Legion leadership met with staff at the Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care System in Honolulu.
American Legion leadership and national staff met with representatives of the Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care System (VAPIHCS) in Honolulu Tuesday to discuss the unique challenges of caring for veterans in the Pacific Islands as part of the Legion’s System Worth Saving program.
American Legion Past National Commander Ronald Conley and Roscoe Butler, deputy director of the Legion's Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, met with VAPIHCS Acting Director Peggy Kearns, executive leadership and clinical care staff to discuss the hospital’s patient care and programs.
“Conducting more than 100 System Worth Saving Veteran Affairs hospital visits, this VA Pacific Island Health Care System is doing a good job considering their handicap,” said Conley. “Not having permanent leadership in place, the acting leadership has it tough trying to address any problems with real solutions.”
During the visit, the medical center's challenges were discussed, including the lack of incentives to attract clinicians to Honolulu and the surrounding islands. Currently, Hawaii has approximately 500 non-VA physician vacancies throughout their state, and VAPIHCS is experiencing similar shortages, according to Butler.
The VAPIHCS is also challenged with staff recruitment and retention, space, and the Veterans Choice program. Additionally, travel can be very difficult for veterans from Guam or American Samoa due to limited flights to Honolulu.
“Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care System provides a broad range of medical care services, serving an estimated 128,500 veterans throughout Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, covering an estimated 2.6 million square miles, this presents a unique set of challenges to serve our veterans” said Kearns. "The American Legion are true advocates of the high-quality care the VA provides to our veterans.”
Before the visit concluded, Kearns and her staff discussed the findings, best practices and recommendations with the Legion. As with every System Worth Saving visit, a report will be created and shared with the House and Senate Veterans Affairs' Committees, the VA Secretary, Under Secretary of Health, and the president of the United States.
- Veterans Healthcare