On June 23, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the “Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017,” which makes a number of changes to VA’s  authorities related to personnel, accountability and whistleblower protections.

While the accountability and whistleblower-protection provisions outlined in the bill are generally well known, the law also provides VA with direct-hiring authority to fill medical center director and network director positions.

Thanks to the new law, VA now has the flexibility to hire qualified health-care executives expeditiously to lead its key health-care organizations without going through a previously cumbersome and time-consuming hiring process.

“Being able quickly to hire skilled executives to lead our medical centers and networks is a powerful tool to ensuring the best possible leadership being put in place,” said VA secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “Leaders establish the vision for our thousands of employees who are doing their best to serve our nation’s Veterans. They also ensure accountability for those employees who do not deliver the care our Veterans deserve.”

VA encourages qualified candidates for medical center or network director positions to apply immediately by contacting the VHA Virtual Recruitment Center at 844-456-5208 or by submitting a résumé for consideration to VACareers@va.gov.

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5 Comments

  1. Larry r brown June 30, 2017 at 14:55

    Then you have done nothing. !!! We need doc’s not assistants in the clinics.! What the hell is wrong with you guy’s if you can’t cull the herd then there is not going to be change.!!!

  2. John Miller June 30, 2017 at 13:52

    Ms. Muhammad, I am sure you are familiar with the saying stuff rolls down hill, most only equate this to bad things, and in the prior leadership this was true. If your leaders take you in the wrong direction you may follow without knowledge you are going down the wrong road (i.e.… I was only doing what I was told to do). Leadership must be the first thing addressed in any business to turn things around. Good leadership will lead by example, and good employees will follow the example given. In this way, you may be able to save those who want to be inspired and do great things, but lacked the leaders to show them how and in which direction to go. I am sure that there will be many changes in the future from the top to the bottom. I personally look forward to a much more productive future for the V.A.
    “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer

  3. Will Ward June 29, 2017 at 16:56

    As this Law passed nearly unchallenged means no one in government Unions have anything to fear.
    There is still no teeth in enforcement of the majority of the employees that have proven to be useless or dangerous.
    The Lib’s would never vote for enforcement that goes against the Union.
    The Law only affords the firing of upper echelon managers…..

  4. Victor R Sellers June 26, 2017 at 18:45

    Will this also allow for the immediate firing of incompetent doctors and nurses or will they remain “THE UNTOUCHABLES?”. None of them worry about decent or correct treatment because they can not lose their job, no matter what. It should be 3 strikes in any given year and they are fired. How many disobedience write ups before an article 15 for active duty personnel? I got one without a hearing, for circumstances justifying my actions, so VA employees should live by the law as well.

  5. Sandyabdullah. Muhammad June 26, 2017 at 16:33

    All this sounds very whether the level of professionalism and accountability greatly improved remains to be seen. But I believe everyone is focusing on upper staff position instead of our lower level positions, such as support positions,i.e. Housekeeping Dept.,Engineering Dept.,Food Service & Laundry Service. That’s where the real work and dedication to serving America’s Veterans lie, without meaning to rude, the biggest problems VA has is misappropriation of funds, we working class folks like to call it plain old stealing,with not even a though of punishment. I don’t intend to hold anyone hostage on this subject-but it causes one to wonder, just how serious is the VA when comes to accountability across the board. I’d welcome any meaningful dialogue on this subject….And by the way, not only am I a veteran (SSG-E6-Army) I’m also an employee still serving my country, Any organization is only as strong as it’s lowest ranking members (foundation)…

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