Respectfully, Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Thanks, Dr. Lehman.

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Dwain Palmer
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1 From: Nicole Corace Subject: Fwd: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Corace Discharge Date: June 20, 2015 at 4:01 AM To: I have to put what happened in the meeting-which was a waste of time- in a proper format. Thanks for your work Nicole Sent from my iphone Begin forwarded message: From: "Marquez, Simon@CalVet" <Simon.Marquez@calvet.ca.gov> Date: June 19, 2015 at 1:02:17 PM PDT To: Sister Corace <nicolecorace@me.com>, Sister Corace <nicolecorace@icloud.com> Cc: "Marquez, Simon@CalVet" <Simon.Marquez@calvet.ca.gov> Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Please read below.. Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on Begin forwarded message: From: "Chamberlain, Jessica J." <Jessica.Chamberlain@va.gov> Date: June 19, 2015 at 12:54:36 PM PDT To: "Lehman, David" <David.Lehman@va.gov>, "Marquez, Simon@CalVet" <Simon.Marquez@calvet.ca.gov> Cc: "Gering, Jeffrey T." <Jeffrey.Gering@va.gov>, "Baxi, Sunita C." <Sunita.Baxi@va.gov>, "Abair, Cynthia E." <Cynthia.Abair@va.gov>, "Poche, Tricia P." <Tricia.Poche@va.gov> Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Thanks, Dr. Lehman. Simon, Dr. Lehman and Tricia Poche (social worker) are available to meet today at 4pm. Conference room 4003 is available for the meeting, it is on the fourth floor. Tricia will meet you, the Veteran and family on the fourth floor by the elevators and take to you to the conference room. Jessica Chamberlain, LCSW Chief, Social Work Service Office From: Lehman, David Sent: Friday, June 19, :43 PM To: Marquez, Simon@CalVet; Chamberlain, Jessica J. Cc: Gering, Jeffrey T.; Baxi, Sunita C.; Abair, Cynthia E.; Poche, Tricia P. Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge

2 Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge I m willing to come back in for a meeting. Where do you want to meet? From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet [mailto:simon.marquez@calvet.ca.gov] Sent: Friday, June 19, :55 AM To: Chamberlain, Jessica J. Cc: Lehman, David; Gering, Jeffrey T.; Baxi, Sunita C.; Abair, Cynthia E.; Poche, Tricia P.; Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge I think it's our best chance at a quick remedy! Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on On Jun 19, 2015, at 11:53 AM, Chamberlain, Jessica J. <Jessica.Chamberlain@va.gov> wrote: Dr. Lehman & Dr. Baxi are either of you available today at 4? Social Work can be available. Jessica Chamberlain, LCSW Chief, Social Work Service Office From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet [mailto:simon.marquez@calvet.ca.gov] Sent: Friday, June 19, :26 AM To: Lehman, David Cc: Chamberlain, Jessica J.; Gering, Jeffrey T.; Baxi, Sunita C.; Abair, Cynthia E.; Poche, Tricia P.; Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge The daughter just informed me she will be in the area at 4 pm today. Can we get this done? Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division

3 Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on On Jun 19, 2015, at 8:26 AM, Lehman, David wrote: Noon Original Message----- From: Marquez, Sent: Friday, June 19, :16 AM To: Chamberlain, Jessica J. Cc: Gering, Jeffrey T.; Lehman, David; Baxi, Sunita C.; Abair, Cynthia E.; Poche, Tricia P.; Marquez, Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Monday would be a better option, so I can give the family a short lead time. Sent from my ipad On Jun 19, 2015, at 7:52 AM, Chamberlain, Jessica J. <Jessica.Chamberlain@va.gov> wrote: I will call Simon this morning. Dr. Baxi, Dr. Lehman what is your availability for a conference call (per below) for today or Monday? Jessica Chamberlain, LCSW Chief, Social Work Service Office Original Message----- From: Gering, Jeffrey T. Sent: Friday, June 19, :39 AM To: Chamberlain, Jessica J.

