Posted on 02/17/2016 6:02:50 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Veterans' calls to VA suicide hotline went into voicemail or put on hold
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Some veterans' calls to the VA's suicide prevention hotline in Canandaigua went into voicemail or were put on hold, according to an investigation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General found more than 20 calls were routed to voicemail at a backup call center where staffers were unaware of the voicemail system and did not return the calls.
The Veterans Crisis Line, operated by the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, has answered more than 1.86 million calls since it was started in 2007 in response to an increase in veteran suicides.
Callers are supposed to reach a trained crisis worker within one minute of placing a call. But the investigation found callers did not always receive immediate assistance, even though it is against policy to put callers on hold.
"Routing to voicemail, instructing callers to call another party, or placing the caller on holds delays the caller interaction with responders and could potentially affect caller access to needed crisis or emergency services," the report says.
The Inspector General's report said some staffers of the Veterans Crisis Line did not receive adequate training.
The report recommended the VA set up a formal quality assurance program that collects, analyzes and tracks data from the Veterans Crisis Line. It also recommended the VA takes steps to make sure staffers complete training.
(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...
Obama's reaction to the VA scandals ...
Someone in the VA is going to get a big surprise ... a larger bonus this year!
I called VA Telenurse last night and was on hold for 55 minutes before she answered.
Twice I’ve tried to get help to troops in crisis.
Got so mad with one that I called the Pentagon and told them that my next call would be to a senator. They finally listened.
The second time we called the MPs, the post clinic, the post counseling center, the guy’s COC, and TWO freaking police departments before we found ONE person who was willing to listen and act.
The system is completely unequipped to cope with troops in trouble.
Hubs is retiring and will be in ‘the system’ later this year. I’m already looking for a way out.
THE VA
Giving Veterans a second chance to die for their country.
Disgraceful. When I lived in the UK, I had to sort out or son’s citizenship. Had many calls to the US embassy in London. They charged us 1 pound per minute ($1.60) to our British Telecom account whether we spoke to a human or not. Your’s is a life or death situation, tho, and there is NO excuse for that. Our veterans should have the utmost care.
Thank goodness you lived to tell about it.
They may have been the lucky ones....if they had gotten through to the VA they might be dead now.
Paging Mr. Rodney Dangerfield. Please pick up the white *dis*courtesy phone...
People convicted of first degree murder should be given the death penalty and put on the VA waiting list.
Never work, they won’t get an appointment.
I am telling you, they will meet death sooner.
Not if the appointment is with the executioner.
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