Are there any real concrete ideas to fix the VA?

COL Lee Flemming — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:37:12 -0400

We are absolutely in crisis mod!. There is a lack of trust, transparency and understanding of why it is so difficult to take care of our veterans. How do you leave an established military that is wrought with structure and capable bureaucracy and graduate to a system of total inefficiency?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 5 at 2016 9:45 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:45:25 -0400

COL Lee Flemming great read and share, that is a complex MILLION dollar question. Its totally unacceptable, it took me 9 months trying to get a appointment at the Hampton Medical Center (VA Medical Center). The excuse was the doctor was not available. I am glad I have other avenues to seek medical care.

Response by SGT Damaso V Santana made Sep 5 at 2016 9:45 AM

SGT Damaso V Santana — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:45:32 -0400

Spot on, graduating from efficiency to chaos.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 5 at 2016 9:52 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:52:16 -0400

I worked with COL Mikel J. Burroughs and a few other RP members last year and we submitted a White Paper to one of the Congressmen with a proposal. I believe he has the submitted copy.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 5 at 2016 10:00 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:00:35 -0400

Until dollars and beauracracy stop running things it will not change. It is not about providing health care, bonuses and the bottom line are king.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 10:10 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:10:50 -0400

I'd rather pay than go to the VA.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 5 at 2016 10:26 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:26:47 -0400

It is a huge government bureaucracy with all the standard government support mechanisms for their employees. There are millions that use it by choice or have no other recourse. It has become the third rail of politics, so to deny anyone's claim gets lots of visibility, regardless of merit. It's like trying to change the tires on a fully loaded semi-tractor trailer racing down the highway at 80 MPH. We will not see major reforms in most of our lifetimes.

Response by James Mendenhall made Sep 5 at 2016 10:28 AM

James Mendenhall — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:28:46 -0400

Stop smoking and drinking your health away, while not stopping kids from the same path to destruction

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 5 at 2016 10:32 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:32:04 -0400

You have touched upon one of the reasons that I have long advocated that veteran healthcare be administered by the military. They have an established system that, at least by my experience, works well. Much of it sits idle being built for war time service. Treating veterans would spread the investment and "exercise" the system during peace time. During periods of war, ambulatory veterans could provide comfort and solace to patients arriving from the battlefield. I can think of many other reasons and I bet you can too

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Sep 5 at 2016 10:56 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:56:37 -0400

This seems to be the million dollar (literally) question. I'm retired so can still use the military medical system, which I do. We are fortunate enough to live close enough to a base that we still use the base clinic as our PCM. I have never been disappointed with the quality or timeliness of the care we receive. We also have retired friends who use local doctors rather than the base for their care and they also say they have no problems with the military medical system relationship with their providers.
Then there is the VA system which seems to be like night and day compared to the military system. When I was working I has several vets who worked for an with me who used one of the two VA clinics in the area. The stories I heard about trying to get appointments and frequently the quality of care once they were seen were true horror stories. It's amazing that two medical systems run by the same government can be so different.
Health care in general in the U.S. is amazingly complex, however IMO the military medical system and the civilian medical system seem to be pretty much coordinated. In fact we are often sent to civilian doctors by the base clinic. The VA system, however, seems to be totally out of whack with the model used in both the military & civilian world. From my observations their attitude seems to be, we are the VA and we are going to do it our way.
The VA system doesn't seem to work, but the military system does and they are both part of the federal government, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. I have no idea how to accomplish it, but it seems to me that there needs to be some directives from above the VA chain of command that forces them to bypass their entrenched bureaucracy and conduct healthcare more in-line with the military system and in cooperation with civilian healthcare.

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Sep 5 at 2016 11:06 AM

SA Jim Arnold — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 11:06:17 -0400

Start by replacing the staff. The VA in Columbia, SC has quite a few staff members that simply consider it a job and a paycheck.
You can tell a major difference between the ones who care and the ones looking forward to Friday.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 11:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 11:11:46 -0400

The V.A. is 1000% better then it was in 1995. Is there room for improvement, of course. The funding is probably 200% higher. The cost of medicine and access to care has drastically improved. The quality of doctors is very good. The bottom line let's embrace the positives.

I'm a believer in human power! We are the foundation to the military health system. Meaning we can help a fellow Veteran, disabled or not, by showing up and supporting one another. Each of us have as much capability as the VA to influence, inspire and support our fellow brothers and sisters though their next major mental or physical challenge. Let's move forth and as a large collective unit and improve together.

