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RESOLUTION 32-03
RESOLVED, at the 58th National BVA convention
that the BVA requests the VA authorize the provision of at least
.5 FTEE GS 4/5 clerical support for all full time GS-12 VIST Coordinators
with a caseload of 300 or more blinded veterans and 1.0 FTEE for
programs having both a full time VIST Coordinator with a minimum
of 300 caseload and a GS-12 Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist
(BROS), AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that VISN Directors be required
to provide funding to local facilities to support these positions,
AND FINALLY BE IT
RESOLVED, that the VIST and BROS Handbooks
and documents pertaining to VIST and BROS contain language supporting
the intent that such support is to be provided.
VA Response: VA agrees that some VIST
coordinators across the country lack clerical support. This is
not a problem unique to the Blind Rehabilitation Program. A recent
evaluation of primary care productivity highlighted VA’s
need for additional support staff. VA has 1.5 support staff per
1.0 FTEE MD (median 1.11) as compared to 2.06 direct clinical
support staff per 1.0 physician in private sector general internal
medicine practices.
While VA continues to work towards increasing support staff, assignment
of resources to the Blind Rehabilitation Program will need to
be consistent with the resources allocated to other providers.
We will work with the program office to identify the needs in
this area. In the interim, on-the-job training may assist existing
support personnel to learn new job skills. Co-location with other
providers and clinics may enable sharing of resources.
RESOLUTION: 33-03
RESOLVED, that those BRCs be nationally funded
to purchase and maintain adequate equipment and supplies to meet
teaching and staff needs.
VA Response: Blind Rehabilitation
Service (BRS) agrees that blind rehabilitation programs must have
adequate equipment and supplies for training and teaching purposes.
BRS will conduct a needs assessment to identify areas of deficiency
regarding equipment and supplies in blind centers. An action plan
will be developed to remedy any problematic situations that are
found to exist.
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