NUMEROUS PATIENTS WHO NEEDED A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AT ALBUQUERQUE'S V-A MEDICAL CENTER WERE ASSIGNED TO A MEDICAL SUPERVISOR WHO DID NOT TREAT PATIENTS. THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS THAT'S ACCORDING TO VETERANS AFFAIRS RECORDS THAT ALSO SHOW THOSE PATIENTS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE SUPERVISOR UNTIL BEING ASSIGNED TO A DOCTOR. PATIENTS WITH URGENT NEEDS WERE SENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, A WALK-IN CLINIC, OR SQUEEZED INTO A DOCTOR'S SCHEDULE.
THE JOURNAL SAYS STAFF WAS TOLD THE ASSIGNMENTS WERE TO MANAGE THE HIGH INFLUX OF PATIENTS.
