VA outlines strategy for improving service at Colorado Springs clinic

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it has already implemented changes to improve customer service at its clinic in Colorado Springs.

The clinic has been accused of failing to provide timely care.

The VA says a new leadership team is in place and a new scheduling process has been implemented.

Senator Michael Bennet, Congressman Doug Lamborn and Mayor John Suthers addressed the media outside of the clinic on Centennial Boulevard Friday morning.

All three leaders said they are hopeful that the quality of customer service and patient care at the clinic will improve.

“We have one of the fastest growing veteran populations in the country,” Sen. Bennet said. “Everyone in Colorado wants Colorado to be the best place to be a veteran.”

Lamborn argues it’s past time to hold the feet of VA leaders to the fire.

“The VA has to have a better system of accountability where people that do the wrong things are fired or let go,” Lamborn who sits on the House Veteran Affairs Committee said.

Daniel Warvi, a VA spokesman told KRDO NewsChannel 13 Friday night that the VA was pleased with the meeting and the main goal of all parties involved is to ensure every Colorado veteran gets the timely care he or she needs.

In the last two years since the VA clinic opened, it has seen about a 20 percent uptick in the number of patients.

“I don’t think anybody really predicted the huge input to the Colorado population which included veterans, but we are trying our best.”

Bennet hopes changes at VA facilities across Colorado are now underway.

“We need to make sure we’re actually helping solve problems, we’re getting veterans the access they need to the VA clinics, the Choice program is working for our veterans and that the bureaucracy doesn’t create a nightmare when it comes to veterans health care.”