By Jennifer Fuller, WSIU-FM
Marion, Illinois – Two years after major surgery was halted at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, congressional leaders say they're hopeful that help is finally on the way.
Senators Dick Durbin, Roland Burris and Congressman Jerry Costello met Thursday with Marion VA officials, as well as patients and families. It comes a little more than a week after an Inspector General's Report showed significant problems remain at the facility and two years after nine patients died as a result of sub-standard care.
Durbin says a Quality Assessment Team is on its way to Marion to look deeper into the ongoing problems.
"There were improvements - clearly there were improvements. But there were vacancies that remained, and that made it difficult to put together a team to address the overall issue. It's also clear in the Inspector General's Report that there were deficiencies that went uncorrected," Durbin said.
A new director for the Marion VA has been named. James Roseborough says he's ready to get to work, and enthusiastic about filling vacant positions and resuming in-patient procedures at the Marion hospital.