PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) — A congressional committee is taking motion following a 7 On Your Facet investigation into meals security considerations on the Palo Alto VA hospital. And newly-released public data increase questions in regards to the VA’s response to the allegations.
We first launched you to Dennis Berkowitz earlier this month. Berkowitz, a well known Bay Space restaurateur, was fired from the Palo Alto VA as an unpaid kitchen volunteer after reporting the hospital was allegedly falsifying data and unsafely storing meals being served to sufferers.
“I stirred up an excessive amount of s***!” Berkowitz informed 7 On Your Facet, including he was appalled on the high quality of meals the hospital was serving. “The ability wasn’t even following primary well being requirements. They did not care!”
However this report introduced it to the eye of those that did care — the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
“I acquired a name from Washington, D.C.,” Berkowitz stated. “They responded due to your information article… and it made them very uncomfortable.”
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The 85-year-old veteran captured a slew of images that seem to indicate meals being saved in violation of primary well being requirements — like chili that was served 65 levels under the Facilities for Illness Management’s minimal requirement. CSU East Bay Professor Dr. Michael Stanton, a public well being knowledgeable aware of the ability, raised alarm in regards to the photographs and the potential for E. coli, listeria and salmonella contamination at these temperatures.
“Actually problematic and will result in critical illnesses,” Dr. Stanton stated. “Particularly for a chronically ailing inhabitants.”
Berkowitz says he spent greater than six months attempting to get the VA’s consideration to no avail. However after the story aired, he acquired a name from Congress. It got here from the Home Committee on Veterans’ Affairs — particularly, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
“The folks I talked to in that subcommittee have been very involved. They weren’t blowing me off. They have been saying, ‘We’ll do one thing about this,'” Berkowitz stated.
The congressional committee informed 7 On Your Facet they’re conscious of our reporting and are at present “nonetheless gathering data from the VA on the state of affairs.”
The Palo Alto VA is taken into account one of the advanced amenities within the VA system, with an annual price range over $1 billion, using greater than 7,000 folks. Berkowitz says he tried reporting these points on to the VA facility’s Medical Center Director Jean Gurga.
“I have been attempting to see her for 3 months, and I have been denied all alongside the best way,” Berkowitz stated. “Now the worm has turned… and she or he’s asking me for an interview.”
7 On Your Facet is informed {that a} assembly is scheduled to occur subsequent week. Meantime, there’s one a part of all this that also does not add up: The dearth of transparency with the VA. We have been compelled to file a Freedom of Info Act request to get solutions to easy questions — and now the VA’s personal data do not match what the company initially stated.
Regardless of photograph proof, the VA initially informed us Mr. Berkowitz’s allegations have been “unsubstantiated.” But, federal data obtained by 7 On Your Facet refute that.
A 3-and-a-half hour inspection that occurred six months earlier than Berkowitz even began working on the facility cited the Palo Alto VA twice for related issues he raised in his report. In a single case, labeled “crucial,” the ability failed procedures to “shield towards contamination.” One other “crucial” case discovered salad being saved above the minimal Meals and Drug Administration requirement to stop dangerous micro organism. Plus, the ability’s personal plumbing was even cited as contaminated, with brown oil spilling on the ground. And that was all a part of the inspection the ability handed.
The VA refuses to offer copies of any follow-up inspections for the reason that allegations surfaced in November final 12 months — nor will it reply whether or not any sufferers or employees reported being sick in consequence.
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“It isn’t even negligence. It is gross negligence,” Berkowitz stated.
South Bay Congressman Sam Liccardo (D – Palo Alto) responded, saying partly: “We share the intense considerations about meals security on the VA, and we’re actively engaged in attempting to unravel this.”
“I am glad you are doing the reporting; we do not need folks to get harm,” stated Dr. Michael Stanton, who did his residency on the Palo Alto VA hospital.
Whereas we await solutions, Berkowitz says the VA’s Chief Veterans Expertise Officer referred to as to apologize.
“I stated, please… I do not need an apology. I need you to repair this,” Berkowitz stated. “Come on, guys, step up. Let’s get this corrected.”
7 On Your Facet will keep on this, till there’s proof that occurs.
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