Carnahan, Vet Affairs chief to meet over Cochran concerns

[Guest guest]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_e9279\

e5a-32fa-11e0-820b-0017a4a78c22.html

Carnahan, Vet Affairs chief to meet over Cochran concerns

BY JAKE WAGMAN | jwagman@... 314-340-8268 www.STLtoday.com

www.STLtoday.com | Posted: Monday, February 7, 2011

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan will meet this week with the head of the

Department of Veteran Affairs to discuss the new and ongoing woes at the Cochran

VA hospital.

Carnahan, who recently was appointed to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,

will meet with VA Secretary Shinseki on Thursday.

The confab comes amid further revelations about sterilization problems at

Cochran, located near Grand Center in St. Louis. Months after improperly cleaned

dental equipment led the hospital to test hundreds of patients for HIV and

hepatitis, officials disclosed that at least 35 patients had surgeries canceled

because of similar fears over tainted instruments.

Carnahan's frustration has mounted with his apparent inability to shake up

management at the hospital, a sentiment shared by the ranking Democrat on the

House Veterans committee, who toured Cochran earlier this year.

“Enough is enough, " Carnahan said in a statement Monday. “The VA provides

top-of-the-line care at other centers throughout the country. There is

absolutely no reason why veterans in the St. Louis region should be asked to

settle for substandard care. We can do better than this.”

Carnahan and Shinseki, a retired Army general, will meet in the congressman's

Capitol Hill office.

Copyright 2011 www.STLtoday.com

[Guest guest]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_e9279\

e5a-32fa-11e0-820b-0017a4a78c22.html

Carnahan, Vet Affairs chief to meet over Cochran concerns

BY JAKE WAGMAN | jwagman@... 314-340-8268 www.STLtoday.com

www.STLtoday.com | Posted: Monday, February 7, 2011

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan will meet this week with the head of the

Department of Veteran Affairs to discuss the new and ongoing woes at the Cochran

VA hospital.

Carnahan, who recently was appointed to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,

will meet with VA Secretary Shinseki on Thursday.

The confab comes amid further revelations about sterilization problems at

Cochran, located near Grand Center in St. Louis. Months after improperly cleaned

dental equipment led the hospital to test hundreds of patients for HIV and

hepatitis, officials disclosed that at least 35 patients had surgeries canceled

because of similar fears over tainted instruments.

Carnahan's frustration has mounted with his apparent inability to shake up

management at the hospital, a sentiment shared by the ranking Democrat on the

House Veterans committee, who toured Cochran earlier this year.

“Enough is enough, " Carnahan said in a statement Monday. “The VA provides

top-of-the-line care at other centers throughout the country. There is

absolutely no reason why veterans in the St. Louis region should be asked to

settle for substandard care. We can do better than this.”

Carnahan and Shinseki, a retired Army general, will meet in the congressman's

Capitol Hill office.

Copyright 2011 www.STLtoday.com