Groaners, Part 2

 An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the medicine man. After a brief examination, the
medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to ! bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, ‘The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on.’

 A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register.
His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official who apologized profusely saying, ‘I must have
taken Leif off my census.’

 There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deer skin, one slept on an elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant, and the first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.

 A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal brujo who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the brujo looked him in the eye and said, ‘Let me tell you, with fronds like these, who needs enemas?’

COVID 19, COVID 20, DO I HEAR COVID 21?

OK FOLKS, IT'S GETTING REAL OUT THERE. UP UNTIL TODAY I DID NOT KNOW ANYONE WITH THIS NASTY BUGGER. GOT NEWS OF THREE PEOPLE I KNOW ARE GONE OR WILL BE BY THE WEEKEND. DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE.

VA Facilities Continue to Hide Doctors' Misconduct, Probes Find

29 Jul 2020
Military.com | By Patricia Kime
Borrowed from Military.com and is copyright by them.

MY COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS

AS A VETERAN THIS REALLY PULLS MY CHAIN. I HAVE TERRIFIC DOCTORS AT THE VA THAT ARE CARING AND GOOD AT THEIR JOBS. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT I WOULD NOT BE AROND TODAY WITHOUT THEM.

THE THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL AMERICANS (VETERANS FOR SURE) ABOUT THE KIND OF CARE THAT IS GIVEN TO VETERANS. SPEAK OUT. IT IS NOT A RACIAL THING, IT IS NOT A FINANCIAL THING, IT IS THE APATHY AND UNCARING, UNEDUCATED MANAGEMENT THAT DO NOT FOLLOW PROCEDURES.

DO WE NEED ANOTHER GROUP OUT IN THE STREET SHOUTING "VETERANS LIVES MATTER"? I THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY. OUR LIVES ARE NOT SO FULL AND BUSY THAT WE CAN'T TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE, EMAIL OR CALL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TELL THEM TO DO BETTER.

A Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Richmond, Virginia, rehired a pathologist who had been previously fired for failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing cancer in at least a dozen patients, the VA Office of Inspector General reported Wednesday.

None of the incidents were reported as adverse events to patient safety officials at the facility, the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, including one involving a patient whose misdiagnosis caused their condition to worsen, later requiring advanced medical treatment.

The report is the second in two days from the VA OIG to expose physician failures at VA hospitals that went unchecked by administrators. On Tuesday, the VA OIG released a report finding that the department took nine months to fire an emergency room contract physician who, after deciding a patient was "malingering" and "ranting," called VA police to have the patient escorted off property and said they could go "shoot [themselves]. I do not care."

The veteran died by suicide six days later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.


In 2017, the Government Accountability Office reported that VA medical center officials regularly failed to investigate complaints lodged against providers or waited months to look into allegations.

The report also found that when the VA revoked doctors' privileges, officials often failed to inform state licensing boards or a national database, allowing the doctors to practice elsewhere. The VA also sometimes reached settlements with physicians that allowed them to resign in exchange for not reporting their errors.

In subsequent congressional hearings on the issue, VA officials pledged to address the problems, including reporting adverse actions at the state and national levels.

But the OIG report released Wednesday indicates that hospital officials continue to engage in cover-ups.

According to the report, the hospital's Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services chief wasn't even aware of the VA's requirement to report the misdiagnoses to higher-ups. Senior officials also weren't aware they were supposed to participate in a state licensing review board process following the incidents.

The physician was fired but appealed the termination. In March 2019, the doctor was rehired, and clinical privileges were restored. As of last September, the physician continued to work at Hunter Holmes McGuire as an investigation was ongoing into his or her ability to turn around surgical readings in a timely manner.

Likewise, at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center, officials failed to dismiss the physician, a contractor, who verbally abused the suicidal veteran even though other employees reported the incident and the doctor had been the subject of other reports of "verbal misconduct."

The report noted that the doctor remained as a physician at the VA because reviews found his or her care of patients to be sufficient.

The Washington, D.C., VA eventually ended the physician's contract, according to the report.

President Donald Trump frequently touts changes that his administration has made to "fix" the VA, including accountability legislation approved in 2017 that accelerated the process for firing workers for misconduct or poor performance, as well as shortening the time employees have for processing appeals.

"I signed the VA Accountability Act into law, and we've removed more than 9,000 VA workers who were not giving our veterans the care, respect, attention that they've earned. And now that we have accountability -- it's 'accountability;' a very nice word -- if an employee of the government mistreats our veterans in any way, does something wrong, isn't good for the VA, the secretary looks at them and says, "You're fired. Get out," Trump said in a speech June 17 to introduce his plan for reducing veteran suicides.

The OIG reports this week, however, indicate that the VA still struggles to hold physicians accountable and to protect veteran patients or the public, in cases of physicians who go on to practice at civilian facilities after leaving the department.

In Richmond, VA officials failed to conduct a state licensing board review and in Washington, D.C., the doctor was never reported to the state and national boards that record physician misconduct.

"Facility leaders did not report [the Washington, D.C.] physician to the State Licensing Board or National Practitioner Data Bank. Although facility leaders did not conduct a formal investigation, they removed [the physician] from the VA contract ... and therefore, facility leaders had a duty to report," the VA OIG wrote.

