THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON

February 8, 2011

The Honorable Peter DeFazio

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman DeFazio:

Thank you for your co-signed letter regarding the independent review currently
underway at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Roseburg Healthcare System.
Please be assured that no decisions have been made regarding the future of the health
care delivery system in Roseburg, Oregon; nor has Veterans Integrated Service
Network (VISN) 20 influenced the contractor to support any predetermined
conclusions.

Since the study began in June 2010, Booz Allen Hamilton's (BAH) commitment
to obtaining stakeholder input has been emphasized as a critical component of the
process. Stakeholder input has been obtained in a variety of ways, including focus
groups conducted in June with Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community
members and VA staff. The BAH team also visited community hospitals in Roseburg
and Eugene in June. In August, Dr. Kenneth Kizer from BAH visited VA Clinics in
Brookings and North Bend to speak with Veterans, staff and community members. He
also visited community hospitals in both cities and then traveled to the VA Southern
Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City. He concluded this visit with
meetings at Medford's community hospital, the community hospital in Cottage Grove
and at the Portland VA Medical Center.

In addition to the site visits in June and August, two separate stakeholder
comment periods were incorporated into the study, the second of which ended on
January 14. At the request of congressional offices, an additional town hall meeting
was held in Roseburg on January 5 for the purpose of obtaining verbal input as well as
written input. That meeting was attended by over 400 people and the discussion was
robust.

VISN 20 has requested that BAH include in their final report specifics regarding
data collection and projection methods, and the variety of factors that lead to the
universe of options that they will present. BAH has requested additional time to
complete their final report so that they may fully incorporate all stakeholder feedback
and ensure that the concerns raised in your letter have been adequately addressed. As
a result, their final report is now expected in mid-February. Once I receive their report, I
am committed to fully evaluating all options and assuring that we have a health care
delivery system in this area that provides quality, safe and accessible services to our
Veterans.
Page 2.

The Honorable Peter DeFazio

Thank you for your continued support of our mission. A similar response has
been sent to Senators Wyden and Merkley.
 THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON

February 8, 2011

The Honorable Ron Wyden

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Wyden:

Thank you for your co-signed letter regarding the independent review currently
underway at the Department of Veterans Affairs 01A) Roseburg Healthcare System.
Please be assured that no decisions have been made regarding the future of the health
care delivery system in Roseburg, Oregon; nor has Veterans Integrated Service
Network (VISN) 20 influenced the contractor to support any predetermined
conclusions.

Since the study began in June 2010, Booz Allen Hamilton's (BAH) commitment
to obtaining stakeholder input has been emphasized as a critical component of the
process. Stakeholder input has been obtained in a variety of ways, including focus
groups conducted in June with Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community
members and VA staff. The BAH team also visited community hospitals in Roseburg
and Eugene in June. In August, Dr. Kenneth Kizer from BAH visited VA Clinics in
Brookings and North Bend to speak with Veterans, staff and community members. He
also visited community hospitals in both cities and then traveled to the VA Southern
Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City. He concluded this visit with
meetings at Medford's community hospital, the community hospital in Cottage Grove
and at the Portland VA Medical Center.

In addition to the site visits in June and August, two separate stakeholder
comment periods were incorporated into the study, the second of which ended on
January 14. At the request of congressional offices, an additional town hall meeting
was held in Roseburg on January 5 for the purpose of obtaining verbal input as well as
written input. That meeting was attended by over 400 people and the discussion was
robust.

VISN 20 has requested that BAH include in their final report specifics regarding
data collection and projection methods, and the variety of factors that lead to the
universe of options that they will present. BAH has requested additional time to
complete their final report so that they may fully incorporate all stakeholder feedback
and ensure that the concerns raised in your letter have been adequately addressed. As
a result, their final report is now expected in mid-February. Once I receive their report, I
am committed to fully evaluating all options and assuring that we have a health care
delivery system in this area that provides quality, safe and accessible services to our
Veterans.
Page 2.

The Honorable Ron Wyden

Thank you for your continued support of our mission. A similar response has
been sent to Senator Merkley and Congressman DeFazio.

Sincerely,

Eric K. Shinseki
 THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON

February 8, 2011

The Honorable Jeff Merkley

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Merkley:

Thank you for your co-signed letter regarding the independent review currently
underway at the Department of Veterans Affairs 01A) Roseburg Healthcare System.
Please be assured that no decisions have been made regarding the future of the health
care delivery system in Roseburg, Oregon; nor has Veterans Integrated Service
Network 01ISN) 20 influenced the contractor to support any predetermined
conclusions.

Since the study began in June 2010, Booz Allen Hamilton's (BAH) commitment
to obtaining stakeholder input has been emphasized as a critical component of the
process. Stakeholder input has been obtained in a variety of ways, including focus
groups conducted in June with Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community
members and VA staff. The BAH team also visited community hospitals in Roseburg
and Eugene in June. In August, Dr. Kenneth Kizer from BAH visited VA Clinics in
Brookings and North Bend to speak with Veterans, staff and community members. He
also visited community hospitals in both cities and then traveled to the VA Southern
Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City. He concluded this visit with
meetings at Medford's community hospital, the community hospital in Cottage Grove
and at the Portland VA Medical Center.

In addition to the site visits in June and August, two separate stakeholder
comment periods were incorporated into the study, the second of which ended on
January 14. At the request of congressional offices, an additional town hall meeting
was held in Roseburg on January 5 for the purpose of obtaining verbal input as well as
written input. That meeting was attended by over 400 people and the discussion was
robust.

VISN 20 has requested that BAH include in their final report specifics regarding
data collection and projection methods, and the variety of factors that lead to the
universe of options that they will present. BAH has requested additional time to
complete their final report so that they may fully incorporate all stakeholder feedback
and ensure that the concerns raised in your letter have been adequately addressed. As
a result, their final report is now expected in mid-February. Once I receive their report, I
am committed to fully evaluating all options and assuring that we have a health care
delivery system in this area that provides quality, safe and accessible services to our
Veterans.
Page 2.

The Honorable Jeff Merkley

Thank you for your continued support of our mission. A similar response has
been sent to Senator Wyden and Congressman DeFazio.

Eric K. Shinseki