1. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 03-26-2007 #3 -- FAMILIES AND STAFF SHARE WHAT WENT WRONG AT ARIZONA VETERAN HOME -- During what was supposed to be a routine inspection, officials found such poor care at the facility that they demanded immediate corrections.nf032607-3.htm
... Feb. 20, saying that knowing Chorpenning's relative worked for her undermined her position. She said Chorpenning talked her out of resigning. On Saturday, Chorpenning said the relative is his wife's second or third cousin. Chorpenning said he met him only a couple ... rod" for criticism from Corbin, Chorpenning said. Chorpenning, a Vietnam veteran who has been ... years ago as an administrative intern, Chorpenning said. The problems went beyond Chorpenning's relatives, Corbin said.... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAR07/nf032607-3.htm
... For background on the problems surrounding Patrick Chorpenning, use our search engine .. .../sessearch. php?q=chorpenning&op=and --- ... announced Thursday. The indictment of Patrick Chorpenning Sr., 62, was announced ... the Office of the Auditor General. Chorpenning faces eight felony charges, including four ... auditor general's investigation found that Chorpenning authorized the use of more than $ ...000 in nursing home renovations coordinated by Chorpenning's wife and portions of her ... 35 percent raise, the report says Chorpenning directed the nursing home's administrator ... it was his belief that Mr. Chorpenning stopped acting in the interest of the... http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfnov09/nf112009-7.htm
3. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 05-12-2007 #4 -- FORMER ARIZONA VETS HOME DIRECTOR RIPS GOVERNOR, MEDIA, LEGISLATURE -- "Everybody made it into Walter Reed and my one-legged butt was thrown under the train."nf051207-4.htm
... state Department of Veterans' Services said today. Patrick Chorpenning came out swinging during a legislative hearing Thursday, .... "Everybody made it into Walter Reed," Chorpenning told lawmakers, "and my one-legged ... under the train." Gov. Janet Napolitano removed Chorpenning from some of his duties in late March after ... triggered fines and brought intense media and legislative scrutiny. Chorpenning resigned several days later, saying it was in ... written to ensure that the situation would not recur, Chorpenning said. He said lawmakers overreacted when they suggested ... Republic was about to write a story about it. Chorpenning said he didn't think the governor needed... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAY07/nf051207-4.htm
4. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 03-25-2007 #1 -- VETS IN ARIZONA STATE VETERAN HOME FOUND TO BE NEGLECTED -- A patient's colostomy bag had not been emptied and the patient was left in soiled bedclothes.nf032507-1.htm
...Conditions up there are totally unacceptable," said Pat Chorpenning, director of Veterans' Services. During what ... as far as the veterans home is concerned," Chorpenning said. "I think to a large degree ... the facility could also face fines from the state. Chorpenning said his agency has moved swiftly to fix the ... not getting the proper care that they need," Chorpenning said. They are updating care plans and training ... to have this thing running like a battleship," Chorpenning said. "It's never going to ... in 2004. Then-Gov. Jane Hull hired Chorpenning in 1999, in part to fix problems at... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAR07/nf032507-1.htm
5. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 03-28-2007 #2 -- HEAD OF STATE AGENCY PULLED FROM OVERSIGHT OF ARIZONA VETERANS HOME -- Director faces charges of nepotism after relatives found working at troubled facility.nf032807-2.htm
... the man in charge of the state's Department of Veterans' Services from the daily operations of the troubled state-run nursing home for veterans. Patrick Chorpenning, director of the agency that oversees the home has been removed from running the home which is the state's only long-term care facility for ... Veteran Home, at 4140 N. Third St. in Phoenix. Leonard Kirschner, former head of Arizona's Medicaid program, will head the team. Chorpenning faced charges of nepotism after news broke that his wife worked at the home and a cousin by marriage held a key position at the home. During what... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAR07/nf032807-2.htm
... vets are slipping through the cracks that within 90 days they plan to open a help line. Veterans will get impartial advice from counselors on various topics such as using the Montgomery GI Bill within its 10-year limit. "Veterans get back here and they just have a real tough time functioning," said Patrick Chorpenning, director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services. "There needs to be some type of counseling service in place so they can start gradually rebuilding their sense of self and start enjoying some of the successes of an education." The non-profit service, to be named VETDEC, will operate as... http://www.vawatchdog.org/old newsflashes OCT 06/newsflash10-13-2006-9.htm
... to job in low-paying sectors such as the state's service industry. Especially vulnerable are veterans who lack a college education or much work experience before they enrolled in the service. "I think that people believe the government takes care of its veterans, but it always doesn't," said Patrick Chorpenning, director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services. "The system works if you make it work, but if (returned veterans) don't know how to make it work, the system becomes a phenomenal sense of frustration." One part of that frustration, especially for enlisted men and women... http://www.vawatchdog.org/old newsflashes AUG 06/newsflash08-19-2006-1.htm
8. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 03-30-2007 #3 -- ARIZONA VETERANS HOME AWAITS CRIMINAL PROBE -- Governor pushes aside charges of cronyism in her choice of firm chosen for home review.nf033007-3.htm
...m a lawyer. I'm the former attorney general of this state. I know almost every lawyer you can know, particularly the ones who specialize in these very difficult issues," she said Also on Wednesday, Napolitano announced the formation of a panel to select a permanent replacement for former Veteran Services Director Patrick Chorpenning, who resigned Tuesday. Richard Maxon, a retired National Guard brigadier general, has been selected as interim director of the department. Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com . --------------- Larry Scott --... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAR07/nf033007-3.htm
9. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 06-08-2007 #2 -- RESTRICTIONS LIFTED ON ARIZONA STATE VETERANS' HOME -- The state home is in compliance with federal and state standards and can again admit new patients.nf060807-2.htm
... residents in jeopardy. The re-inspection found the facility in compliance with federal standards, according to DHS. The original survey conducted by DHS in February on behalf of federal Medicare officials found problems in such areas as patient care, monitoring of smoking and lack of response to call buttons. The former director, Patrick Chorpenning, later said the problems were overblown. The home gets its operating budget from fees paid by various government programs and individual veterans. Lawmakers and Napolitano are moving to include an appropriation for the home in the next state budget. ----------------... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUN07/nf060807-2.htm
10. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 04-01-2007 #3 -- ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S STAFF KNEW OF VETS' HOME PROBLEMS MORE THAN A MONTH AGO -- Official says there may have been a breakdown in communication.nf040107-3.htm
..." But the issue is anything but "over" - especially with the heightened focus on issues of veterans care in the wake of the scandal at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. The Arizona veterans home has already been fined $10,000 stemming from the state investigation, and facility director Patrick Chorpenning resigned this week. A joint legislative committee has been assigned to investigate problems at the home and review oversight at the state veterans department. Despite rampant speculation to the contrary, Gerard said the governor has not asked to resign her position. But she conceded that she's "in a very difficult situation,... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf040107-3.htm