4 To: Chamberlain, Jessica J. Cc: Marquez, Abair, Cynthia E. Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Jessica, given the family is in Riverside, Simon is serving as an ombudsman, and the urgency of the situation, I believe setting up a conference call to include Dr. Baxi, Dr. Lehman, the Social Work case manager, Simon and of course the veteran is the best course of action. Please have your staff work to set up a conference call for either today or Monday. Jeff Gering, FACHE Director VA San Diego Healthcare System -----Original Message----- From: Abair, Cynthia E. Sent: Thursday, June 18, :21 PM To: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Cc: Gering, Jeffrey T.; Marquez, Simon@CalVet; Chamberlain, Jessica J. Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Simon, I gave Jessica Chamberlain your contact information today. She is the Chief of Social Work and is coordinating the meeting with the care team and will contact you. Please know that I'm trying my best to facilitate between the members of his inpatient and outpatient care teams and was in contact with Dr. Lehman, psychiatrist, Dr. Baxi, his primary care providers, as well as both the inpatient and outpatient social workers. Not meeting tomorrow during his primary care appointment time may be best anyway since this will allow Dr. Baxi the opportunity to address his medical issues. Otherwise, the family meeting would have consumed this time and Dr. Baxi only had 30 minutes available as she has patients scheduled back to

5 minutes available as she has patients scheduled back to back. Since I will be out of the office tomorrow, I have included Jessica on this so that she is aware. We will continue to work to resolve this. Thanks Simon. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Original Message From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Sent: Thursday, June 18, :19 PM To: Abair, Cynthia E. Cc: Gering, Jeffrey T.; Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Cindy, The family cannot be there prior to 4 pm., as we previously discussed. They are coming from the Riverside area. Besides, how was Mr. Corace supposed to keep that appointment if he was being shipped back to a homeless status, in Hawaii? Please help fix this problem. I am trying to get the family to back down from making this public.. We need to act now, while we can still subdue the story, and keep all parties content. Please coordinate a meeting time at the end of your day, with the Veteran's care team. I will make sure the family can attend, with me present. As of now, the daughter has promised to remained civil and not let this story out, until we have given VHA a chance to fix the problem. I am hoping for the best results for both sides. Thank you! Sent from my ipad On Jun 18, 2015, at 4:09 PM, Abair, Cynthia E. <Cynthia.Abair@va.gov> wrote: Simon, I've been in touch with members of the care

6 I've been in touch with members of the care team. Mr. C has a primary care appointment tomorrow at 1:30 pm with Dr. Baxi (on 4 North) and it is suggested that Mr. C's family attend the appointment. Both the inpatient and outpatient social workers will be there, and possibly Dr. Lehman, the psychiatrist who was treating Mr. C while he was an inpatient. The social workers plan to talk to Dr. Baxi in advance of the appointment to provide her with the background. I will not be in the office tomorrow, but I've let them know that you will attend as well. I've let them know that the intent of the meeting is to clarify any miscommunication that transpired previously and to come to an agreement with a plan moving forward. I hope it's a productive meeting and that Mr. C and the family are satisfied as a result. Please let me know how it goes. Thanks Simon Original Message----- From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet [mailto:simon.marquez@calvet.ca.gov] Sent: Thursday, June 18, :13 PM To: Abair, Cynthia E. Cc: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Yes. I will keep the Veteran's family up to date.. The daughter is driving in from Riverside. Respectfully,

7 Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on From: Abair, Cynthia E. Sent: Thursday, June 18, :01 PM To: Marquez, Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge I sent the team a message just now. As soon as I hear back, I will let you know. I will not be in the office tomorrow, so if I don't hear back today, I will follow up on Monday Original Message----- From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet [mailto:simon.marquez@calvet.ca.gov] Sent: Thursday, June 18, :49 PM To: Abair, Cynthia E.

