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Cohen’s Statement on the Memphis VA Medical Center Rating

December 7, 2016

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen today released the following statement on the announcement that the Memphis VA Medical Center received a 1-out-of-5-star performance rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

“When I first learned of the Memphis VA Medical Center’s poor rating in November, I wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin expressing concerns about the hospital,” said Congressman Cohen. “Both the low rating and lack of a dedicated and permanent director are unacceptable and likely interrelated. I urged Dr. Shulkin to use recruitment rewards and incentives to get the very best director for the Memphis VA Medical Center. I personally spoke with then-Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to get Dr. Jay Robinson transferred from Dublin, Georgia to Memphis in 2009 after I learned of his high regard from my colleague Congressman Jim Marshall of Georgia. Unfortunately, Dr. Robinson was recruited to be the CEO of Methodist South Hospital in Memphis, and we haven’t had sufficient leadership since. Quality care for our veterans and veteran hospitals begins with permanent and highly regarded leadership, and I will continue to work with the current and future Administrations to this end.”