There is a human element to this issue that must not be forgotten or overlooked at all.

clearly quality and safety seems to have diminished from a standpoint of importance

So, in other words, the medical alerts that went out were ignored or devalued from a standpoint of importance?

I guess my direct question is having noted those deficiencies in those three facilities, at what point would it trigger you to take a more aggressive stand relative to VA's remediation of the deficiencies?

Last week, you released a report evaluating VHA's National Patient Safety Program.

When veterans lose their confidence in the VA, then we have all failed in our mission to care for those who fought for us.

How about from a standpoint of infection? How many Hepatitis B or HIV before this is a medical problem?

I deeply respect the work that they do.

At what point would you determine it is appropriate for the IG to release something versus for this to be internal?

I would gather that if multiple veterans who tested positive had this procedure performed at the same hospital on the same day, then there is a fairly good chance that the VA caused at least one of those infections.

You read an independent review of the Pennsylvania facility on the brachy treatment. If an independent facility went and assessed all of the facilities relative to reprocessing devices, would the report be as glowing today?

In my capacity as Ranking Member of the Committee and as a Senator from North Carolina who represents 7,500 veterans in a 3-county area that are serviced by Mountain Home, I was not told...