8 To: Abair, Cynthia E. Cc: Marquez, Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge The daughter was livid because as she deplaned in San Diego from a road trip for her employer, she ran into her father in the airport, trying to get around, checking in, getting through security, with a wheelchair, by himself. The Veteran just had surgery and was trying to get on a plane back to Hawaii, where his children found that he was homeless. She cancelled his tickets and removed him from his flight. She is pretty upset that he was discharged without his insulin or syringes, and was being sent back to live on the streets; which is totally the opposite of what he came to California for, in the first place. She has agreed to be civil, and has asked that I be in attendance (it's probably best anyways..). Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell)

9 (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on From: Abair, Cynthia E. Sent: Thursday, June 18, :36 PM To: Marquez, Cc: Marquez, Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge I will reach out to the team. Did he return to Hawaii or is he still here? Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Original Message From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Sent: Thursday, June 18, :31 PM To: Abair, Cynthia E. Cc: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Cindy, I spoke to the Veteran's family (Sam Corace), and they indicated that late

10 Corace), and they indicated that late afternoons are best for a meeting with you and the Veteran's care team. The daughter is waiting for a response from you. Please advise! Thank you. Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs (Direct)/ (Cell) Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on and check us out on From: Abair, Cynthia E. [Cynthia.Abair@va.gov] Sent: Wednesday, June 17, :41 AM To: Marquez, Simon@CalVet

11 Cc: Marquez, Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge I have some additional information that I can provide. I spoke with the psychiatrist that worked with Mr. Corace and his family. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. From: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Sent: Wednesday, June 17, :52 AM To: Abair, Cynthia E. Cc: Marquez, Simon@CalVet Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Corace Discharge Cindy, please read below.. Respectfully, Simon Marquez M.Ed., CPhT Local Interagency Network Coordinator/ Veteran Services Division California Department of Veterans Affairs <tel: > (Direct)/ <tel: > (Cell)

12 v/> Serving Veterans in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Like us on < > and check us out on < Begin forwarded message: From: "Marquez, Date: June 16, 2015 at 10:32:13 PM PDT To: Nicole Corace Cc: Jeff G <jeffreygoldman@gmail.com<mailto:jeffrey goldman@gmail.com>>, Robert Corace <coracer@gmail.com<mailto:coracer@gmai l.com>>, "Marquez, Simon@CalVet" <Simon.Marquez@calvet.ca.gov<mailto:Si mon.marquez@calvet.ca.gov>> Subject: Re: Corace Discharge I am sorry for not answering my phone if you have called. A family member ended up in ICU at Scripps La Jolla, so I have been out, attending to family matters. I should be back in tomorrow (as I cannot be away too long) and will follow up with you! God bless. Sent from my ipad

13 On Jun 16, 2015, at 12:50 PM, Nicole Corace wrote: Good Afternoon Simon, First, I am disappointed that I haven't had a reply from you since last week. It was my understanding you were fully invested in helping my father, Sam Corace. Second, the VA in LA Jolla discharged him today. I couldn't find him and he wouldn't answer his phone. I called the Social Worker, Tricia Poche, she informed me that my father was going to take the 11:30 flight to Honoulu. He has just had surgery, can't walk, and is very mentally ill. She advised me the hospital considered him competent to make decisions for himself. Ironically it was after they had deemed him incompetent and locked him in the psychiatric ward of the VA hospital. I know that dealing with veterans like this is extremely difficult, but people in positions like Tricia are supposed to not give up on them. If there is not a suitable program for him then there need to be one because there are thousands like him out in the streets. I cannot begin to express my deep disappointment with how "his case" has been handled by everyone involved. I will follow up in the future with you, but I do plan to contact anyone who will listen with his story. There is a whole other generation of veterans who have similar issues and there must be a better pool of resources to help them all. No one working for the VA should let this type of thing

14 for the VA should let this type of thing happen to any veteran. They fought for our country and deserve our respect. Respectfully, Nicole M. Corace Sent from my iphone

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