Veterans' home staff, residents blast report

BRISTOL — Nurses and staff at the Rhode Island Veterans' Home, as well as an attorney for its former nursing director, last week angrily rebuked a report about the home that was prepared by a legislative commission formed to study the home's administration and patient care.

About 50 people attended the meeting, held last Friday at the Metacom Avenue facility. The meeting ended with the president of the veterans' home's Family Council, Kathy Gineo, repeatedly questioning the chairman of the commission, mental health advocate H. Reed Cosper.

"I would like to know why our comments were not included in your report," she said, adding that she found the commission's interim report, released in November 2007, unfair.

"[Former nursing director] Jan Markoff did the best job that she could do. Not one word of that was in your report."

When pressed for an answer, Mr. Cosper refused to give one, and the crowd, mostly comprised of nurses and staff at the home, began to boo. A woman then stood and yelled, "You need to go away, now!"

The outburst capped off an hour of emotional and sometimes angry testimony by administrators, family members and veterans.

The commission's past reports have recommended widespread changes to the home's administration, based on testimony from families and employees about the lack of a clear chain of command and cronyism in hiring.

Angry backlash

The meeting started with a presentation by former Rhode Island Attorney General Arlene Violet, who is now representing Mrs. Markoff. She said her client has received a "hatchet job" despite five exonerations and a petition in support of her with 66 signatures, which was not allowed into evidence by the commission.

"I believe that the five reports should be in your final report," Mrs. Violet said.

However, when asked to see the reports by the commission, Mrs. Violet said they contained confidential patient records and said she would have to see if they could be released.

She added, "Fundamental fairness dictates that you should have gotten her side." Mrs. Markoff refused to comment for earlier Bristol Phoenix stories about the veterans' home.

Mrs. Violet said the commission's efforts were based on the testimony of the Crowley family, who have protested the treatment of their father, the late veteran Raymond Parent, in the last months of his life.

"The Crowley family continues to press their vendetta," Mrs. Violet said.

Carolyn Crowley, Mr. Parent's daughter, denied Mrs. Violet's claim, and said she was never interviewed for the reports that allegedly exonerate Mrs. Markoff.

"It was always, 'I don't know about that, I'll have to look into it,'" she said. "I feel I was bullied, that I was threatened."

Dr. Frederic Reamer, a social work professor at Rhode Island College and a member of the commission, asked Mrs. Violet why commissioners had received such mixed reports from private and public testimony about Mrs. Markoff's performance. Mrs. Violet said her client had to establish various protocols at the home, upsetting some entrenched staff and residents in the process.

"When she came to this institution seven years ago, there were no protocols," Mrs. Violet said. "Sir, nobody can please all of people all of the time."

Bill Camara, the acting associate director of the state's Department of Veterans' Affairs, was asked by commission member Marguerite Peruto about the leadership changes at the home since the last meeting. Mr. Camara replied that the commission had done more harm than good, eliciting a round of applause from the nurses in attendance.

"I think the intent was incredibly negative," he said. "There was some malice involved and some intent, and it affected everyone in this facility."

Mrs. Peruto then asked who would be making the decision about the next administrator to be hired at the home. Mr. Camara said there would be a hiring committee formed of non-home employees who would recommend a candidate, and the final decision would be made by himself and Gary Alexander, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

At this point, a veteran who identified himself only as Bruce stood up and started yelling at the panel, asking by what authority they criticized the home, especially since none of them were veterans. Attempts by Mr. Cosper to regain order were ignored, and the man continued.

"Not one of you have the right to decide what goes on in this house," he said. "You were appointed by politicians."

He added, "You're so interested in taking these jobs. I hate politicians and bean counters, and you're both."

JoAnn Teixeira, a member of the home's union, said none of her comments appeared in the interim report.

"Not one of my god**** comments was brought up," she said. "You people have broken this team up. This place does not need this commission to dog us anymore."

By Stephen Greenwell

sgreenwell@eastbaynewspapers.com

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