ATTITUDES OF LOCAL VA LEADERSHIP TOWARD THE VA HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM

A nationwide survey of directors, associate directors, and chiefs of s taff of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers was conduc ted to (1) determine the attitudes of these local health care executiv es toward the public's perception of the VA health care system, their own job satisfaction, and the level of job support they receive; and ( 2) assess how these attitudes relate to the stated intention of the lo cal leadership to leave the VA health care system before retirement. A total of 268 responses were analyzed. Significant differences between local executive positions were identified, including a less favorable perception of the public's attitude toward the VA system and less sat isfaction with the VA system by chiefs of staff, and less general job satisfaction and satisfaction with the local VA facility by associate directors. Variables related to public perception, job satisfaction, a nd job support were significant predictors of plans for each group to leave the VA; 34 to 49 percent of the variance in a multiple linear re gression model could be explained by these factors.