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Last updated 8:51 am CT February 09, 2010.
Illinois Lawmakers Take the Marion VA to Washington
Marion VA two years after major surgeries were halted because of a string of deaths attributed to poor care.
Lawmakers who represent Southern Illinois say that's unacceptable.
Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, Congressmen John Shimkus and Jerry Costello and Governor Pat Quinn were all in on the meeting in Washington Wednesday morning.
They sat down with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinkseki on Capitol Hill.
The lawmakers say Shinkseki agreed to send a high-level quality management team to Marion.
That group will assess the problems at the VA hospital.
The Secretary also assured lawmakers he is making the issue a personal priority.
This latest audit found quality of care at Marion remains substandard.
Among the findings that surgeons were performing procedures they weren't authorized to do.
Senator Dick Durbin says they will make good on thier promise, "When we promise our vets we're gonna stand behind them when they come home, we mean we're gonna stand behind them with the very best medical care and sadly at Marion they've fallen short of that mark."
Durbin says the hospital faces a challenge finding key surgical personnel because of Marion's rural location and the volume of surgeries performed there.
Governor Pat Quinn says the group discussed possible alliances with medical schools like SIU and the University of Illinois.
"We want to make sure Marion is top notch healthcare for veterans and if necessary we'll appeal to people of Illinois to help provide that expert service," says Quinn.
The leaders say Secretary Shinseki promised to report back to them on the situation at the Marion VA in six weeks.
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