Bilirakis: VA didn't mislead him in death case

Rep. Gus Bilirakis said today the James A. Haley VA Medical Center failed to live up to its high standards in the care it provided to a veteran who died in its care on June 30.

That's what Bilirakis concluded after a meeting with Haley officials late Thursday over the death of veteran Richard Stecher, whose death from an undiagnosed bowel obstruction was detailed by the St. Petersburg Times in an Aug. 8 story.

Bilirakis' spokesman initially said the congressman wouldn't talk about the meeting because of the threat of litigation by Stecher's longtime companion. But later in the day, Bilirakis changed course and decided to comment.

At the meeting, Bilirakis said the Department of Veterans Affairs told him it should have provided a full account of the care Stecher received at the hospital when the Palm Harbor Republican first asked about the case in July.

But a July 24 letter Haley sent to Bilirakis with incomplete details of Stecher's death was an oversight, Bilirakis said, and he is convinced Haley did not lie to him or try to deceive him about Stecher's care.

"It was a complicated case and it should have been handled differently," Bilirakis said. "The thing that concerns me is that they care. We have to make sure this doesn't happen again. So we're going to monitor their care and make sure they follow through on improvements."

The hospital acknowledged to him, Bilirakis said, that it failed in its responsibility to adequately treat Stecher. One thing Haley is doing to prevent a repeat is that it hired more radiologists. It was a staffing shortage in radiology that forced Haley to send Stecher to a non-VA facility to a CAT scan.

A non-VA radiologist who looked at the results in April did not have access to previous scans done at the VA, so he missed an opportunity to identify a bowel obstruction. Haley has said Stecher should have been admitted in April. But instead, Stecher wasn't admitted to Haley until June 27.

Bilirakis said Haley no longer sends patience outside its system for scans.

Another improvement, he said, is to have more experience people manning the front desk at the emergency room. That was another shortfall Stecher's companion said may have led to delays in getting treatment for Stecher.

Stecher was rushed into emergency surgery on June 27, but by then, it was too late. He went into cardiac arrest and died three days later after the family decided to remove life support.

Haley's chief of staff apologized to Stecher's companion, Mary Nicholl, last month and said three doctors "missed opportunities" to treat Stecher.

After Bilirakis asked about the case early on, Haley sent him a letter that left out critical points about its care, an omission first brought to the attention of Bilirakis' office by a Times story.

The VA refused to discuss its meeting with Bilirakis.

Comments

[AJS]

Doesn't the post below say that she is being represented by a lawyer? Obviously, there is some sort of investigation or legal matter pending.

[Disapointed Republican]

Bilirakis is completely useless. Throw the bum out while we have a chance.

[neighbor]

I know the family and she (Mary) retained the lawyer ONLY for legal advice for dealing with the VA and the media. She did not and does not want to sue. Mary does not want other veterans family's to go through what her and her companion did.
His daughter is the one with a lawyer hired to sue as she stated she was going to do over Rich when he was on life support.

This is a prime example of why Bilirakis is rated one of the WORST Representatives in the U.S. House. Bilirakis will be defeated.

[Gus]

My daddy said I could have his job. I am not giving it up. Mommy said so.

[ken]

This ongoing story seems curiously mean spirited on the part of the Times reporter . It reads like an attempt of an unknown reporter trying to make a name for himself at the expense of this unfortunate incident. It almost seems like he is steering the story at will. Congressman Bilirakis is one of the most respected lawmakers there
is. The Time should stop attempting to ruin his good reputation and that of the fine VA hospital's ;for your own personal gain. Lets Get the facts straight before you print.

[Bill]

Congressman Bilirakis is NOT well respected. He had a reputation for being a "do nothing" while in the Florida Legislature, and has continued that habit in the U.S. Congress. He used his dads name to get elected. He even went so far as to have his name appear on the ballot as Gus "Michael" Bilirakis. I went to college with this guy. I was not impressed with him then, nor am I now.

[Paul]

It seems like you and the reporter have a personal vedetta against the congressman and Veterans Hospitals. I'm glad I didn't go to school with you. You harbour a grudge for a long time.

[life long friend of family]

DEAR "neighbor"
I have been friends of the family for many, many years knew and loved his WIFE, Lillian, anybody who knew them knew that Richie was a good man and had his retirement planned for years. Companion went on with publicizing all this and raking this poor mans name through the coals, the daughter and rest of family was not aware of any of her intentions. The daughter is seeking legal counsel to stop any companion from smearing fathers name through the press.Richie was a proud veteran and loving father and grandfather. They were not the ones pursuing for money so I suggest you get the story straight before advertising your lies!!!

[sadie]

I agree with the family friend whole heartedly.This reporter has used this terrible tragedy for his own personal gain.It got him off teh back pages. This is an example of how the press can manipulate a story.What would they have done if the hospital in question had not apologized. Even thiough they were honest and forthcoming the Times treated them very poorly.Shame on you.

[1Vietnam Veteran]

Interesting that Levesque did 3 page 1 articles alledging a VA cover-up. Now that the Congressman has been briefed on the institutional disclosure delay and found VA did not mislead, Levesque puts a mention in the blog. Sure, there are unintended and unfortunate incidents at VA,just like the private sector. Howeve,If all health care providers were as transparent as VA,we would all be better off. Maybe Mr Levesque could do some real fact finding and explore a comparison of quality measure outcomes, patient safety programs, disclosure policy, and third party findings comparing VA to private sector providers. Oh waite,that would be real journalism. Keep working that mud-rake Mr Levesque, maybe the kids comming back from Iraq can get their depression treated at Tampa General.