The Director of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Roseburg, Doug Paxton, has stepped down. He’s the 2nd high profile resignation since a VA investigation of mismanagement at the facility.
In a statement, the VA says Paxton will be replaced by David Whitmer, who will serve as Interim Director.
The VA investigation was spurred by numerous complaints from doctors, nurses and other staff of mismanagement and poor patient care. Congressman Peter DeFazio pushed for the investigation after hearing about the problems at the Roseburg facility and at the Eugene clinic which it runs.
“I want to thank the hundreds of employees who came forward, at risk to their careers, to inform me about the problems at the VA. " DeFazio says, "I’m pleased that we’re going to bring in a very senior, very experienced, manager, in the interim.”
Earlier this week, the head of surgery at the Roseburg VA, Dinesh Ranjan stepped down. The VA says it is targeting several areas for improvement at the Roseburg hospital, including access to care, patient experience, and employee experience.