LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Arkansas Veterans Home Administrator, Janet Levine, has been terminated following an investigation into complaints by employees and residents.
The Arkansas Veterans Home is supposed to be a place of care. But according to an anonymous employee who wrote this letter to Veterans Affairs, it is far from it.
"The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs terminated Janet Levine, the administrator of the Little Rock home," says Kendall Thornton, VA Public Relations.
She says the letter prompted an investigation into Levine's management. Most of the accusations proved to be false but through the course of the investigation, the VA found other issues.
"It was discovered that Mrs. Levine continued to collect fees from veterans that had a VA disability of 70% or above after a federal rule ended that practice in 2009," says Thornton.
The fees added up $587,000 over the course of three years.Thornton says Levine put that money in the home's general fund but helped herself to medical supplies.
"Mrs. Levine personally used items intended for veterans including lancets and a motorized wheel chair," says Thornton. "She created an environment that was unpleasant and uncomfortable and unfriendly for the staff to come to work."
Thornton also says Levine allowed unauthorized family members to live with her in a home provided by the agency. That violated her lease agreement. Levine now has two weeks to vacate that home.
The agency has notified those veterans that have been affected , stopped their payment and is now working to repay those fees.
Patrisa Burl, the Arkansas Veterans Home business manager has been named interim director until a new director is hired. No word if any charges will be filed.