Update: Exeter Hospital’s HCV problems

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Laura

Exeter Hospital’s “outbreak” strain of HCV has risen to 30 patients and one employee (HCW) from the previously reported 26 patients and one employee. But wait, there’s more!  There are 12 other patients of the Cardiac Cath. Lab that have different HCV strains!  They aren’t mentioned in many articles;  I imagine that they aren’t too happy to be left out of the “outbreak” group which will probably get more tangible things than apologies from the CEO:  free treatment and money.

Is the hospital treating their HCV strains as their own darn fault?  (Take your lousy pain and suffering elsewhere–we don’t know you–you deviants.)

Forty-two patients (and one HCW) or thirty patients (and one HCW):  How many patients should the hospital own up to?   Unless they can provide evidence that their surface sterilization practices in the lab were so perfect, that none of the patients could have contracted any HCV strains from them, I say all 42 patients should be treated equally by the hospital.

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, Medical News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DGAT-1 AND HCV– THE CORRELATION

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

Cupcake found this and its an eye opener. Time to rethink a lot of things we have assumed for years. I envisioned a cure that would encapsulate the virus and lock it up. We will see what they finally use to conquer it. Hell, its just a piddly ass RNA virus. We’re America. We can figure out anything.

And this too.

Posted in HCV Health, Medical News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

EVERYTHING YOU SUSPECTED ABOUT PEGINTRON

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

Check it out:

Hi ____,
I’m sure you may already have had access to this. I came across it by accident today when I was looking for something else. Two years ago now the VA cerified me as a candidate for interferon treatment for my HCV. Since then my spinal injury started acting up and became much worse. Now I walk with a cane because I am too weak to walk very far without resting and I am prone to frequent bouts of vertigo. Anyway, next week the HCV nurse wants to start work-up to redo the stress tests for interferon treatment. I know there is no way that I will be able to pass the tread mill, they probably won’t schedule one. I think it is good that it worked out this way because as we know the interferon has turned out to be pure rat poison. INF was never meant to be a a treatment for HCV. It was an old cancer treatment that was pulled off the shelf to treat HIV back in the late 80s but then put back on the shelf because of the side effects. We know that Congress swept the issue of Veterans with HCV under the carpet in 2000 because they didn’t want to fund the VA to treat us. Then this   certification came along by the FDA back in 2001:
Regards
Squidley
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ALL THESE QUESSHUNS

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

I love this. Member JM has been pestering the vA to give him an expedite on his claim. He’s homeless but has now moved in with the folks and is staying in the basement more often than the streets. Since he lost his house he has no late electric bills or overdue mortgage payments. Try telling that to vA…

Discussion Thread
 Response via Email Via Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) 07/18/2012 05:18

 
Dear Mr.

This is in response to your recent inquiry to our office dated Julyl 13, 2012, regarding your request for hardship legal code or VA policy:

There is not a legal code or VA Policy, however it is a Station Policy that in order for your claim to be processed under the expedite criteria you must submit evidence of a terminal disability or a financial hardship – 1) Facing Foreclosure, 2) Facing Eviction, or 3) Cutoff notice for electricity or other utility bills.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Sincerely yours,

Douglas C Chapman
Veterans Service Center Manager

How to Contact VA:
On line: www.va.gov
By phone:  (800) 827-1000
 (800) 829-4833 (TDD hearing impaired)

By fax:
(404) 929-5586

By letter:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Atlanta Regional Office
P O BOX 100021
Decatur, GA 30031-7021
 Response via Email Via Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) 06/28/2012 05:01 PM
IRIS #

Dear Mr.

There are specific criteria for hardship request. Unfortunately, your bankruptcy and overdue VA medical bill does not meet the criteria for a hardship request. A hardship request should include evidence such as foreclosure notice, past due utilities statement, and eviction notice.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Sincerely yours,

DOUGLAS C. CHAPMAN

Douglas C Chapman
Veterans Service Center Manager

How to Contact VA:
On line: www.va.gov
By phone:  (800) 827-1000
 (800) 829-4833 (TDD hearing impaired)

By fax: (404) 929-5586

By letter:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Atlanta Regional Office
P O BOX 100021
Decatur, GA 30031-7021
 Response via Email Via Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) 06/21/2012 09:59 AM
IRIS #  

Dear Mr.

