHC system, very convenient. Rank has its priviledges, however, I hope it is not at the expense of the personnel in Bedford. Bigger isn't necessarily better.  Merging laundry and food services with Brockton has not been a terrific merger. Lots of lost and ruined clothing and bedding etc. doesn't make for a wonderful time. Also we will have no say about the food which at best needs lots of work. Our Food and Delivery Dept. has to constantly keep on top of the food items because they do not meet the desires of our patients.
I understand the overall thinking of the merger and why it is thought to be a good idea. However,make sure that it remains an integrated effort and that the staff at Bedford is listened to. On the surface Brockton looks like a lost soul. We have hard working personnel in this facility and we don't deserve to be ignored. Last but certainly not least our PATIENTS DESERVE THE BEST! WE MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A BETTER FACILITY.  
I think this is a horrible idea. Communication with leadership is already difficult here at Bedford. Having administrators off site will be a nightmare. What is the plan for integrating research, R&D, and the IRBs at both sites? The IRB at Bedford is already overwhelmed; I can't imagine how bad the backlog of amendments and continuing reviews will be if we combine research at Boston and Bedford. Not to mention the difficulty of having the IRB and R&D off site. I also find it hard to believe that the "higher ups" will not lose their jobs here at Bedford. What will their new role be? The VA is slowly improving its reputation with veterans. I'm sure the administrative mess that this integration will cause will not only hinder our ability to serve the veterans, but tarnish the very fragile reputation we have right now.     
Yes, this is a good for Bedford VA.
I think nre proposal is a positive change esp for a single med chart (would make med reconciliation,clinical reminders,etc much easier). Hopefully more services would be provided at Bedford,since vets find it difficult and time consuming to go to JP,West Rox or Brockton.
Proposal for the anticpated incorporation of Bedford VA:
To include: The usage of the states Veterans Agents in a more sensitive way.All towns in the state have one and are more in tune with the veteran  and his medical needs. They can get the veteran to use  va clinics because they them selves live in the town and will be able to out reach more and identify and in some cases know personaly that veteran.    
GREAT IDEA- long time coming, I am on staff at both places, and makes no sense to have two different systems
I think this is a wonderful proposal.  As a home care nurse for the Boston VA who cares for veterans on the North Shore, it is always frustrating to draw blood and have to drive all the way to the lab in JP.  I have one veteran who is on Coumadin and lives 5 minutes from the Lynn CBOC.  He needs monthly PT/INR draws which have to be brought into JP.  One time I was unable to draw his blood so I sent him into the CBOC in Lynn.  When the specimen got to Bedford, no one there knew what to do with it because he was a JP patient.  It took a few phone calls to straighten it out.  The present system is very inefficient for those of us on the border of the two VA's.  I have several vets who hate having to go into JP but their PCP is there so they cannot go to Lynn though it would be safer and more efficient for them to do so.  I hope the change goes through and goes through quickly. 
A terrific and overdue idea, which should benefit clinical, education and research programs.  The long-term care programs at Bedford (CLC et al.)  could eventually provide important settings for resident, fellow and student training in geriatric and palliative care - but implementing this will require considerable planning. 
Conceptually it makes perfect sense.  Getting it to actually work may be a different story.  Sometimes bigger is not better.  An example might be the telephone system.  Veterans have difficulty getting to where they want to go just within the Bedford system.  Imagine when integrated.  Another note is that the anxiety level has risen considerably in the Bedford employee circle.  I do hope it would make it better for the veterans.  Thanks.
That is a great idea, I support it because we will be able to access patient information easily and we the staff and patient will not be frustrated about dealing with two different system.  Great idea VA!!  Thanks to those who suggested this idea.
An excellent idea. I fully support the integration proposal. This will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of services to our fellow Veterans.
One administrative team, one medical record system and one medical team  seems ideal and would improve many of the  Bedford system's problems and inadequacies.  
I have been at Bedford since 1983 in one capacity or another and have heard that this is going to happen at least 5 and likely more times. What makes it more likely to happen this time and I hear concerns that the needs of Bedford patients and staff to serve them will be put at the bottom of the pile. What assurances do we have that this will not happen?
Feedback: It's about time...I'm an employee and a veteran...I think it's a great idea!!!
As Clinical Director of the VISN Allergy program, I am most supportive of this proposed joint venture incorporating Bedford into the Boston campus. Seeing patients from great distances within VISN1, I most sensitive to the great distances traveled to receive specialty care, and in this case, Allergy. Bringing Bedford on board would support the capacity to offer on-site Allergy immunotherapy,a venture we have not been successful in facilitating as of yet with this campus. Many patients who are referred from Bedford are currently having Allergy immunotherapy at the Boston campus or postponing immunotherapy until services can be provided at Bedford. We will continue to encourage the Bedford campus to consider the offer of Allergy training for Nursing and subsequent provision of Allergy immunotherapy as many of the other VISN 1 VA centers have successfully accomplished with our training. Though the intergration of this campus with the Bedford campus would most certainly promote and support our current efforts to provide this valuable patient care service.
Good ideas. 
Many Veterans I've had had contact with, already think Bedford is part of the Boston VA. If it is better and safer for the patients we serve, it is worth the energy expended to bring the facilities tgether administratively.

 

Return to main comments page.

return to top go