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A physician who temporarily headed the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System for more than a year was named Friday as its first permanent director since 2014 in a move one congressman called "a first step" toward the health system regaining the public's trust.

Dr. Margie Scott, 60, will assume the position Monday, system spokesman Debby Meece said.

Scott was named interim director when the previous permanent director, Michael Winn, retired Oct. 3, 2014. She served in that job until Aug. 29, 2015. Two other interim directors followed Scott -- a situation criticized by Rep. French Hill, a Republican whose congressional district includes central Arkansas.

"In the [15] months I have been in Congress, our local [Department of Veteran Affairs] healthcare system has seen temporary director after temporary director, all the while, problem after problem after problem has persisted," Hill said in a statement Friday.

"The first step towards VA regaining the trust of the veteran and the taxpayer is through permanent leadership that puts in place a long-term plan to provide the very best care for our veterans," Hill added. "While the decision took entirely too long, I am glad we now have a director to hold accountable and our local veterans have a little more certainty with respect to the care they have earned and deserve..."

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