| |
Last year, BVA reported on the progress of the
Gold Ribbon Panel, appointed by Dr. Garthwaite, to explore methods
of more effectively integrating BRS into the network concept of
health care delivery. The appointment of this panel coincided
with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of VA BRS and the
establishment of the first residential BRC at the VA Hospital
at Hines, Illinois. Our testimony raised some serious concerns
about the direction the Panel was taking. These concerns were
substantially resolved after reviewing the final report submitted
to Dr. Garthwaite on April 1, 1999. Dr. Garthwaite approved virtually
all the recommendations contained in the report. Consistent with
a recommendation by the Gold Ribbon Panel, a Visual Impairment
Advisory Board (VIAB) has been appointed. The VIAB has conducted
one face-to-face meeting last June here in Washington and was
subdivided into work groups clustered around the various recommendations
of the Gold Ribbon Panel. These work groups have been meeting
in the interim defining goals, objective, tactics, and timelines
for meeting the Panel recommendations. If management authority
were granted to BRS in the first place, the Gold Ribbon Panel
would not have been necessary. High-level management support for
this endeavor is critical if the VIAB is to play a meaningful
advisory role to the USH. Without active support from VHA officials,
the field is likely to reject the recommendations out of hand
and continue business as usual.
BVA appreciated the opportunity
to participate in the Gold Ribbon Panel and now as a member of
the VIAB Executive Council but is very frustrated by the slow
rate of progress on the implementation of the comprehensive recommendations
contained in the final report. Consequently, the USH is awaiting
recommendations from the VIAB before rendering decisions on problems
identified by BVA. It is obvious that BRS is a low priority in
the overall scheme of the network approach to health care delivery.
It is clear to BVA that if implementation of the recommendations
does not emanate from the office of the USH, they will have little
credibility in the field. Finally, if sufficient centralized control
and leadership of the program existed in the BRS program office
in VAHQ there would be no need for the Gold Ribbon Panel or its
recommendations. This viewpoint is a product of BVA Resolution
23-00, which is attached to this testimony.
|
|
