Veterans/Retirees: Do you feel that your local VA gives you the best care anywhere? Or just the opposite?

My experience and reading many of the posts on various blogs, including RP, it appears there are pockets of great, good and very bad care throughout VA.

It depends on the VA facility. I routinely review medical records and I see huge differences between facilities.

Yes I do.

I have been provided medical care at three different VA Clinics (Fresno, CA, Manila RP and Orlando, FL). The Fresno VA was very good in timely response and I received quality medical care there. The Manila VA only provides care for Service Connected Conditions. It took them over two years to process a claim, as they decided that they would relook all previous SC conditions. Their lack of timely providing of medical care almost killed me. I had to have emergency surgery for a condition that I had been telling them about for 5 years. The Orlando VA is fair, but it takes too long to get referred to special clinics and get an appointment. Again, I ended up having another emergency surgery that was caused by over dosing a medication and they didn't take a good look at the symptoms I was experiencing. I have learned that you have to stand up and fight for your rights. It seems that the saying: "The squeaking wheel get the oil" is very true!

I can't enough good things about James A Haley VA in Tampa.

I currently use the VAMC in ABQ, NM - I have had nothing short excellent care. In a couple instances, above and beyond! I doubt that I would receive the same level of care and personal attention in the private sector.

I have two VA Clinics within 25 miles of me. Both are excellent. I have had nothing but great service.

NO. They get worse day by day. I'm old and terminal and feel sorry for our younger generation of veterans. If this is the best the VA can deliver I recommend you begin , today, to demand loud and long its replacement and the prosecution of the people who allowed this to happen. As is oft repeated in the halls of the VA, 'deny, deny, until they die!

VA San Diego gives good care. Veterans are treated with respect. Yes, sometimes there are waits to get appointments but not usually in my case.

I've never had to deal with the VA so I can't really speak for it, but I've had to deal with the civilian "for profit" Healthcare system and I've seen many of the same complaints that I see here.

Looking from the outside in at the VA system I see a lot of benefits, centralized records that are leveraged to prevent bad medication interactions for example (something that kills civilians at a rate comparable to automotive accidents).

I'd like to see the VA system expanded and all government healthcare dollars spent there... From POTUS to dogcatcher, and all Medicaid dollars. I think forcing the politicians and "leadership" there would be a great way to ensure quality, and sending the rest would ensure "bang for the buck" of tax dollars spent.

Once stabilized opening it up to contracting with the Insurance industry would foster competition within the industry and offset the taxpayer cost of the system (by charging say 200% of cost).

Right now there are too many hospital systems that don't have competition (all hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth market for instance are owned by three hospital systems, and insurance is forced to contract with them all... making for really short price negotiations).

I'm all for companies and doctors making a fair profit, but I question the morality of becoming insanely wealthy by providing services to people facing possibly the lowest moments of their lives.