This is in response to your inquiry regarding your VA benefits.

We are working on your compensation claim for your back and right knee conditions. Our records show your claim is pending awaiting development. After an initial review of your file, we will release a Veterans Claims Assistance Act (VCAA) letter to you. This letter will provide a description of the benefit sought, and inform you of any additional evidence needed to support your claim. A review of your file shows we are pending receipt of your hardship documentation. Please resubmit this information to us via facsimile or U.S. Mail. Your hardship documentation should include evidence to support your hardship request (ex. foreclosure notice, past due utilities statement, and eviction notice). The contact information is listed below. We are processing claims as expeditiously as possible. We appreciate your patience.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Sincerely yours,

DOUGLAS C. CHAPMAN

Douglas C Chapman
Veterans Service Center Manager

How to Contact VA:
On line: www.va.gov
By phone:  (800) 827-1000
 (800) 829-4833 (TDD hearing impaired)

By fax: (404) 929-5586

By letter:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Atlanta Regional Office
P O BOX 100021
Decatur, GA 30031-7021

Them fellers are so helpful. Always looking out for the Vet. Fortunately for JM, he no longer has a mortgage or worries of eviction.

Posted in All about Veterans, Gulf War Issues, vA news, vARO Decisions | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NANOBOTS TO KILL HCV

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

Member Paul sends us this dynamite article. I hope to be “nanobot”ed if they’re taking volunteers. HCV research is moving by leaps and bounds, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s hope those of us who failed IFN can take advantage of it before we auger in.

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VAOIG–DEJA VU IN PHOENIX

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

Seems like we just read something similar about a VARO in Lincolnlogland . The only thing different was they gave no rating to the Phoenix RO as to how bad good they were doing. 26th out of 58? 32nd?

We conducted this inspection to evaluate how well the Phoenix VARO accomplishes its mission of providing veterans with access to high-quality (sic) benefits and services. We found the VARO lacked effective controls and accuracy in processing some disability claims we sampled during our inspection. Inaccuracies in processing 87 percent of the 100 percent disability evaluations claims resulted when staff did not establish controls to schedule future medical reexaminations. In total, VARO staff did not correctly process 39 (47 percent) of the 83 disability claims. These results do not represent the overall accuracy of disability claims processing at this VARO as we sampled claims we considered at higher risk of processing errors. VARO staff followed VBA’s policy on correcting errors identified by STAR program staff. However, VARO managers did not ensure staff completed or used adequate data to support SAOs. We recommended the VARO Director develop and implement training on processing traumatic brain injury and herbicide exposure-related disability claims, and addressing Gulf War veterans’ entitlement to mental health treatment. The VARO Director concurred with our recommendations.

Did they think that the VARO Director in Phoenix was going to tell them they were full of Hooy and to get lost?

Posted in Complaints Department, vA news | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Posted on July 18, 2012 by asknod

Just received this from Member Bob. I make no suggestions on how to you view politics or politicians. I think they are all equally perverse and lower than whale poop. We report. You decide.

On another note, I’m betting heavily on the fact that Old Mitt wishes he could stuff that one back in the old pie hole or rephrase it. A DeLorean with a Hyperdrive Motivator would also be nice.

Posted in All about Veterans, vA news | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

ONCE UPON A TIME IN LINCOLN LOGVILLE

Posted on July 16, 2012 by asknod

I love happy endings.

