Legion lauds VA transparency initiative

The American Legion says it supports a move by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make the agency's productivity and performance records and reports more accessible, thus increasing departmental transparency.Verna Jones, director of the Legion's Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, was among several veterans service organization leaders who met recently with the newly appointed VA Under Secretary for Benefits, retired Brig. Gen. Allison Hickey. The group discussed VA's "VBA (Veterans Benefits Administration) ASPIRE for Quality" initiative in light of Hickey's new proprietorship of the program. VA says it launched ASPIRE last year to make data and outcome information available to the public in areas such as acute care, ICU operation, outpatient care and safety, as well as to see how each VA medical center measures up to its quality goals.

Jones explains that VA is making the data readily available to the public through a dedicated website. "Transparency of VBA performance and productivity data will assure veterans and stakeholders that progress is being made towards VA's ‘aspirational' goals," she said.

Hickey concurs. "VA is committed to making performance and productivity data available to ensure VA is accountable for the timeliness and quality of the benefits we provide to our nation's veterans," she said.

The American Legion was chief among those calling for greater transparency and accountability concerning VA medical facilities when allegations of a very limited number of isolated substandard instrument and equipment cleaning practices surfaced last year. "It is apparent that the Department of Veterans Affairs is serious about correcting its mistakes," Jones said. "So The American Legion wholeheartedly supports VA in this endeavor."

Jones' VA&R Division also conducts an annual series of site visits to VA medical facilities to help assure quality care and physical facility standards are being met.