Acting VA chief vows to get U.S. veterans into clinics, stop abuses

By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The acting chief of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday pledged to swiftly address medical scheduling abuses at the agency and get thousands of veterans off waiting lists and into clinics for care. VA Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson, who took over after Eric Shinseki resigned on Friday over the care delay scandal, said he would swiftly address the misconduct or mismanagement that led to cover-ups of long appointment delays for veterans. "VA's first priority is to get all Veterans off waiting lists and into clinics while we address the underlying issues that have been impeding Veterans' access to healthcare," Gibson said in a statement. "The president has made clear that this is his expectation." President Barack Obama appointed Gibson to take over the sprawling healthcare and benefits agency while the White House searches for a permanent replacement for Shinseki.