Veterans gathered in Poplar Bluff around noon on Friday, May 12 to support Veterans Affairs whistleblowers.
The rally comes on the same day that a doctor at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Dr. Dale Klein, is set to be terminated from his position at the hospital. That’s according to Dr. Klein’s attorney.
According to Natalie Khawam, the Merit Systems Protection Board issued a stay order for Dr. Klein, ceasing the VA from terminating him.
The stay order expires on Friday.
“Since there needs to be a quorum by the MSPB Court to issue an extension of an order, the order can’t be extended since there are vacancies in the MSPB Court that haven’t been filled, leaving us with no ability to get an extension of the stay order,” said Khawam.
Veterans and other supporters will gather in the parking lot of a strip mall across the street from the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
They will gather at noon and emphasize that the demonstration will follow all laws, and will not disrupt any VA activities or anyone coming to or leaving the hospital.
Klein claimed he is being punished for speaking up about what he said is happening in the VA system.
“Retaliation is alive and well in the VA system,” said Dr. Dale Klein.
Doctor Klein claims veterans aren’t getting the care they deserve at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.
He voiced his concerns and said he’s been banished to an empty room all while still collecting his salary.
“This is the time, this is a heart-stopping moment for the VA, the transformation can start in Poplar Bluff, Missouri,” said Dr. Klein.
At this point, Klein doesn’t have much to lose.
He wants everyone to hear his story.
“Essentially I was ordered to lower my standard of care, in fact, lower it to substandard care, as a physician that’s appalling to me,” said Dr. Klein.
In May of 2015, Doctor Klein was hired at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to start a pain management clinic.
“But, shortly after I started working here it became obvious to me that I was not getting the support I needed from my chain of command,” said Klein.
One of his big complaints is what he calls the manipulation of wait times.
“After I see a patient, I put together a comprehensive rehab program which may include referral to a physical therapist,” said Dr. Klein.
“So, my chain of command told me, excuse me…ordered me not to make any of these recommendations because the veterans were already waiting too long to have these referrals made.”
He also brought to his superiors his concerns about secret wait lists and his suspicions that patients were re-selling prescriptions on the black market.
“They were trying to silence me so they put me on administrative leave with pay and closed the pain clinic.”
He has not seen a patient for about a year now.
“In my opinion, by losing the pain management clinic at the Poplar Bluff VA, that shows wanton disregard for the veterans healthcare,” said Dr. Klein. “The veterans are then forced to travel a long way to get the care I could provide in Poplar Bluff.”
Instead, Klein says he sits in a small room at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and does nothing all day, every day while collecting a $250,000 a year salary on the taxpayer’s dime.
“Having a physician who is double boarded be prevented from practicing medicine and helping to treat veterans while keeping him on payroll is a misuse of public funds,” said Natalie Khawam-Dr. Klein’s attorney.
Khawam works for the Whistleblower Law Firm in Tampa, Florida.
She says her client is suffering for trying to do the right thing.
“Withholding someone from being able to practice their craft while keeping them on payroll and having them stare at walls is inhumane and actually against the law,” said Khawam.
The VA spokesperson issued the following statement:
“The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes the importance of all employees, to include whistleblowers, who identify problems that impede the optimal delivery of care and services to Veterans.
“Whether they bring the issues to their leadership, notify the VA Office of Inspector General (either attributed or anonymously), or voice their concerns via any other mechanism they choose, these employees provide important information and flag issues for VA leadership.
“VA’s expectation is that each of these flagged issues will be reviewed and if necessary, corrected. Due to on-going investigations, VA cannot comment on specific cases. VA does not tolerate any sort of retaliation against those who identify problems.
“If evidence emerges that employees, to include whistleblowers, have been treated unfairly for identifying important problems, immediate disciplinary actions will be taken against those who retaliate against them.”
KFVS submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the VA asking for complaints filed against the hospital and/or Dr. Klein since 2015.
It took more than two months to get that information, and when it arrived everything was redacted. There wasn’t any information in the 60 pages they sent.
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri joined U.S. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin in calling on Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin to fully investigate claims of improper care at the John J. Pershing Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.
“Our veterans have earned the best care possible, so when whistleblowers expose issues with veterans’ medical treatment they need to be addressed immediately,” said Senator McCaskill in a statement. “I’m deeply concerned by any allegations that VA is not promptly investigating and resolving these issues.”
The letter from McCaskill and Johnson asks Secretary Shulkin to direct all VA employees to cease any retaliation against Dr. Klein.
“There is no excuse for retaliation against VA whistleblowers like Dr. Klein,” said Senator Ron Johnson. “The President’s recent executive order makes that abundantly clear. The VA should fully comply with the Committee’s request and stop the retaliation against Dr. Klein, who was only trying to expose substandard patient care.”
The Senators have asked for answers to questions regarding this case, and requests those answers as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on May 17, 2017.