What would you do to correct the current situation within the VA to enhance the services and productivity for us the Veteran?

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:12:37 -0400

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 11:16 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:16:16 -0400

That is a question that I can not answer. I do not think all of the VA's problem lie with performance. I think some lie with the law that restricts what they can do.

It ould take a lot of learning to figure out a good plan to improve care.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 6 at 2016 11:25 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:25:58 -0400

Give veterans a VA card that could be used with any healthcare provider that will accept it.
Competition is the solution.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Jun 6 at 2016 11:30 AM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:30:15 -0400

Well, after much a-do about freekin' crows. I was the one who through Senators Sanders provided, you the Veteran Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ [login to see] 3 [login to see] 97-mission-in-action-is-the-true-cost-of-war?trk=mp-reader-card
We provided white paper to the VA for change in December of last year,(https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/military-medicinemoving-forward-kimberly-bolen-rn-lnc-acm-ccm?trk=mp-reader-card) but for now POTUS wants the status-quo to remain until after the election so everything is on hold now.

20140730073253-106031197-mission-in-action-is-the-true-cost-of-war

Response by PVT Amos A. made Jun 6 at 2016 2:16 PM

PVT Amos A. — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:16:07 -0400

Completely dissolve the VA medical facilities as a hard structure. Their culture is more about jumping off to other GS positions, or civilian jobs near that facility (which is why most physicians disappear after 6 months or so), and protecting jobs that would otherwise be terminated due to poor and unacceptable behavior.

Instead, the VA should simply be an administration and insurance plan (as well as all the other benefits they offer). But instead of being actual medical facilities, it would be a high quality plan with self referral like a PPO, allowing veterans to go to any system then choose. It should NOT be an HMO in any way shape or form.

The VA actually does some things well. Like no cap on services. This is highly desirable to a patient who may not get "well" after a select amount of visits ie physical therapy, but their quality of life is better in some way shape or form and therefore merits continued service.

Also the pharmacy can be competitive or even better than civilian providers.

The real problem with the VA is having these large, monolithic hospitals that have long waiting periods, callous staff, and transient providers. Veterans should be allowed to go to other providers if they choose.

Another problem with the VA is their schema regarding labeling everyone with PTSD instead of being willing to use CTE, concussive syndromes, and cervical neuralgia (and resulting terrible pain) as reasons for complicated veteran behaviors regarding social norms in family and work environments, or even drug and alcohol use.

Having the power to seize POA over a patient without adjudication, and seize firearms rights is a serious abuse of power that no medical or government entity should have ever.

Outside providers, with no motives, are much better at addressing some of these problems that are actual sequalae of combat or training injuries-

Response by CW2 Shawn Stevenson made Jun 6 at 2016 6:12 PM

CW2 Shawn Stevenson — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 18:12:30 -0400

One recent change is allowing APRN's to practice to the full scope of their training and certification. This will, of course, allow many of us to be seen in more a timely manner. I also realize that there are many veterans that have a huge issue seeing a Nurse Practitioner.... We will have to wait and see how this works out.

Response by TSgt Tim Templeton made Jun 7 at 2016 10:26 AM

TSgt Tim Templeton — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:26:00 -0400

Increase the staff, have staff readily available on weekends to help decrease the workload.

Response by SGT Tim Pugel made Jun 7 at 2016 2:26 PM

SGT Tim Pugel — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:26:19 -0400

First things first, place at least a 3 star general from the medical corps in charge of the VA. Fill every medical position with military personnel in those medical fields. I think if we were to get rid of the non veteran civilians that are in the VA, personally I think our care would improve drastically.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2016 2:46 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:46:34 -0400

Digitize all records and establish an alert and tracking system for records processing. Then remove all "treatment" from the VA and create a voucher system for treatment at private medical centers.

Response by SPC Scott Schroeder made Jun 7 at 2016 4:26 PM

SPC Scott Schroeder — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:26:20 -0400

First I would end all bonuses for quota based performance. That's what created the fudging of paperwork to get said bonuses. All bonuses for any type of management would also be gone. Political appointees would also be gone like John Scocos in Wisconsin. In fact the VA is so idiotic in WI I'm moving to another state soon. That would be a start at least.