Response by James Adair made Sep 5 at 2016 11:52 AM

James Adair — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 11:52:47 -0400

There are no answers to this. How ever after hearing that our Vets are dying while waiting for care it would be more logical and helpful to have them be treated at a civilian hospital as i heard it once before " The VA; giving vets a chance to die for their country a second time"

Response by COL William Oseles made Sep 5 at 2016 11:58 AM

COL William Oseles — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 11:58:57 -0400

VA, the Gold Standard example that the ACA was going to try and emulate. Funny how that plug for the ACA was dumped once the VA Scandal broke.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 5 at 2016 1:07 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:07:19 -0400

Here in San Antonio, the VA will tell me right up front.. We won't be able to get you an appointment till XXXX date....if you don't want to wait that long you can go to an outside source. I don't understand why other facilities have such issues/problems.
Whenever I call to get an appointment with my Primary care physician, I usually get in to see her within a few weeks...unless it's urgent, they will find room...or tell me to go to Urgent care clinic.
Here is SA...we have five..that's 5 FIVE different facilities...and broken up into color...I am on the SILVER team and go to the Balcones Heights location....where there is the GOLD team also...the FRANK Tejeda clinic has the White and Blue teams...and I am not sure about the others....The VA here makes it very convenient for us VETS....I have said all along other VA facilities need to come here and watch and learn how we do it...
I get phone calls to remind me of appointments...if I forget to call to schedule scan or something, I'll get a call from the appointment center up in KERVILLE telling me, hey you have not made your appointment schedule...let's make one now.
Seriously, my VA is awesome!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 2:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 14:52:49 -0400

Place the VA under the responsibility of AMEDD, look at your MTFS they are for the most part providing great care. Make them individual or small stations with military presence.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 4:25 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 16:25:41 -0400

As my aches and pains increase with the years, it's my lack of trust in the system to take care of these issues that will push me toward leaving the military much earlier than I planned. I think I speak for a large number of Soldiers surpassing the five year mark (maybe not so much in the heavy world hah)

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Sep 5 at 2016 5:52 PM

LCpl Todd Houston — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 17:52:35 -0400

I would start with a strong VA presence when a service member is at the 3 month mark. 1. Get a copy of their military medical records then rather than a request later. 2. Conduct a complete physical right then and there to set up a PRELIMINARY rating so that a check can start the first month after EAS or retirement. That way vets won't lose their homes waiting on a 750, 000 claim backlog. 3.Start setting up appointments within the first 2 months, establishing a PCP and a VA medical record to be used for a possible rate increase at the 18 month point. This way there is no question about whether or not a condition is service related or not. They could also opt out of VA care after that 18 month point or do a hybrid between the two. If they do either of the above, they would be issued a credit card that will only work at doctors that take medicare.I dont Know if that would completely fix everything but I think it would be a great start. Let me know.

Response by SSgt Ed Lewandowski made Sep 5 at 2016 7:38 PM

SSgt Ed Lewandowski — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 19:38:56 -0400

my problem is my dr are Cleveland clinic and va Cleveland doesnt like Cleveland clinic so they wont approve it . they want you to to go to university hospitals which they are tied with in Cleveland who i dont like. The clinic is better and treats ppl better

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 5 at 2016 7:57 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 19:57:26 -0400

Kids have no Idea...

Response by PO2 Dave Cutsinger made Sep 5 at 2016 9:50 PM

PO2 Dave Cutsinger — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 21:50:44 -0400

Started trying to get a VA appt in February. Finally got in a couple weeks ago. Dr completely dismissed my health concerns, did a brief exam, sent me for blood work and said he'd send meds by mail. Blood took 3 hours to draw. One nurse working. While the room of us waited, five admin types gathered around the dated deli-counter ticket thing and talked about how much better things will be when they computerize it. Maybe hire another nurse instead? After a week, my meds didn't come. Easier to drive 30 minutes to the clinic than wait on hold for twice as long. Nurse told me Doctor "forgot" to send the meds, and would rush them right out and I'd have them by last Thursday. Haven't seen them yet.

I rarely used the VA in the 18 years since I was in. Lots of people in worse shape than I needing serious attention. Still, I put my time in, and it's disappointing to see just how bad the system is at a time I really need it. I get why people give up.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Sep 6 at 2016 3:29 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 03:29:28 -0400

Short of tearing it down and starting over, I don't know. There are pockets of damn good service within the VA but on the other hand the system is broken. Unless and until we take care of all the needs of America's Veterans the system is not working properly. The claims backlog must be cleared...PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY first and foremost. Hand in hand with that is assuring that all Veterans receive the best care anywhere.

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Sep 6 at 2016 7:20 AM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 07:20:47 -0400

The VA: Giving veterans another chance to die for their country since 1930.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Sep 6 at 2016 11:02 AM

MSgt John McGowan — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 11:02:25 -0400

COL. Sir. I do believe the unions have the upper hands now. The last changes they want to make (Senate) they ran it by the union first. One of my Senators heads the committee on VA affairs. Senator Isakson! When you feel the need to get union approval first that to me means they come before vets. That would be a starting place. The VA hospital in Dublin Ga. Is a old Navel hospital from WW2 and it has to be very expensive to maintain. The grounds are hugh and they have the old hospital look with wings everywhere and long halls. The others I have seem is like the hospitals of today, not spread out so much. The hospital has to be over 60 years old. Good shape probably very expensive to run.

Response by SSG Douglas Wright made Sep 11 at 2016 5:27 AM

SSG Douglas Wright — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 05:27:00 -0400

Yes, remove it from civilians & put it back in the hands to the ones that knows the plight of the service members... The x-military or current military personnel.