Phoenix Hospital Chief Sacked in VA Scandal

The Department of Veterans Affairs has officially terminated Sharon Helman, the director of the hospital where the agency's largest scandal first came to light this summer.

Helman was the director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System. She had been on paid leave for nearly six months.

Investigations revealed employees at her hospital lied about wait times for veteran patients being treated for a number of serious illnesses, like cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.

VA Secretary Robert McDonald said Helman's dismissal comes as part of the agency's mission to hold those in authority accountable and ensure the nation's veterans get safe, quality care.

"Lack of oversight and misconduct by VA leaders runs counter to our mission of serving veterans, and VA will not tolerate it," McDonald said in a statement late Monday. "We depend on VA employees and leaders to put the needs of veterans first."