TOMAH, WI (WTAQ) – Veterans who said they received good care at the VA hospital in Tomah filled a town hall meeting Thursday night to defend the institution.
The two-hour meeting took place before a full house in the hospital’s chapel.
Ryan Van de Walker defended hospital Chief of Staff David Houlihan, who’s now on administrative leave while allegations of over-prescribing painkillers under his watch are being investigated. Van de Walker said Houlihan streamlined his care, and helped him deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Stephon Perryman said he had close ties to his nurse, Deb Fraser, as she weaned him off large doses of painkillers.
Some in the audience said the Tomah facility should offer a swimming pool for aquatic therapy, and add more female doctors. A hospital spokeswoman told the AP she pulled a woman out of the meeting to further discuss her concerns, after she read a letter about her father’s death at the facility.
Hospital director Mario DeSanctis said his staff is looking at alternative therapies to treat chronic pain that include acupuncture and massage.
A VA report issued this week said those who received painkillers at Tomah were more likely to get excessive doses of painkillers than patients at other VA facilities. The report also cited a “culture of fear” on the part of employees who hesitated to speak up about health care issues they saw.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
