蜘蛛池流量统计方法|【唯一TG:@heimifeng8】|飞机盗号软件VIP破解技术✨谷歌搜索留痕排名,史上最强SEO技术,20年谷歌SEO经验大佬✨VA mental health therapists’ script: ‘I cannot guarantee complete confidentiality’ : Shots

Panic, fear, uncertainty, and anger.

Those are the emotions mental health clinicians who work for the US Department of Veterans Affairs describe as they prepare for the VA's mandatory return-to-office directive. Some are being summoned to offices as soon as Monday, April 14. Representatives from the VA say they are planning to have the back-to-office effort completed by May 5.

Shots - Health News

Trump's policies are destabilizing mental health care for veterans, sources say

For this story, NPR interviewed ten clinicians in VA locations around the country, the majority of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were afraid of losing their jobs. Days before the April 14 return-to-office deadline, many were still unclear about the expectations for return dates. Some had received last minute changes or delays for reporting to an office.

In a memo obtained by NPR, regional leadership at one VA facility offered a script for its therapists to read to patients. "Before we begin our session, I want to inform you that I am currently in a shared office space," reads the script. "While I will do my utmost to maintain your privacy, I cannot guarantee complete confidentiality."

These directives come after the VA indicated it would cut about 80,000 staff in a massive restructuring effort. A widely circulated leaked memo, first obtained by the Associated Press, outlines the effort. In a video addressing the cuts, VA Secretary Doug Collins suggested the agency would eliminate waste and that the "the days of kicking the can down the road are over." He offered reassurance that VA benefits would not be impacted and that the VA "regrets anyone who loses their job."

Politics

Doug Collins, Trump's nominee to lead the VA, vows to work across the aisle to help vets

Telehealth hires

Many VA therapists were hired on a telehealth basis and point out that there simply is not space for them to work at VA facilities. They are anticipating confusion and congestion around issues such as parking, bathroom use and adequate kitchen facilities to reheat their lunches.

But the primary concern for therapists is whether they will be able to deliver quality care to their patients in an environment without confidentiality.

In emails and meetings, VA managers described to VA mental health staff "pod" working environments, where clinicians work with headphones in a call-center like configuration to provide telehealth. In one recording obtained by NPR, a manager in a teleconference meeting acknowledged that it was inevitable therapy sessions would be overheard and exhorted people not to share any confidential information.