CURRENT ISSUES

2001

Long Range Plan (LRP)

It seems there is no LRP (five, ten, fifteen years) for the Kerrville Facility.  Any LRP should drive budget.  However, in the case of the VA the budget drives all the plans – short range or long range.  Therefore, the issue is how do we get some sort of a LRP for Kerrville. 

In Kerrville, there is a 76-acre site with great facilities and a fairly modern laundry facility.  It seems the laundry is finally reaching a creditable workload, mostly as the results of a large fire in the single most productive commercial laundry in San Antonio.

Many renovations are taking place that will make the main building structure 100% occupied.

Several things have been discussed with VA officials that have long-range effect.  One of those discussions centered on having Kerrville as the show place for long-range care for geriatric and Alzheimer Veterans.  Many things are taking place in this direction. 

Another discussion has centered on the possibility of having Kerrville become a Regional Diagnostic Center.  This would be a center where Veterans could be sent into Kerrville for a complete medical diagnostic evaluation and then returned to their local VA Hospital for treatment.  This is being done in the private sector, so why not the VA. This would truly be a long-range plan.  This possibility has been discussed with Secretary Principi.  Discussion will continue at this level in the VA.

WORKLOAD

The imbalance in the daily workload by the doctors in Kerrville vs. San Antonio is reaching a melt down situation.  The doctors in Kerrville are working at over 120% of established workload where the doctors at Audie Murphy and Frank Tejeda Clinic are working at a 97% level.  The question then is why are Veterans being sent to Kerrville from San Antonio and other area.  Why not sent more Veterans to Frank Tejeda and Audie Murphy?

Following are the last reported workloads:

WAITING TIME FOR APPOINTMENTS

As the result of the workload on the doctors at Kerrville, patients are being given four, five, six months appointments – as if this will solve the problem.  In fact this only makes the problem worse and at the same time creates a serious problem for the Veteran.

CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service)

The CARES Committee will be evaluating the Kerrville facilities some time in mid 2002.  A pre-evaluation was made in Dec. 2001 with the poor condition of the roof being the most serious fault noted in the review.  There will be a period during the asset review when input by all those interested will be solicited by the Committee.