Posted on Dec 4, 2016
Should the VA be reorganized from the ground up?
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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/04/4-quit-after-oklahoma-veteran-with-maggots-in-wound-dies.html
When is enough enough? As a health care provider (Paramedic), how in the blue hell do you allow this to happen to your patient?? The fact this person was in a VA facility makes it even worse! I hold the belief the VA administration should be fired en mass and just start from scratch.
When is enough enough? As a health care provider (Paramedic), how in the blue hell do you allow this to happen to your patient?? The fact this person was in a VA facility makes it even worse! I hold the belief the VA administration should be fired en mass and just start from scratch.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 9
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Once again, I must respond. As posted before, I have had great care from the VA over the past 20 years. yes, it is sometimes slower than it should be, but given the vast size, that is understandable.
Articles like this just sensationalize the problems. However, I would wager the majority of Veterans that use the VAMC are satisfied. At least to a degree.
Does the VA need improvement? Absolutely. But, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's work on the problems, correct them, and give our Veterans the best care possible.
Now, as to privatization, there are two major issues that need to be acknowledged. One, most civilian medical personal have no concept of the uniqueness of military service and any of the health problems which come from that service. Second, privatization would not reduce costs nor would it guarantee better care. Fraud would be rampant, requiring a huge monitoring agency.
So, I repeat; let's correct the problems and give our Veterans what they deserve; the best medical care possible.
Articles like this just sensationalize the problems. However, I would wager the majority of Veterans that use the VAMC are satisfied. At least to a degree.
Does the VA need improvement? Absolutely. But, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's work on the problems, correct them, and give our Veterans the best care possible.
Now, as to privatization, there are two major issues that need to be acknowledged. One, most civilian medical personal have no concept of the uniqueness of military service and any of the health problems which come from that service. Second, privatization would not reduce costs nor would it guarantee better care. Fraud would be rampant, requiring a huge monitoring agency.
So, I repeat; let's correct the problems and give our Veterans what they deserve; the best medical care possible.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
MSG Stan Hutchison - I'm glad your experiences with your local VA have been good overall. Mine have been mediocre at best, medically dangerous at worst. I stopped driving 50+ miles to the local VA hospital and opted for the 14 mile drive to a private provider. The out of pocket costs are a bit more but I receive more responsive care.
I'll agree maybe the driving issue is that the VA has gotten so big it is impractical to manage. Had I the answers to THAT problem, I'd be the man running the show instead of a medic on an ambulance.
Would you not agree it seems impossible to fire, remove, or otherwise get rid of employees who have a proven track record of unsatisfactory performance? Maybe instead of the "Scorched Earth" approach I suggested, we should instead focus on precision strikes with targeted effects (ie: removal of poor performers). Maybe appoint more veterans to management positions instead of civilians who have less experience dealing with service specific illness/injury?
I'll agree maybe the driving issue is that the VA has gotten so big it is impractical to manage. Had I the answers to THAT problem, I'd be the man running the show instead of a medic on an ambulance.
Would you not agree it seems impossible to fire, remove, or otherwise get rid of employees who have a proven track record of unsatisfactory performance? Maybe instead of the "Scorched Earth" approach I suggested, we should instead focus on precision strikes with targeted effects (ie: removal of poor performers). Maybe appoint more veterans to management positions instead of civilians who have less experience dealing with service specific illness/injury?
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How would it be reorganized differently? I think it's fairly obvious that the bureaucracy needs to be heavily streamlined, however we also need to remember that all that bureaucracy was created as a way to manage costs. If all the processes are streamlined and everyone can walk in and get the care they need, the VA might require 30-60 billion more per year than it currently receives. Are we as a nation, prepared to pay?
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Yes. There is no excuse for this. The money is there. The need is there. People just don't seem to care. Job fair time. Hire qualified Veterans to staff as much of this as possible.
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recent article veteran commits suicide on va property in tn, on thanks giving after being released from treatment for PTSD and depression case is under investigation, why did this happen, since 2009 I've had 4 psych docs, the 4th after reviewing my record and really listened to me she put me on the right meds and doses and my life has significantly improved, but how long will she be there, 2 years move on, that's a real problem continuity of care, docs being rotated or fulfilling obligations, we vets are not experiments we deserve the same quality of care as the civi world minus the big bucks
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IT COULD SURELY USE AN ENEMA !!.. THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT OUR RETIRED MILITARY, OR OUR VETERANS..
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If the entire system is fraught with systematic pitfalls that place the veteran in a position that is detrimental to obtaining relevant treatment in a timely manner, then the entire system needs to be evaluated and streamlined so that veterans are not suffering and dying while their name sits on a dormant waiting list for critical care. The hurry up and wait experienced in the military is often pervasive in VA health care. It should however be noted that treatment often varies from facility to facility.
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I've always assumed the VA would either be eliminated or consumed by whatever form of National Health Care the US eventually implements. It has never made sense to me that its OK to put Medicaid and Medicare patients in civilian hospitals, while veterans need their own government run facilities. It's not as though the VA Doctors and Nurses are trained differently than those in civilian facilities. I know for a fact that they are not.
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You are correct. We are well pass the time when enough is enough. I don't have the answers because I am not a medical professional, but even I can see there is a problem. A reorganization is definitely needed to overhaul this problematic institution.
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Master Sergeant I would love for the VA to be burned to the ground and rebuilt. Go through and do mass reviews on staff, supervisors, and those in leadership positions. Then if and probably warranted mass firings then hirings, preferably Veterans because no one cares about us but us.
Preferably the VA should act as an administrator and direct the flow of traffic to Civilian counterparts with a voucher from the VA for costs. Of course legislation should be enacted to ensure Uncle Sugar and the DOD isn't getting fucked out of more money. We've all seen how much DOD pays for a computer.
Preferably the VA should act as an administrator and direct the flow of traffic to Civilian counterparts with a voucher from the VA for costs. Of course legislation should be enacted to ensure Uncle Sugar and the DOD isn't getting fucked out of more money. We've all seen how much DOD pays for a computer.
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SFC (Join to see)
Yep, the DOD pays a ton for a computer, or a vehicle, or even a weapon system at times. However, the part a lot of people leave out is that the cost isn't about the computer. It is about the computer, the spare parts, the installed programs, furure updates to the installed programs, and the paid for maintenance for those computers that is covered for X years.
Veterans are a big part of what went wrong with the VA. Lobbyist for Veteran organizations have pushed laws for federal government organizations to hire more veterans, give them preferential hiring over non-veterans, and made it difficult for the government to fire said veterans employed in civilian federal government positions.
The bulk of the VA is comprised of veterans. So in essence we made our own bed when it comes to the VA. The issue isn't people. It is funding. Older veterans cost a ton of money, and WWII veterans are dying at a rate of 500 a day right now. Not too far behind them are the Korean War vets and Vietnam vets. We are talking about a population of tens of millions who require more healthcare than the younger generations...because...well old people need more.
Veterans are a big part of what went wrong with the VA. Lobbyist for Veteran organizations have pushed laws for federal government organizations to hire more veterans, give them preferential hiring over non-veterans, and made it difficult for the government to fire said veterans employed in civilian federal government positions.
The bulk of the VA is comprised of veterans. So in essence we made our own bed when it comes to the VA. The issue isn't people. It is funding. Older veterans cost a ton of money, and WWII veterans are dying at a rate of 500 a day right now. Not too far behind them are the Korean War vets and Vietnam vets. We are talking about a population of tens of millions who require more healthcare than the younger generations...because...well old people need more.
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