Is the V.A. really that disorganized and dysfunctional?

2015-09-02T22:10:30-04:00

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1f2ac8952beb4bf69a1a23bb02df2704/watchdog-900000-vets-have-pending-health-care-applications

Watchdog: 900,000 vets may have pending health care requests

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 900,000 military veterans have officially pending applications for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the department's inspector general said Wednesday, but "serious" problems…

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Sep 2 at 2015 10:32 PM

2015-09-02T22:32:17-04:00

I think if definitely needs reorganization, but I feel it is a vital organization that has helped many over the years.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-09-02T23:18:58-04:00

NO, and I'm sick of hearing or reading that.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 3 at 2015 7:12 AM

2015-09-03T07:12:31-04:00

Disorganized & Dysfunctional are not the correct words.

Inefficient to the point of negligence? That we could have a good discussion on.

Incapable of performing their designed purpose because the "bureaucratic process" does not work well with "People" let alone "Social Programs." I can highlight examples going back decades if not centuries.

But the Department of the VA is organized. It accomplishes "some" of it's tasks EXCEPTIONALLY well. The Education System (GI BILL) is ran in what I can only describe as a "Top Notch" fashion, because everyone is treated exactly the same. The processes are streamlined, and it FUNCTIONS exactly like a bureaucracy should. Amazingly so. The Cemetery program does as well. Not to sound overly callous, but they are dealing with the dead, who don't complain, but who are also, all treated exactly the same. The processes of those two offices show us what the VA is capable of...

But when we put "People," people with "issues" that have to be addressed individually.. there's the rub. Bureaucracies grind to a screaming halt. It's not that they are disorganized, or dysfunctional. It's that a normally smooth system has gunk in it, and it takes LOTS of manpower to clear said gunk.