On March 9, Dr. Linda Morris, former Chief of Staff of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, discussed innovations in health care and legal issues within the health care industry with Elon Law students. The roundtable was led by Samantha Gillman, '11, and Phillip Clontz, '12, both externing with the Office of Veterans' Affairs Regional Legal Counsel in Winston-Salem, NC.
During the discussion, Morris spoke about her experience with the Veterans Health Administration and changes within the health care system over the last 30 years. Morris pointed to the electronic medical record as something that especially improved the quality of care at VA Medical Centers.
“Making the transition to electronic medical records was a huge change for the VA Medical Centers,” said Morris. “The electronic medical record, in general, really makes the quality of medicine practiced anywhere much better.”
“With the recent passage of the new health care bill, it is more important than ever that law students understand the issues health care is facing and how we can be there to help our clients,” said Gillman. “I especially enjoyed hearing a medical professional’s perspective on working with Regional Counsel for the VA. Understanding the dynamic between doctors/nurses/medical staff and attorneys is important if we are to provide the best representation possible.”
Morris also touched upon legal issues within the health care industry. She explained that the majority of malpractice suits derive from poor bedside manners and lack of documentation.
“When I went to medical school, no classes on legal issues were offered. Now, thanks in large part to regional counsel’s involvement with medical centers, doctors and nurses are more aware of health care legal issues,” explained Morris. “Regional counsel has been extremely important, especially in terms of ethics training — in patient care and especially business practices.”
Dr. Morris has over 31 years of experience in the Department of Veterans Affairs. From 1993 to 1996 she served as the Assistant Chief for Medical Service, Ambulatory Care for the Washington DC VA Medical Center. From 1996 until 2002, she worked at the Memphis VA Medical Center, first as Director of the Women’s Health Clinic and then as the Chief of General Internal Medicine and Administrative Medicine. Most recently, Morris guided the Martinsburg VA Medical Center as the Chief of Staff.
“The health care panel was a great opportunity to empower students on the ever-evolving area of health law,” said Clontz. “The luxury of having Dr. Linda Morris, a former Chief of Staff with the VA, within our Elon network allowed students to gauge the true risks and rewards in the field of medicine, and how we, as future attorneys, might be better prepared to operate in such settings. The discussion was truly insightful and engaging for students.“
The Veterans Health Administration is home to the United States’ largest integrated health care system consisting of 153 medical centers, in addition to numerous community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliaries. These health care facilities provide comprehensive care to over 5.5 million veterans each year.
By Danielle Appelman, L’12