I've worked in a few veteran hospitals. I think the major problem is that the staff are federal employees and pretty much can't be fired. (I suspect they can kill patients, but I don't think they are allowed to kill their boss. I'll have to look that one up.)
For the most part, good people work there a few years until they can't take it anymore. The lazy ones just show up at work, doing little when they get there, until they can collect a pension. They are very frustrating places to work at.