We conducted this inspection to evaluate how well the Lincoln VARO accomplishes this mission. Of the 51 VAROs we have inspected since April 2009, the Lincoln VARO ranked in the top 6 percent for claims processing accuracy. Lincoln VARO leaders attributed their successful operations to robust training efforts resulting in a highly skilled workforce and a unified management team providing exceptional oversight. Generally, VARO staff processed traumatic brain injury and herbicide exposure-related disability claims correctly. However, the VARO did not always accurately process temporary 100 percent disability evaluations. These errors occurred when staff did not schedule required medical reexaminations. Overall, VARO staff did not accurately process 11 (13 percent) of 85 disability claims we sampled as part of our inspection. These results do not represent the overall accuracy of disability claims processing at this VARO because we sampled specific high-risk claims. VARO staff took appropriate actions when correcting errors identified by VBA’s STAR program. Management ensured staff completed thorough and timely SAOs. Because VARO managers provided effective oversight of mail-processing workspace, they were able to control and route all mail the date it arrived at the VARO. VARO staff also provided adequate outreach to homeless shelters and service providers by working collaboratively with community and advocacy groups. However, VARO staff did not always address Gulf War veterans’ entitlement to mental health treatment as required. The Lincoln VARO Director should develop and implement a plan to ensure staff address Gulf War veterans’ entitlement to mental health treatment.

The important thing is nobody in the vA choir stumbled on the words while singing Kumbaya, My Lord for the VAOIG officials. So they have that going for them. As for the Gulf War Vets? Well, they’re working on that. Trust them and give them some time. I think they mentioned 2015. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

In short, everything was fine. And they all adjudicated happily ever after.

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PHILPOTT’S TAKE ON IT

Posted on July 16, 2012 by asknod

Randy sent this in but I’m sure everyone who gets up on Saturday morning has coffee with  Mr. Philpott. Shortly thereafter, I got it from Col. Dan, Bob the Leagle Beagle and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Notwithsatanding, here’s Tom’s column from this last Saturday. Seems like the vA is going to reinvent the triage trick as we mentioned. VBMS. Has a nice ring to it. I smell something stinky like rotten fish in there. This has all the hallmarks of the STAR Teams and many more which preceded it. After a suitable time we will be greeted by the OIG monkeys tripping over all the QC teams trying to figure out why this one augered in. $20 bucks says they’ll blame it on training failures and a lack of familiarity with the new product. Then it’s back to the old drawing board and a new acronym to fix the (v)BM(S).

Be careful which line you guys stand in. If you get in the wrong one, chances are you won’t find out for 125 days. Oh. Make that 625 days- 2015 is a ways out. You still get the 98% denial guarantee regardless of which one you stand in. Think how much money they’ll save doing it this way. The new tagline:

The new vA

 Has got your Six

Our new DBQs

Are full of CUEs

But soon we’ll have

Your nexus fixed.

BURMASHAFT

They can make cute little jingles like this and put them on the hallways at VAMCs and ROs everywhere.

Got any cute jingles you’d like to share? Good taste is imperative here. I’m trusting all of you…

Backlogs always

Drag us down

It makes us look

Like Bozo the Clown

VBMS

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F. D. A. uses spyware against its own scientists

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Laura

Why haven’t scientists forcefully come forth to shed light on the potential for medical devices to spread infectious diseases such as HCV?   The F. D. A. regulates medical devices (jet-guns, syringes, endoscopes etc..) and their proper sterilization. Isn’t keeping the public safer what they’re paid by taxpayers to do?  Apparently some powerful members in the agency don’t think so.
See this The New York Times headline story (7/14/12) by Eric Lichtblau and Scott Shane:
In Vast Effort, F.D.A. Spied on E-Mails of Its Own Scientists

“A wide-ranging surveillance operation by the Food and Drug Administration against a group of its own scientists used an enemies list of sorts as it secretly captured thousands of e-mails that the disgruntled scientists sent privately to members of Congress, lawyers, labor officials, journalists and even President Obama, previously undisclosed records show.”

Whistle-blowing scientists have been fired; other have been silenced with these fear-tactics.  The corruption being uncovered is huge.   Think Watergate-huge.

I’ve recently read a vintage F. D. A. meeting transcript that dealt with the cross-contamination risks of jet-guns.  I’ll post some sound-bites in the upcoming weeks so readers of ASKNOD can get a sense of how F. D. A. experts and doctors tip-toe around this issue.

Folks, most veterans and their families are not going to prevail at the VA until scientists at agencies like the F. D. A. can speak openly and without fear.   Many veterans have included scientific studies, published on government sites such as PubMed, only to have them dismissed as  “Internet” material/junk.   These studies may be sound but they are not influential.

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments