EFL:The Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday it is scrapping a hospital's troubled new computer system because of problems that have delayed surgeries, prompted congressional investigations and led to the resignation of several top officials.
| With full benefits, I'm sure. |
The agency is phasing out Bay Pines VA Medical Center's use of the computer system called the Core Financial and Logistics System, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi said in a statement. The system was in use at the hospital as a pilot project to see how it worked before it was expanded to the rest of the VA system nationwide.
| I'll wager it's another case of building a unique computer system insted of buying a proven off-the-shelf system. Been there, argued against that, lost, proven right. |
Principi said Bay Pines will return to its previous computer system in October. A committee of senior VA officials will make recommendations about the program's future, he said.
| Yeah, you saw that one coming didn't you? |
An agency spokesman said he could not say whether any money spent on the failed system would be recovered.
| That would be "no". Like I said, been there, done that. |
The total project was to have cost $472 million.
| That'll buy a awful lot of proven software. Well, it would have. |
The computer system was installed last fall at Bay Pines as the first test site. Bay Pines is the fifth busiest hospital in the VA system and officials later conceded they never should have tested the system there. Hospital employees were not fully trained in the system, and difficulty in using it led to suppliers not being paid, a shortage of surgical supplies and delays for some operations.
Five VA officials, including the hospital's chief of staff, have quit or been reassigned since February due to problems at Bay Pines.
| Ah, reassigned to some other lucky hospital. |
Congressional investigators found the company awarded the contract for the system, BearingPoint, was paid more than $200,000 as an incentive bonus for keeping the Bay Pines computer project on schedule even though employees were not properly trained to use it. BearingPoint officials declined to comment Tuesday. |