Telephone home
The telephone does not leave a paper trail. The VA insists on using the telephone.
(Under construction)

The VA withheld my medicine. I asked Congressman Ron Barber for help. The VA Director refused to communicate with me because I do not have a telephone, as if the telephone were the only means of communication. I took out my phone to try to get the VA to communicate with me in writing.

The VA Director used my daughter 900 miles away in Sam Francisco to make it appear that my medicine was not stopped. This plants a wedge between me and my dughter. She asked the VA to communicate with her in writng and not by telephone. They refused

"If you contact me again concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone. Thank you."
(Kate Simmons to VA, September 18, 2013)

"Would you please send to me and Mr. Anthony O'Connell copies of these two letters?"
(Kate Simmons to VA, December 6, 2013)

"Please adhere to my September 18, 2013, letter to the Director that said, in part: "If you contact me again
concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone."
(Kate Simmons to VA, December 6, 2013)

1
(VA Director Gardner's letter of June 13, 2013, to Congressman Ron Barber)
"Dear Congressman Barber:
This is in response to your inquiry dated June 3, 2013, on behalf of Mr. Anthony Miner
O'Connell, who contacted your office regarding his medication renewals from the Southern
Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). I asked Ms. Bernadette Schaeffer, Outpatient
Pharmacy Program Manager to review your request.
In reviewing Mr. O'Connell's records it was determined that he does not have a telephone. Ms
Schaeffer did contact his daughter Ms. Kate Simmons on June 7, 2013. Ms. Schaeffer confirmed
that, Mr. O'Connell is receiving medications from the Consolidated Medication Outpatient
Pharmacy and/or the SAVAHCS. He is also receiving medication from the Northern VA Health
Care System (NAVAHCS). Ms Simmons was surprised that her father was still concerned about
his prescriptions, as he had recently told her that he had resolved the issue. Ms. Schaeffer
provided Ms. Simmons with her contact information if any issues with his medication arise.
The SAVAHCS strives to provide quality and compassionate care to all of our Veterans. We are
very concerned with patient care and the satisfaction of the Veterans we serve. If you have any
questions or concerns regarding this letter, please contact Ms. Bernadette Schaeffer at
(520) 792-1450, extension 5394.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Gardner, MPA, FACHE
Director
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

2
June 7, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
"Hi Tony,
Sorry I have been quiet lately - I have been opening an art gallery in North Beach in San Francisco. It is not public and I keep it off Facebook. http://www.glassdoorgallery.com/
Are you ok now with the meds - the VA called me today to check. I can call them back - I was diving but they were nice and said they mailed the meds to you in Green Valley.
Love.
Kate"

3
June 24, 2013 at 12:08 am
Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
"Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>
The VA Called me on my cell phone to discuss patient Anthony O'Connell. The topic was Anthony O'Connell medications. They called me 2 times in a row, I answered the 2nd time while driving. The first ring from the number I did not pick up.
Bernadette asked me my relationship to O'Connell and I replied that I am his daughter. She then said it would help if he had a telephone and I said he does not have one and does not plan to get one.
Bernadette assured me he was receiving all medications and verified address in Green Valley with me. Bernadette thought he may be getting too much medication from 2 VA hospitals and could bleed out (To death) if this was the case.
I was driving unfortunately and said I could not stay on the phone as I could not pull over. She gave me her extension but I had no way to write it down."

Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
June 24, 2013 at 2:11 pm
"Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>
Tony, I also remember she said she mailed the meds to the address in Green Valley, and she was surprised you did not receive them.
Kate
Kate Simmons

4
(No dates, carry over from n3)

5
I do not mind at all but I would like you to get the medicine you need.
If I can help let me know.
'Sorry, the conversation on my phone is hard to know, it was so short and I was driving. The gist was this -she was
saying they are sending the meds to you, and she verified your address ... not sure why you are not receiving them.
Kate Simmons

6
(September 18, 2013, Kate Simmons (veteran's daughter) to VA Director Gardner)
Kate Simmons
411 Myra Way
San Francisco, CA 94127
September 18, 2013
Director Jonathan Gardner
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS)
3601 South 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85723
Reference: Telephone call of June 7, 2013, concerning Anthony OConnell, last four
7637
Dear Director Gardner,
I am trying to remember a telephone call I received from your office on June 7, 2013: I
was driving in traffic and was distracted. Would you please tell me the purpose and
content of the call? If you recorded it please send me a transcript.
If you contact me again concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter
with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kate Simmons
Copy to:
Anthony O'Connell
439 South Vista Del Rio
Green Valley, AZ 85614

7
Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 112:09 PM
Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
Reply- To : Kate Simmons <"Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: Anthony Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>
Hi Tony
The Tucson VA Hospital left a voice mail on my phone. They say they have written 2 letters since October 1 for you see a Cardiologist.
The phone number is 520-792-1450.
Love Kate
Kate Simmons

8
(Dcember 6, 2013, Kate Simmons to multiple recepients)
Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com> Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: "jonathan.gardner@med.va.gov" <jonathan.gardner@med.va.gov>, "marjorie.ford@med.va.gov"
<marjorie.ford@med.va.gov>, "kernk@email.arizona.edu" <kernk@email.arizona.edu>, "joseph.rindone@va.gov"
<joseph.rindone@va.gov>, "john.nanson@med.va.gov" <john.nanson@med.va.gov>, "timothy.mueller@med.va.gov"
<timothy.mueller@med.va.gov>, "patty.valera@mail.house.gov" <patty.valera@mail.house.gov>
Cc: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>
Dear recipients:
On November 14, 2013, I received a phone call from someone in the VA that said Cardiology had sent two letters
to Anthony O'Connell. Would you please send to me and Mr. Anthony O'Connell copies of these two letters?
I am Anthony O'Connell's Health Care Agent in his Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will dated
January 1, 2009. He tells me that he has rescinded this document. He has repeatedly asked that this document be
removed from the VA records, and has done all the procedures he has been instructed to do to make this happen,
such as going to the Release of Information, and trying to make an appointment with the social worker. Please
release this document from the VA records now and send verification to me and Anthony O'Connell that it has
been done.
Please adhere to my September 18, 2013, letter to the Director that said, in part: "If you contact me again
concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone."
Thank you,
Kate Simmons
411 Myra Way
San Francisco, CA 94127