Organizations Link VA Problems To Staff Shortages

Acting Vete­rans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gib­son said last week that the quality of care at the Charlie Nor­­­wood VA Medical Center is in jeopardy because of a shortage of physicians and nurses, and national health groups say they know why the Au­gusta hospital is struggling to fill more than 100 vacant positions.

With the scandal over care at the VA, cries by national health organizations have intensified for the department to broaden its physician certification guidelines and grant nurse practitioners full-practice authority throughout the system...