Brickbat: Sorry, Wrong Number

Brad Calkins / Dreamstime.com

Greg Hughes, former director of the federal Veterans Affairs Veterans Crisis Line, says that more than one-third of calls to the suicide prevention number go unanswered because of poor work habits by those manning the lines and other problems. Hughes says that many hotline workers leave before their shifts are over.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

The House on Monday unanimously approved a bill requiring the VA to ensure that all telephone calls, text messages and other communications received by the crisis line are answered in a timely manner by an appropriately qualified person.

Or else what?

[Rat's voting Chipper-Shredder]

Congress will stamp their meal card no dessert.

[gaoxiaen]

They have to do posthumous return calls.

[The Fusionist]

Who was the tasteless joker who said that the suicide hotline should play this while the caller is on hold?

[Rat's voting Chipper-Shredder]

Shenseki?

[Suthenboy]

"...the tasteless joker..."

Dude, this is H&R. Wanna narrow that down a bit?

[gaoxiaen]

It's a big tent.

[Swiss Servator]

GP Large.

[C. Anacreon]

Alternating with this, no doubt.

[Cynical Asshole]

That might have been me.

[Cynical Asshole]

I'll proudly take credit for it anyway.

[Rat's voting Chipper-Shredder]

If I hang up on a call I shorten the wait list.

[The Hyperbole ((Very Tall))]

This was addressed way back in February. Surely, the VA has this well under control by now. I mean, you don't get to be a big time administrator without taking care of problems like this in a timely fashion.

[Suthenboy]

If I recall correctly, Obumbles swore to make fixing the VA a priority...when he campaigned in '08. It's all good now.

[Adans smith]

He meant he'd make all medical care like the V.A. .I'd say he's on track.

[Adans smith]

Morning,Just a little sample of what medical care will be like if Hillary and her kind get their way.

[Suthenboy]

Single payer for the win?

[gaoxiaen]

You got it upside down. It's NIM.

[C. Anacreon]

NIM = Nip Inflation Meow.

[Radioactive]

NIM = No Interest Meh

[straffinrun]

Obama, just called VA
Put a gun against my head
Dialed the hotline, line was dead
Obama, life had just begun,
But now I've gone and thrown all day away.

Obama, ooh,
Didn't mean to make you cry,
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow,
Hillary on, Hillary on. At this point what difference does it matter?

[Adans smith]

=1 I assume your drinking

[straffinrun]

I apologize for that and will not blame this here delicious beverage.

[Swiss Servator]

APOLOGIZE FOR NOTHING!

[Radioactive]

delicious beverages all around!

[UnCivilServant]

I skimmed too fast and read your handle as part of the comment.

Radioactive delicious beverages all around!

Mmmm... ionizing particles.

[Radioactive]

Strontium 90 or Cesium add a nice tang to your hi-ball!

[UnCivilServant]

That is not a good philosophy.

Do not appologize to the perpetually aggrieved, but think about it when dealing with reasonable people.

[Adans smith]

That was meant to be a plus ,I haven't had enough coffee yet. And never apologize ,it is a sign of weakness.

[Michael Hihn's Mama]

Michael Hihn knows how to fix the VA.

[straffinrun]

*snicker*

[Jerryskids]

Many hotline workers leave before their shift is over? You know, most places you make a habit of leaving early they tell you not to bother coming back. How the hell is this a problem?

[Suthenboy]

I worked for the state for a decade. It was almost impossible to get fired. One of the few things you could get fired for without hesitation was stealing. Leaving before your shift was over was considered stealing time and they would can your ass in a second for it. I guess the Feds don't see it that way.

[UnCivilServant]

Here, it's leaving and not charging leave time counts as falsifying timecards, which is a firable offense (and possibly a criminal one if the amount gets high enough).

[CZmacure]

I started to laugh at this and then realized it was just really really sad.

[Billy Bones]

Are those answering (or not) the phones government employees? Nuff said.

[josh]

could save money by making them automated.

[chanyuan]

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