Tillis, Rouzer call for an investigation into Fayetteville VA Medical Center

Congressional representatives are calling for an investigation into the Fayetteville VA Medical Center and its Prosthetics Services department.

Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. David Rouzer, both Republicans representing North Carolina, have called for Denis McDonough, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to mount an investigation into the quality of care patients receive. The request came about after a question arose concerning unpaid invoices for prosthetic vendors during a call between Congressional staff members and the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, Tillis and Rouzer wrote in the Friday letter.

"There has been an apparent lack of attention to timely and empathetic care delivery for amputee veterans, overburdensome bureaucratic processes, and poor communication among staff and leadership that have created an environment where veterans' quality of life has been diminished, taking a toll on their personal relationships and mental health," the letter said.

Previously reported: 'Move forward and do better': Lawmakers grill Veterans Affairs over Fayetteville vet home

During the call, Fayetteville VA staff stated that it was the first time they had been informed of any outstanding debts owed prosthetics vendors, the letter said.

"Veterans should not have to put their lives on hold for multiple months or years waiting for the VA to deliver them a well-functioning prosthetic. We hope to work with you to ensure that the Fayetteville VAMC is a facility where all veterans in the North Carolina coastal region can proudly seek healthcare," Tillis and Rouzer wrote.

Read more: Fayetteville veterans answered the call. Let’s build them something nice.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Tillis, Rouzer: Investigate Fayetteville VA Medical Center