On March 14, veterans gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate against President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s proposed cuts of over 70,000 positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as photographed by Kayla Bartkowski for Getty Images. Concerns are rising among VA staff, especially those involved in telehealth services, about the lack of office space, which could impinge on medical ethics and patient privacy, according to VA clinicians and advocates who spoke with NPR.
The VA, having employed numerous clinicians like mental health therapists remotely, now intends for these telehealth services to continue from VA facilities in an arrangement detailed by leaders as similar to a call center. Many employees, however, including a mental health clinician referred to only as H, have voiced worries about insufficient office space. H noted that reuse of storage areas like closets is being considered, and there are discussions about acquiring headsets.
This sentiment was echoed by other mental health providers, who argue that maintaining patient privacy for telehealth in open spaces, even with advanced headsets, seems impracticable. VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz dismissed these privacy concerns, describing them as “nonsensical” and emphasized a shift away from remote work being the routine for VA employees.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates the safeguarding of patient privacy, a standard that clinicians expect the VA to uphold. H argued that confidentiality is crucial for effective psychotherapy, a point underscored by Paige, a VA physician. Paige highlighted the necessity of privacy for sensitive discussions, such as those concerning sexual health.
Kayla Williams of VoteVets criticized the policy changes as inconsistent with the VA’s historic commitment to veteran care, suggesting a focus on departmental downsizing instead. Reports of VA Secretary Doug Collins forecasting significant job reductions have further dampened staff morale, with many employees expressing distress over the changes.
Kasperowicz reassured that space accommodations would be implemented to ensure continued veteran care and compliance with HIPAA. Veterans have a higher likelihood of suicide compared to the general population, prompting the VA’s recent increase in mental health staff by more than 50 percent. However, wait times for appointments can still extend to 45 days.
Clinicians remain skeptical of the VA’s assurances and fear regulatory repercussions for providing care under unsuitable conditions. H expressed concern that these changes might lead to staff attrition and compromised veteran care, potentially resulting in more employees leaving the VA. Williams noted a growing sense of despair among VA workers due to these developments.
