Poor Patient Care At Atlanta VA Medical Center

Problems at a big Veterans Affairs hospital in Atlanta are causing a system-wide examination. Two inspector general reports last month found instances of mismanagement and poor patient care at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. Four patients died, one by an apparent suicide. The interim director has been replaced by Leslie Wiggins, a former deputy assistant VA secretary. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said legislation is needed to reform VA operations nationwide. One IG report found internal care problems. The second report found the hospital failed to track patients referred to outside mental health providers.