"Neither the former Facility Director nor the Chief of Staff completed all elements of a [VA]-required review upon discovery of the subject pathologist's 'egregious performance,'" the VA OIG wrote.

Groaners, Part 1

 Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. However, all the Swiss league
records were unfortunately destroyed in a fire, and we’ll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

 King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great
possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went
to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan. Croesus said, ‘I’ll give you 100,000 dinars for it.’ ‘But I paid a million dinars for it,’ the King protested. ‘Don’t you know who I am? I am the king!’ Croesus replied, ‘When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are.’

 A man rushed into a busy doctor’s office and shouted ‘Doctor! I think I’m shrinking!!’ The doctor calmly
responded, ‘Now, settle down. You’ll just have to be a little patient.’

 A marine biologist developed a race of genetically engineered dolphins that could live forever if they were fed a steady diet of seagulls. One day, his supply of the birds ran out so he had to go out and trap some more. On the way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road. Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.

 Back in the 1800s the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products and, since
they already made the cases for watches, they used them to produce compasses. The new compasses were so
bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This, of course, is the origin of the expression, ‘He who has a Tates is lost!’

 A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the toilets and urinals, leaving no clues. A spokesperson was quoted as saying, ‘We have absolutely nothing to go on.’

Why I Like Retirement

 Number of days in a week: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday

 Bedtime: Three hours after falling asleep on the couch.

 Biggest gripe: There is not enough time to get everything done.

 Benefit of being called a senior: The term comes with a 10% discount.

 What is considered formal attire: Tied shoes.

 Why do retirees count pennies: They are the only ones who have the time.

 Common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire: NUTS!

 Reason retirees are so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage: They know that as soon as
they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

 What retirees call a long lunch: Normal.

 Best way to describe retirement: The never ending Coffee Break.

 Biggest advantage of going back to school: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

 What do retirees do all week: Monday through Friday, NOTHING. Saturday & Sunday they rest.

 Why doing nothing is hard work: You never know when you're done.

Thought of the Week

Thought of the Week

Those who stand for nothing (will) fall for anything.


Alexander Hamilton

Military Life Then (1945) & Now (2020)

1945 - NCO's had a typewriter on their desks for doing daily reports.
2020 - Everyone has an internet access computer, and they wonder why no work is getting done.

1945 - We painted pictures of girls on airplanes to remind us of home.
2020 - They put the real thing in the cockpit.

1945 - Your girlfriend was at home praying you would return alive.
2020 - She is in the same trench praying your condom worked.

1945 - If you got drunk off duty your buddies would take you back to the barracks to sleep it off.
2020 - If you get drunk they slap you in rehab and ruin your career.

1945 - You were taught to aim at your enemy and shoot him.
2020 - You spray 500 bullets into the brush, don't hit anything, and retreat because you're out of ammo.

1945 - Canteens were made of steel, and you could heat coffee or hot chocolate in them.
2020 - Canteens are made of plastic, you can't heat anything in them, and they always taste like plastic.

1945 - Officers were professional soldiers first and they commanded respect.
2020 - Officers are politicians first and beg not to be given a wedgie.

1945 - They collected enemy intelligence and analyzed it.
2020 - They collect your pee and analyze it.

1945 - If you didn't act right, the Sergeant Major put you in the brig until you straightened up.
2020 - If you don't act right, they start a paper trail that follows you forever.

1945 - Medals were awarded to heroes who saved lives at the risk of their own.
2020 - Medals are awarded to people who work at headquarters.

1945 - You slept in barracks like a soldier.
2020 - You sleep in a dormitory like a college kid.

1945 - You ate in a mess hall, which was free, and you could have all the food you wanted.
2020 - You eat in a dining facility, every slice of bread or pad of butter costs, and you better not take too much.

1945 - We defeated powerful countries like Germany and Japan.
2020 - We come up short against Iraq and Afghanistan.

1945 - If you wanted to relax, you went to the rec center, played pool, smoked and drank beer.
2020 - You go to the community center, and you can play pool.

1945 - If you wanted beer and conversation you went to the NCO or Officers' Club.
2020 - The beer will cost you $2.75, membership is required, and someone is watching how much you drink.

1945 - The Exchange had bargains for soldiers who didn't make much money and accepted returned merchandise.
2020 - You can get better and cheaper merchandise at Walmart. But don’t try to return anything until after the pandemic is over.

1945 - We could recognize the enemy by their Nazi helmets.
2020 - We are wearing the Nazi helmets.

1945 - We called the enemy names like "Krauts" and "Japs" because we didn't like them.
2020 - We call the enemy the "opposing force" or "aggressor" because we don't want to offend them.

1945 - Victory was declared when the enemy was defeated and all his things were broken.
2020 - We haven’t a clue as to what victory is or what it takes to achieve it.

1945 - A commander would put his butt on the line to protect his people.
2020 - A commander will put his people on the line to protect his butt.

1945 - Wars were planned and run by generals who knew how to fight and win.
2020 - Wars are planned by politicians who haven’t a clue about fighting or winning.

1945 - We were fighting for freedom, and the country was committed to winning.
2020 - We don't know what we're fighting for, and the government is committed to social programs and political correctness. Now our real enemy is global
warming and politics.

1945 - All you could think about was getting out and becoming a civilian again.
2020 - All you can think about is getting out and becoming a civilian again.

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