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Dr. Steven L. Lieberman, M.D., is the deputy beneath secretary for well being, performing the delegable duties of the beneath secretary for well being, Veterans Well being Administration.

During the last two years, our nation’s well being care system has confronted unprecedented challenges. From private protecting tools shortages and mattress capability limits to worker burnout, we’ve all wanted to be resilient and versatile to reply, save lives and shield our sufferers and employees.

The pandemic has been significantly difficult for veterans. Due to age, medical comorbidities and different components, many veterans are significantly susceptible to hospitalizations and demise from COVID-19. That is difficult for the Veterans Well being Administration and our greater than 380,000 workers. The VHA is the most important built-in well being care system within the U.S., with about 9 million veterans enrolled in Division of Veterans Affairs well being care at 171 medical facilities and greater than 1,200 outpatient care websites nationwide.

As well as, the VHA serves as the security internet to the nation’s well being care system in occasions of public well being emergencies, similar to throughout a pandemic. 1000’s of our well being care staff have bravely volunteered to offer care at VA and non-VA well being care services throughout coronavirus surges throughout the nation.

The VHA is designed to be a pacesetter in high quality well being care and progressive biomedical options, responding shortly and creatively to new challenges within the well being care atmosphere. But our most necessary asset is our workers, who present veterans with well timed entry to the world-class well being care they deserve.

Again and again, I’ve witnessed VHA workers overcome vital challenges in serving America’s veterans. Throughout the pandemic, they did not weaken or decelerate. As an alternative, they obtained stronger and located extra environment friendly methods to take care of veterans once they wanted it most. As a result of the VA is an built-in well being care system, workers had been mourning the deaths of veteran sufferers they could have labored with for many years. Whereas mourning the lack of sufferers together with colleagues, relations and buddies, they typically needed to cowl for co-workers who had been uncovered or sick and unable to work, which means longer hours and later nights.

This resilience shouldn’t be the exception amongst VHA workers; it’s the rule.

As a result of extraordinary demand for front-line staff, salaries and incentives have grown to historic highs within the personal well being care sector. However they continue to be the identical on the VHA resulting from legal guidelines that put a cap on how a lot we are able to pay our excellent workers. Even with our excessive workforce retention price of 90%, we should do higher. We have to make investments and take care of the individuals who take care of our nation’s veterans. The time to behave is now or we’ll face critical staffing challenges within the close to future.

Because the nation’s largest employer of well being care staff, investing in our workers is likely one of the greatest methods to advance the well being and well-being of veterans and the nation. Because of efforts by the White Home that raised the minimal federal wage to $15 an hour, salaries have elevated for housekeeping aides, meals service staff and lots of others who make the VA run.

We have to maintain going, which is why we’re urging Congress to cross the RAISE Act and different laws that can enable us to pay our medical employees, docs and nurses their true price. With congressional and White Home help, we are also transferring to waive limits on bonuses and improve retention incentives. We’re creating new alternatives to advance throughout the VHA, expediting the hiring and onboarding processes, elevating little one care subsidy caps, and maximizing flexibility in work schedules and places the place potential.

Along with our dedication to creating the VHA a high-reliability group, we’re investing in our human infrastructure to foster a office of encouragement, range, success and satisfaction. The VHA’s Cut back Worker Burnout and Optimize Organizational Thriving, or REBOOT, process pressure develops progressive suggestions for bettering work situations, selling work-life stability and lowering burnout primarily based upon enter from our front-line workforce.

The VHA maintains the belief of our veterans (at present at over 93% for our response to COVID) due to our employees. I’m impressed each day by our workers’ fortitude and dedication. They’ve sustained the entrance strains of America’s well being care system throughout probably the most vital well being problem we’ve confronted within the final century. Whether or not it’s the beneficiant work of custodial employees, the artistic collaboration of our affected person care groups or the religious steering of our chaplains, the VA’s public servants are a mannequin of excellence.

The pandemic has strained and confused us all. But these challenges have strengthened my perception within the significance of our well being care professionals. Immediately, we’ve new therapeutic breakthroughs to offer care to extra sufferers than ever earlier than. The way forward for medication holds nice promise; that potential depends on a robust and empowered workforce. Investing in our workers is investing within the well being of veterans and the nation. The VHA is proud to paved the way.

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